Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:Back on track!
Thanks, Mario, for your insights. However, I often get the feeling that the available data (e.g. as summarised by the Handbuch) on growth and population dynamics of European snakes is not really based on decent sample sizes etc. What do you think?
If population A has e.g. more food available than population B, what will happen =>
(1) maturity will be delayed until the same size is reached as in any population or
(2) maturity will be reached at smaller size in B vs. A ?
a) it seems, there are much to less data in the "Handbook".
b) I will give an example of my loves: Vipera ammodytes:
Although I have no real idea, it seems all (or most at least) mainland populations will get maturity at nearly the same size: approx 50 to 60 cm.
On the other hand, many of Aegaean populations are breeding with less than 30 cms (I´ve seen copulating on Naxos with 26 to 28 cms), and dont grow even much larger. I´m nearly sure, it depends on "not really adequat food", mainly only lizards. But when you breed these pigmies in a terrarium and feed the offspring, starting with mice pinkies, following with mice of "fitting size", they grow to the same size as mainland vipers - with the same speed!
Maybe the same with quatuorlineata from the Aegaean islands?
Mario