| stimulus control of predatory behavior in the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis). iv. effect of mammalian blood. | brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis) from guam were exposed to mammalian (rattus norvegicus) blood on cotton-tipped applicators. water and other control substances were similarly presented. all trials lasted 60 s, and the dependent variable was the number of tongue flicks emitted by the snake during the trial. in five experiments, b. irregularis responded with greater numbers of tongue flicks to blood than to control substances. this is the first study to reveal an ophidian response to internal ... | 1992 | 1586355 |
| the unique duvernoy's secretion of the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis). | recently, bites by the colubrid boiga irregularis (brown tree snake) in infants and young children on guam have produced severe systemic reactions which bear some resemblance to classical manifestations of neurotoxic venom poisoning. this study demonstrates that the duvernoy's secretion which elicits these reactions is a remarkably simple venom secretion with comparatively low toxicity and generally weak enzymatic activity. the intravenous ld50 for swiss-webster mice was approximately 80 mg/kg; ... | 1991 | 1862527 |
| risks to infants on guam from bites of the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis). | the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis, is abundant on guam and commonly invades human habitations. data on emergency room visits on guam document a high frequency of snakebites on guam. over 50% of the emergency room visits for snakebite involved children less than 4 years old. records exist of 4 infants, 1, 2, 5, and 10 months old, who displayed significant symptoms after being bitten, while sleeping, by snakes. two infants developed respiratory problems within a few hours and required medica ... | 1990 | 2372089 |
| delivery of duvernoy's secretion into prey by the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis (serpentes:colubridae). | many colubrid snakes, like the more venomous elapid and viperid snakes, can produce and inject an oral secretion that is toxic and may present a human health risk. however, colubrid oral toxins are produced in a duvernoy's gland and delivered not through a hollow fang, but instead by long, often grooved teeth under low pressure. the possible role of duvernoy's secretion in functions other than rapid killing of prey make it important to know how and where this secretion is delivered during a feed ... | 1993 | 8212032 |
| fatal mycotic dermatitis in captive brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). | cutaneous fungal infections occurred in four captive brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). the ventral scales were most commonly affected, and lesions began as areas of erythema and edema with vesicle formation, followed by development of caseous brown plaques. lesions usually started where ventral scales overlapped and spread rapidly. all snakes died within 14 days after clinical signs were first noted. the deaths of three of the snakes were directly attributable to the cutaneous disease; the ... | 1999 | 10367652 |
| population boundaries and genetic diversity in the endangered mariana crow (corvus kubaryi). | the mariana crow (corvus kubaryi) is an endangered species that is restricted to the islands of guam and rota in the mariana archipelago. predation by the introduced brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) has decimated bird populations on guam, and the crow population there is the last wild remnant of the endemic forest avifauna. the population on guam is critically endangered and, despite intensive management, the population has continued to decline. additional management options include intermix ... | 1999 | 10434415 |
| characterization of venom (duvernoy's secretion) from twelve species of colubrid snakes and partial sequence of four venom proteins. | r.e. hill and s.p. mackessy. characterization of venom (duvernoy's secretion) from twelve species of colubrid snakes and partial sequence of four venom proteins. toxicon xx, xx-yy, 2000. - venomous colubrids, which include more than 700 snake species worldwide, represent a vast potential source of novel biological compounds. the present study characterized venom (duvernoy's gland secretion) collected from twelve species of opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) colubrid snakes, an extremely diverse assem ... | 2000 | 10858509 |
| response of brown treesnakes (boiga irregularis) to mammalian blood: whole blood, serum, and cellular residue. | brown treesnakes (boiga irregularis) responded with more tongue flicks to blood (from rabbits, rats, and mice) than to water. when rat blood was centrifuged at 3,500 rpm for 5 min, separating serum from cellular residue, snakes responded strongly to serum but not to cellular residue. | 2001 | 11471949 |
| chrysosporium anamorph of nannizziopsis vriesii associated with fatal cutaneous mycoses in the salt-water crocodile (crocodylus porosus). | the chrysosporium anamorph of nannizziopsis vriesii, recently identified as the cause of cutaneous infections in chameleons and brown tree snakes, was associated with skin infections and deaths in salt-water crocodile (crocodylus porosus) hatchlings on two separate occasions 3 years apart. in all, 48 animals died from the infection. all hatchlings came from the same farm in northern queensland, australia. | 2002 | 12058727 |
| aerosolized essential oils and individual natural product compounds as brown treesnake repellents. | chemical irritants useful as repellents for brown treesnakes (boiga irregularis) were identified. exposure to various compounds produced a range of intensities for locomotory behavior in snakes. essential oils comprised of 10 g liter-1 solutions of cedarwood, cinnamon, sage, juniper berry, lavender and rosemary each were potent snake irritants. brown treesnakes exposed to a 2-s burst of aerosol of these oils exhibited prolonged, violent undirected locomotory behavior. in contrast, exposure to a ... | 2002 | 12192901 |
| risk assessment of an acetaminophen baiting program for chemical control of brown tree snakes on guam: evaluation of baits, snake residues, and potential primary and secondary hazards. | the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) is a significant ecological, agricultural, and economic pest on guam. acetaminophen has recently been identified as a promising snake toxicant. subsequent experimentation has shown that acetaminophen-mouse baits are readily consumed by and acutely toxic to browntree snakes. before implementing an island-wide acetaminophen-mouse baiting program for the reducton of brown tree snake populations,the potential risks to nontarget wildlife must be evaluated. qua ... | 2002 | 12322757 |
| predatory response of brown tree snakes to chemical stimuli from human skin. | the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) is an exotic pest species on pacific islands, most notably on guam where it has caused considerable ecological and economic damage. on guam, the snake commonly associates with people and can be found near or in human habitations. bites are common, approximately 1 of 1200 emergency room visits to guam hospitals were reported to be the result of b. irregularis bites; 80% of these victims were attacked while sleeping. most of the attacks occurred on fingers ... | 2002 | 12564793 |
| ultrastructure of hepatozoon boigae (mackerras, 1961) nov. comb. from brown tree snakes, boiga irregularis, from northern australia. | intraerythrocytic bodies identified as haemogregarine gamonts were found in 29% of 97 brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis) examined during a haematological survey of reptiles in australasia during 1994-1998. the morphological characteristics of the parasites were consistent with those of haemogregarina boigae mackerras, 1961, although the gamonts were slightly larger and lacked red caps but contained distinctive polar grey capsules. gamonts did not distend host cells but laterally displaced the ... | 2003 | 12783312 |
| phylogenetic relationships of hepatozoon (haemogregarina) boigae, hepatozoon sp., haemogregarina clelandi and haemoproteus chelodina from australian reptiles to other apicomplexa based on cladistic analyses of ultrastructural and life-cycle characters. | the phylogeny of representative haemozoan species of the phylum apicomplexa was reconstructed by cladistic analyses of ultrastructural and life-cycle characteristics. the analysis incorporated 4 apicomplexans previously not included in phylogenetic reconstructions: haemogregarina clelandi from the brisbane river tortoise (emydura signata), hepatozoon sp. from the slaty grey snake (stegonotus cucullatus), hepatozoon (haemogregarina) boigae from the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis), and haemop ... | 2003 | 12866793 |
| in vitro neuromuscular activity of 'colubrid' venoms: clinical and evolutionary implications. | in this study, venoms from species in the colubrinae, homalopsinae, natricinae, pseudoxyrhophiinae and psammophiinae snake families were assayed for activity in the chick biventer cervicis skeletal nerve muscle preparation. boiga dendrophila, boiga cynodon, boiga dendrophila gemincincta, boiga drapiezii, boiga irregularis, boiga nigriceps and telescopus dhara venoms (10 microg/ml) displayed postsynaptic neuromuscular activity as evidenced by inhibition of indirect (0.1 hz, 0.2 ms, supramaximal v ... | 2004 | 15284016 |
| venom of the brown treesnake, boiga irregularis: ontogenetic shifts and taxa-specific toxicity. | the brown treesnake (boiga irregularis), a rear-fanged member of the polyphyletic family colubridae, is an introduced predator on guam which has been responsible for numerous human envenomations. because little is known about this species' venom, we characterized venom proteins from b. irregularis using enzyme assays, one and 2d electrophoresis, western blot analysis, mass spectrometry, hplc and toxicity assays. venom yields and protein content varied significantly with snake size, and large adu ... | 2006 | 16545413 |
| cdna cloning of proopiomelanocortin (pomc) and mass spectrometric identification of pomc-derived peptides from snake and alligator pituitaries. | proopiomelanocortin (pomc) is the precursor of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (msh) and beta-endorphin, and is suggested to have evolved by the insertion and deletion of ancestral msh segments. here, the primary structure of pomc was determined with cdna cloning of brown tree snakes of squamata and american alligators of crocodylia to show an overview of the molecular evolution of pomc in reptiles. snake and alligator pomcs are composed of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-msh segments and a single beta- ... | 2007 | 17418842 |
| irditoxin, a novel covalently linked heterodimeric three-finger toxin with high taxon-specific neurotoxicity. | a novel heterodimeric three-finger neurotoxin, irditoxin, was isolated from venom of the brown treesnake boiga irregularis (colubridae). irditoxin subunit amino acid sequences were determined by edman degradation and cdna sequencing. the crystal structure revealed two subunits with a three-finger protein fold, typical for "nonconventional" toxins such as denmotoxin, bucandin, and candoxin. this is the first colubrid three-finger toxin dimer, covalently connected via an interchain disulfide bond. ... | 2009 | 18952712 |
| biological and proteomic analysis of venom from the puerto rican racer (alsophis portoricensis: dipsadidae). | the puerto rican racer alsophis portoricensis is known to use venom to subdue lizard prey, and extensive damage to specific lizard body tissues has been well documented. the toxicity and biochemistry of the venom, however, has not been explored extensively. we employed biological assays and proteomic techniques to characterize venom from a. portoricensis anegadae collected from guana island, british virgin islands. high metalloproteinase and gelatinase, as well as low acetylcholinesterase and ph ... | 2010 | 19835906 |
| natural experiment demonstrates that bird loss leads to cessation of dispersal of native seeds from intact to degraded forests. | in healthy forests, vertebrate frugivores move seeds from intact to degraded forests, aiding in the passive regeneration of degraded forests. yet vertebrate frugivores are declining around the world, and little is known about the impact of this loss on regeneration of degraded areas. here, we use a unique natural experiment to assess how complete vertebrate frugivore loss affects native seed rain in degraded forest. all native vertebrate frugivores (which were primarily avian frugivores) have be ... | 2013 | 23741503 |
| pathogenicity in six australian reptile species following experimental inoculation with bohle iridovirus. | ranaviruses are able to infect multiple species of fish, amphibian and reptile, and some strains are capable of interclass transmission. these numerous potential carriers and reservoir species compound efforts to control and contain infections in cultured and wild populations, and a comprehensive knowledge of susceptible species and life stage is necessary to inform such processes. here we report on the challenge of 6 water-associated reptiles with bohle iridovirus (biv) to investigate its poten ... | 2015 | 26290505 |
| invaded invaders: infection of invasive brown treesnakes on guam by an exotic larval cestode with a life cycle comprised of non-native hosts. | multiple host introductions to the same non-native environment have the potential to complete life cycles of parasites incidentally transported with them. our goal was to identify a recently detected parasitic flatworm in the invasive brown treesnake (boiga irregularis) on the remote pacific island of guam. we considered possible factors influencing parasite transmission, and tested for correlations between infection status and potential indicators of host fitness. we used genetic data from the ... | 2015 | 26699614 |
| why arboreal snakes should not be cylindrical: body shape, incline and surface roughness have interactive effects on locomotion. | depending on animal size, shape, body plan and behaviour, variation in surface structure can affect the speed and ease of locomotion. the slope of branches and the roughness of bark both vary considerably, but their combined effects on the locomotion of arboreal animals are poorly understood. we used artificial branches with five inclines and five peg heights (≤40 mm) to test for interactive effects on the locomotion of three snake species with different body shapes. unlike boa constrictors (boa ... | 2015 | 26677261 |
| three-dimensional locations of destinations have species-dependent effects on the choice of paths and the gap-bridging performance of arboreal snakes. | challenges for moving in arboreal environments include sizable gaps and variable three-dimensional locations between the discrete destinations created by branches. different three-dimensional orientations of the body change the mechanical demands of crossing gaps, especially for elongate animals, but these effects on both the maximal gap distance crossed (gapmax ) and the choice of destinations are poorly understood despite many animals frequently encountering these circumstances. we tested and ... | 2013 | 23281077 |
| an ecological risk assessment of nonnative boas and pythons as potentially invasive species in the united states. | the growing international trade in live wildlife has the potential to result in continuing establishment of nonnative animal populations in the united states. snakes may pose particularly high risks as potentially invasive species, as exemplified by the decimation of guam's vertebrate fauna by the accidentally introduced brown tree snake. herein, ecological and commercial predictors of the likelihood of establishment of invasive populations were used to model risk associated with legal commercia ... | 2005 | 16022706 |
| fatal self-envenomation in a brown tree snake, boiga irregularis, from south-east queensland. | the case history and clinical signs of a fatal self-envenomation event by a brown tree snake, boiga irregularis, in south-east queensland, australia, are presented. clinical signs began 20 minutes post-envenomation with muscle twitching, ataxia, and heat seeking behavior which progressed to partial paralysis by 6 hours, generalised paralysis and respiratory arrest at 10 hours and cardiac arrest by 12 hours post-envenomation. clinical signs are suggestive of potent neurotoxicity for b. irregulari ... | 2017 | 27974231 |
| brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) population density and carcass locations following exposure to acetaminophen. | mass aerial delivery of dead mouse baits treated with acetaminophen has been evaluated as a means to reduce brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) populations over large areas, increasing the likelihood of wide-scale eradication on guam. given the high density of snakes in some areas of their invasive range, eradication efforts could result in a resource pulse that may influence food web dynamics and the indirect transport of acetaminophen among trophic levels. we evaluated abundance, habitat type ... | 2016 | 27604786 |
| perch compliance and experience affect destination choice of brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). | arboreal animals often encounter branches with variable diameters that are highly correlated with stiffness, but how surface compliance affects the perch choice of animals is poorly understood. we used artificial branches to test the effects of different diameters and compliance on the choice between two destinations for twenty brown tree snakes as they bridged gaps. when both destinations were rigid, the diameters of the surfaces did not affect perch choice. however, with increased experience s ... | 2016 | 26723759 |
| development and characterization of 33 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the brown tree snake boiga irregularis. | boiga irregularis is a widespread invasive species on guam and has led to extirpation of most of the island's native avifauna. there are presently no microsatellite markers for this invasive species, hence we developed highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to allow for robust population genetic studies on guam. | 2015 | 26547413 |
| the effects of slope and branch structure on the locomotion of a specialized arboreal colubrid snake (boiga irregularis). | the surfaces in arboreal habitats have variable diameters, slopes, and branching structure that pose functional challenges for animal locomotion. nevertheless, many lineages of snakes have independently evolved arboreality. we tested the effects of arboreal habitat structure on the locomotion of a highly arboreal species, the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis), moving on seven diameters (0.6-21 cm) of cylinders oriented at three slopes (0°, 45°, 90°) and with or without pegs. intermediate diam ... | 2015 | 25845679 |
| rna-seq and high-definition mass spectrometry reveal the complex and divergent venoms of two rear-fanged colubrid snakes. | largely because of their direct, negative impacts on human health, the venoms of front-fanged snakes of the families viperidae and elapidae have been extensively characterized proteomically, transcriptomically, and pharmacologically. however, relatively little is known about the molecular complexity and evolution of the venoms of rear-fanged colubrid snakes, which are, with a few notable exceptions, regarded as harmless to humans. many of these snakes have venoms with major effects on their pref ... | 2014 | 25476704 |
| incline and peg spacing have interactive effects on the arboreal locomotor performance and kinematics of brown tree snakes, boiga irregularis. | many animals move using lateral undulations, but snakes are noteworthy for using this type of locomotion in an unusual diversity of environments, including trees in which both the spacing and orientation of branches vary considerably. despite branches providing discrete locations for snakes to generate propulsive forces during lateral undulation, the consequences of branch spacing for the locomotion of snakes are poorly understood. hence, we determined maximal speeds and kinematics of an arborea ... | 2013 | 23685971 |
| non-front-fanged colubroid snakes: a current evidence-based analysis of medical significance. | non-front-fanged colubroid snakes (nffc; formerly and artificially taxonomically assembled as "colubrids") comprise about 70% of extant snake species and include several taxa now known to cause lethal or life threatening envenoming in humans. although the medical risks of bites by only a handful of species have been documented, a growing number of nffc are implicated in medically significant bites. the majority of these snakes have oral products (duvernoy's secretions, or venoms) with unknown bi ... | 2013 | 23462380 |
| 'natural experiment' demonstrates top-down control of spiders by birds on a landscape level. | the combination of small-scale manipulative experiments and large-scale natural experiments provides a powerful approach for demonstrating the importance of top-down trophic control on the ecosystem scale. the most compelling natural experiments have come from studies examining the landscape-scale loss of apex predators like sea otters, wolves, fish and land crabs. birds are dominant apex predators in terrestrial systems around the world, yet all studies on their role as predators have come from ... | 2012 | 22970126 |
| the effects of three-dimensional gap orientation on bridging performance and behavior of brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). | traversing gaps with different orientations within arboreal environments has ecological relevance and mechanical consequences for animals. for example, the orientation of the animal while crossing gaps determines whether the torques acting on the body tend to cause it to pitch or roll from the supporting perch or fail as a result of localized bending. the elongate bodies of snakes seem well suited for crossing gaps, but a long unsupported portion of the body can create large torques that make ga ... | 2012 | 22786637 |
| do predators control prey species abundance? an experimental test with brown treesnakes on guam. | the effect of predators on the abundance of prey species is a topic of ongoing debate in ecology; the effect of snake predators on their prey has been less debated, as there exists a general consensus that snakes do not negatively influence the abundance of their prey. however, this viewpoint has not been adequately tested. we quantified the effect of brown treesnake (boiga irregularis) predation on the abundance and size of lizards on guam by contrasting lizards in two 1-ha treatment plots of s ... | 2012 | 22764505 |
| forecasting the risk of brown tree snake dispersal from guam: a mixed transport-establishment model. | the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) is a devastating invader that has ecologically and economically affected guam and is poised to disperse further. interdiction efforts are being conducted on guam and some of the potential receiving sites, but no tools exist for evaluating the potential for snake incursion; thus, the amount of effort that should be invested in protecting particular sites is unknown. we devised a model that predicts the relative risk of establishment of the brown tree snake ... | 2009 | 19236447 |
| a combination of body condition measurements is more informative than conventional condition indices: temporal variation in body condition and corticosterone in brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). | the body condition index is a common method for quantifying the energy reserves of individual animals. because good body condition is necessary for reproduction in many species, body condition indices can indicate the potential reproductive output of a population. body condition is related to glucocorticoid production, in that low body condition is correlated to high concentrations of corticosterone in reptiles. we compared the body condition index and plasma corticosterone levels of brown tree ... | 2008 | 17897644 |
| learning-by-catching: uncertain invasive-species populations and the value of information. | this paper develops a model of invasive species control when the species' population size is unknown. in the face of an uncertain population size, a resource manager's species-control efforts provide two potential benefits: (1) a direct benefit of possibly reducing the population of invasive species, and (2) an indirect benefit of information acquisition (due to learning about the population size, which reduces uncertainty). we provide a methodology that takes into account both of these benefits ... | 2008 | 17767994 |
| scaling of the axial morphology and gap-bridging ability of the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis. | networks of branches in arboreal environments create many functional challenges for animals, including traversing gaps between perches. many snakes are arboreal and their elongate bodies are theoretically well suited for bridging gaps. however, only two studies have previously investigated gap bridging in snakes, and the effects of size are poorly understood. thus, we videotaped and quantified maximal gap-bridging ability in a highly arboreal species of snake (boiga irregularis), for which we we ... | 2007 | 17371914 |
| snake venom glutaminyl cyclase. | glutaminyl cyclase (qc) catalyzes n-terminal glutamine cyclization of many endocrine peptides and is typically abundant in brain tissue. as three-finger toxins in the venoms of colubrid snakes boiga dendrophila and boiga irregularis contain n-terminal pyroglutamate, we searched for qc in venom glands of both snakes. here we report cdna sequences of qc from brain and venom gland tissues of boiga species. we propose that qc expressed in snake venom gland tissue plays a role in the n-terminal pyrog ... | 2006 | 16863655 |
| validation of the doubly labeled water method under low and high humidity to estimate metabolic rate and water flux in a tropical snake (boiga irregularis). | this study uses indirect calorimetry to assess the effects of humidity on the accuracy of the doubly labeled water (dlw) technique to predict metabolic rate and water flux in brown treesnakes (boiga irregularis). the dlw technique accurately predicted total water efflux in brown treesnakes under low-humidity conditions and found that the total number of water molecules exchanged with the environment under humid conditions was not significantly different than maximum net total evaporative water l ... | 2003 | 12665536 |
| pheromone trailing behavior of the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis. | the ability of snakes to follow pheromone trails has significant consequences for survival and reproduction. of particular importance is the ability of snakes to locate conspecifics during the breeding season via the detection of pheromone trails. in this study, the ability of male brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis), a tropical, rear-fanged colubrid, to follow pheromone trails produced by reproductively active conspecifics was tested in the laboratory by using a y maze. males displayed a trai ... | 2001 | 11817075 |
| effects of trapping and subsequent short-term confinement stress on plasma corticosterone in the brown treesnake (boiga irregularis) on guam. | the effects of capture in a live trap and subsequent handling stress on plasma concentrations of corticosterone and other sex steroids were examined in wild male and female brown treesnakes (boiga irregularis), an introduced species on guam that has been implicated in the extirpation or decline of many of that island's vertebrate species. males and females that spent 1 night in a trap had plasma levels of corticosterone about four and two times higher, respectively, than those of the respective ... | 2001 | 11703076 |
| determination of whole-body rotenone residues in the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis). | the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis) is an introduced pest in guam, responsible for extensive agricultural damage, the extinction of several bird species, and severe and frequent electrical power outages. rotenone, a naturally occurring pesticide, has been investigated as a possible chemical control agent. an analytical method was developed to assess whole body rotenone residues ranging in concentration from 0.035 to 250 microg g(-)(1) in snakes. the method employed ethyl acetate extraction ... | 2000 | 10888529 |
| reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values of brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). | reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values were determined from 103 blood samples collected from 53 clinically healthy brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis). female snakes had significantly higher mean plasma values for total solids, total protein, calcium (ca), phosphorus (p), uric acid, and blood monocyte percentage than did males, whereas males had significantly higher mean plasma fibrinogen values. the variances for hematocrit, monocyte percentage, azurophil percentage, plasma total s ... | 1999 | 10749437 |
| enzymatic properties of the duvernoy's secretion of blanding's tree snake (boiga blandingi) and of the mangrove snake (boiga dendrophila). | duvernoy's secretion from representatives of the colubrid genus boiga has been shown by other workers: (1) to contain an alpha-bungarotoxin-like component (blanding's tree snake, boiga blandingi); (2) to exhibit acetylcholine receptor binding activity (the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis); and (3) to react strongly (b. blandingi and the mangrove snake, boiga dendrophila) with antisera raised against elapid venoms. the present study provides the first evidence for the presence of acetylcholin ... | 1997 | 9248013 |
| response of brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis) to human blood. | ten specimens ofboiga irregularis were presented with clean or bloody tampons. the latter were used by women during menses. trial duration was 60 sec, intertrial interval was 24 hr, and the dependent variable was rate of tongue flicking (a measure of chemosensory investigation). bloody tampons elicited significantly more tongue flicking than did control tampons. an additional snake is shown attacking and ingesting a soiled tampon, confirming that chemosensory interest was associated with predato ... | 1993 | 24248514 |
| new ketodienes from the integumental lipids of the guam brown tree snake, boiga irregularis. | a mixture of six new long chain ketodienes, (6z,26z)-pentatriacontadien-2-one [1], (8z,26z)-pentatriacontadien-2-one [2], (6z,27z)-hexatriacontadien-2-one [3], (8z,27z)-hexatriacontadien-2-one [4], (6z,28z)-heptatriacontadien-2-one [5], and (8z,28z)-heptatriacontadien-2-one [6], has been separated from the cuticular lipids of the guam brown tree snake boiga irregularis. their structures were determined by chemical and spectral means. | 2006 | 2045818 |
| lethal potency and fractionation of duvernoy's secretion from the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis. | the liquid secretion contained only 15% protein and had relatively low proteolytic activity. the reconstituted crude secretion had a murine i.p. ld50 of 10.33 mg/kg and was not hemorrhagic in doses up to 200 micrograms. fast protein liquid chromatographic (fplc) cation exchange analysis of reconstituted crude secretion resulted in resolution of 16 peaks. lethal activity was identified in three peaks. the major lethal fraction was 12.5% of the secretion protein and had a murine i.p. ld50 of 7.3 m ... | 1991 | 1862518 |
| serological survey of australian native reptiles for exposure to ranavirus. | ranaviruses have been isolated from many ectothermic vertebrates, and serological surveys of both amphibians and reptiles have shown the presence of ranaviral antibodies in a proportion of these populations. an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) was developed to measure serum antibodies against ranavirus in australian reptiles. the elisa was validated with serum from challenge trials with bohle iridovirus (biv) in 6 reptilian species. a preliminary sero-survey of northern queensland ripar ... | 2017 | 29160216 |
| seed dispersal as an ecosystem service: frugivore loss leads to decline of a socially valued plant, capsicum frutescens. | species interactions, both mutualistic and antagonistic, are widely recognized as providing important ecosystem services. fruit-eating animals influence plant recruitment by increasing germination during gut passage and moving seeds away from conspecifics. however, relative to studies focused on the importance of frugivores for plant population maintenance, few studies target frugivores as ecosystem service providers, and frugivores are underappreciated as ecosystem service providers relative to ... | 2017 | 29271019 |
| transcriptomics-guided bottom-up and top-down venomics of neonate and adult specimens of the arboreal rear-fanged brown treesnake, boiga irregularis, from guam. | the brown treesnake (boiga irregularis) is an arboreal, nocturnal, rear-fanged venomous snake native to northern and eastern regions of australia, papua new guinea and the solomon islands. it was inadvertently introduced onto the island of guam during the late 1940's to early 1950's, and it has caused massive declines and extirpations of the native bird, lizard, and mammal populations. in the current study, we report the characterization of the venom proteome of an adult and a neonate b. irregul ... | 2018 | 29292096 |
| emerging pollutants, and communicating the science of environmental chemistry and mass spectrometry: pharmaceuticals in the environment. | while this paper is to a large degree targeted for those not familiar with mass spectrometry, [for an overview of mass spectrometry, a number of excellent websites are available, including http://base-peak.wiley.com/links/resources/educational_resources/], the primary focus is on the importance of mass spectrometry in ultimately protecting public health and minimizing risks of chemical exposure. its other audience is those who practice in this specialized field. should this subject not interest ... | 2001 | 11605967 |
| quantitation of pyrethrum residues in brown tree snakes. | a reversed-phase solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography (spe-gc)-electron capture detection method is developed to quantitate individual rethrin residues in pyrethrum-exposed brown tree snakes. aliquots (6 g) of homogenized snake tissue are extracted with 10 ml acetonitrile. the rethrins are recovered from the acetonitrile extract and concentrated using c8 spe. the rethrins are eluted from the spe column with pentane, evaporated to near dryness, and reconstituted to 1 ml with 1-propanol. indi ... | 1999 | 9987852 |
| australian elapid snake envenomation in cats: clinical priorities and approach. | practical relevance: no fewer than 140 species of terrestrial snakes reside in australia, 92 of which possess venom glands. with the exception of the brown tree snake, the venom-producing snakes belong to the family elapidae. the venom of a number of elapid species is more toxic than that of the indian cobra and eastern diamondback rattle snake, which has earned australia its reputation for being home to the world's most venomous snakes. clinical challenges: the diagnosis of elapid snake envenom ... | 2017 | 29068247 |
| a taxonomically and geographically constrained information base limits non-native reptile and amphibian risk assessment: a systematic review. | for many taxa, new records of non-native introductions globally occur at a near exponential rate. we undertook a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications on non-native herpetofauna, to assess the information base available for assessing risks of future invasions, resulting in 836 relevant papers. the taxonomic and geographic scope of the literature was also compared to a published database of all known invasions globally. we found 1,116 species of herpetofauna, 95% of which were present i ... | 2018 | 30425887 |
| experimental modification of morphology reveals the effects of the zygosphene-zygantrum joint on the range of motion of snake vertebrae. | variation in joint shape and soft tissue can alter range of motion (rom) and create trade-offs between stability and flexibility. the shape of the distinctive zygosphene-zygantrum joint of snake vertebrae has been hypothesized to prevent axial torsion (twisting), but its function has never been tested experimentally. we used experimental manipulation of morphology to determine the role of the zygosphene-zygantrum articulation by micro-computed tomography (μct) scanning and 3d printing two mid-bo ... | 2020 | 32127376 |
| visual contrast and intensity affect perch choice of brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis) and boa constrictors (boa constrictor). | habitat structure can affect animal movement both by affecting the mechanical demands of locomotion and by influencing where animals choose to go. arboreal habitats facilitate studying path choice by animals because variation in branch structure has known mechanical consequences, and different branches create discrete choices. recent laboratory studies have found that arboreal snakes can use vision to select shapes and locations of destinations that mechanically facilitate bridging gaps. however ... | 2020 | 32070798 |
| feminization of male brown treesnake methyl ketone expression via steroid hormone manipulation. | pheromones are useful tools for the management of invasive invertebrates, but have proven less successful in field applications for invasive vertebrates. the brown treesnake, boiga irregularis, is an invasive predator that has fundamentally altered the ecology of guam. the development of control tools to manage boiga remains ongoing. skin-based, lipophilic pheromone components facilitate mating in brown treesnakes, with females producing the same long-chain, saturated and monounsaturated (ketomo ... | 2018 | 29508108 |
| where to rewild? a conceptual framework to spatially optimize ecological function. | rewilding is an approach aiming at restoring ecosystems to a self-sustaining state by restoring ecological function through active reintroductions or passive management. locations for most rewilding-through-reintroduction efforts today are selected based on the suitability of the habitat for the reintroduced species, often with little consideration of where the ecological function is most needed. we developed the spatial planning of rewilding effort (spore) framework to identify priority locatio ... | 2020 | 32126955 |
| lethal methemoglobinemia in the invasive brown treesnake after acetaminophen ingestion. | the invasive brown treesnake (boiga irregularis) has extirpated much of guam's native birdlife and poses significant threats to other parts of the western pacific. acetaminophen (apap) is a proven lethal oral toxicant in reptiles but the physiological mechanism is unknown. the effects of a lethal apap oral dose on methemoglobin (methb, non-oxygen carrying form) levels and other blood parameters were examined in brown treesnakes. co-oximetry was used to measure methb (%) and other hemoglobin spec ... | 2020 | 31964901 |
| genomic pedigree reconstruction identifies predictors of mating and reproductive success in an invasive vertebrate. | the persistence of an invasive species is influenced by its reproductive ecology, and a successful control program must operate on this premise. however, the reproductive ecology of invasive species may be enigmatic due to factors that also limit their management, such as cryptic coloration and behavior. we explored the mating and reproductive ecology of the invasive brown treesnake (bts: boiga irregularis) by reconstructing a multigenerational genomic pedigree based on 654 single nucleotide pol ... | 2019 | 31695893 |
| behavioral differences following ingestion of large meals and consequences for management of a harmful invasive snake: a field experiment. | many snakes are uniquely adapted to ingest large prey at infrequent intervals. digestion of large prey is metabolically and aerobically costly, and large prey boluses can impair snake locomotion, increasing vulnerability to predation. cessation of foraging and use of refugia with microclimates facilitating digestion are expected to be strategies employed by free-ranging snakes to cope with the demands of digestion while minimizing risk of predation. however, empirical observations of such submer ... | 2018 | 30397449 |
| landscape-level bird loss increases the prevalence of honeydew-producing insects and non-native ants. | bird exclusion experiments consistently show that birds exhibit strong top-down control of arthropods, including ants and the honeydew-producing insects (hpis) that they tend. however, it remains unclear whether the results of these small-scale bird exclosure experiments can be extrapolated to larger spatial scales. in this study, we use a natural bird removal experiment to compare the prevalence of ants and hpis between guam, an island whose bird community has been extirpated since the 1980s du ... | 2018 | 30367244 |
| the role of trust in public attitudes toward invasive species management on guam: a case study. | public attitudes toward invasive alien species management and trust in managers' ability to effectively manage non-native species can determine public support for conservation action. the island of guam has experienced widespread species loss and ecosystem transformation due to invasive species, most notably, the brown treesnake (boiga irregularis). despite guam's long history with invasives and extensive efforts to eradicate them, we know little about the sociological context of invasive specie ... | 2019 | 29954615 |
| neural basis of trigeminal chemo- and thermonociception in brown treesnakes, boiga irregularis (squamata: colubridae). | to elucidate the nociceptive system of the brown treesnake, boiga irregularis, we exposed isolated brown treesnake trigeminal neurons to thermal and chemical stimulation. we measured responses as changes in intracellular calcium using ratiometric fluorescent calcium imaging. responses to aversive thermal and chemical identified several classes of putative nociceptors. compounds that were aversive excited many trigeminal neurons, putative chemonociceptors. identification as nociceptors was furthe ... | 2018 | 29926181 |
| objectives and integrated approaches for the control of brown tree snakes: an updated overview. | after its inadvertent introduction to guam, the brown tree snake (boiga irregularis, bts) extirpated most of the island's native terrestrial vertebrates, presented a health hazard to small children, and had considerable economic ramifications. management of bts is aimed at a number of objectives, the foremost of which has been to deter its dispersal from guam to other locations. further objectives include reclaiming areas on guam as snake-free for reintroduction of native wildlife, to protect sm ... | 2018 | 29738931 |
| three-dimensional trajectories affect the epaxial muscle activity of arboreal snakes crossing gaps. | the need for long-axis support is widespread among non-aquatic vertebrates and may be particularly acute for arboreal snakes when many vertebrae span sizable gaps between branches with diverse orientations. hence, we used brown tree snakes (boiga irregularis) bridging gaps to test how three-dimensional trajectories affected muscle activity and whether these motor patterns differed from those for the locomotion of terrestrial snakes and movements of other vertebrates. we used five trajectories: p ... | 2017 | 28784683 |