Posted by:
ratsnakehaven
at Fri Nov 11 21:58:45 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by ratsnakehaven ]
I believe species in the northernmost parts of their range are limited in their northern range extensions by their ability to reproduce. One of the few benefits of living so far north is that you get to look at limiting factors of survival. I don't believe they are limited by food availability, but by the ability to produce offspring and for those offspring to survive their first big winter. Much has been published about the tremendous winter die-off of baby snakes in the northern part of their range. In n. MI it can be easily more than half. I've seen winters I think the entire production for the year was lost. In other words, some springs there are no babies seen here. In good years there are hundreds on our property alone. Thanks for listening. Later...TC.
[ Hide Replies ]
- To sum up the thread on northern vs. western deserts, - FR, Fri Nov 11 12:19:49 2005
- Thanks for the summary - Mark Banczak, Fri Nov 11 13:37:11 2005
- RE: To sum up the thread on northern vs. western deserts, - ratsnakehaven, Fri Nov 11 16:34:40 2005
- RE: To sum up the thread on northern vs. western deserts, - Phil Peak, Fri Nov 11 16:59:34 2005
- RE: To sum up the thread on northern vs. western deserts, - guero, Fri Nov 11 21:08:03 2005
- RE: To sum up the thread on northern vs. western deserts, - HKM, Fri Nov 11 23:24:25 2005
- Question... - ratsnakehaven, Sat Nov 12 21:03:14 2005
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One more little note... - ratsnakehaven, Fri Nov 11 21:58:45 2005