Hale Vanessa L, MacGowan Brian, Corriveau Lorraine, Huse David C, Currylow Andrea F T, Thompson Steve
1 Center for Individualized Medicine, Microbiome Program, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
2 Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W State St., West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2017 Jul;53(3):591-595. doi: 10.7589/2016-08-186. Epub 2017 Feb 13.
Radiotelemetry transmitters have become critical to studies of wildlife ecology. However, little is known about how transmitter implantation surgery affects the mobility of some species, including the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus . Tracking snake movement can provide insights into the effects of transmitter implantation. During 2007-11, 71 radio transmitters were surgically implanted intracoelomically in 47 timber rattlesnakes. Over 20 of these snakes underwent surgery at least twice in 5 yr to replace old transmitters. Surgeries were performed under general anesthesia with a local nerve block at the site of implantation, 20 cm cranial to the cloaca. Snakes were also administered postsurgical meloxicam and enrofloxacin every 24 h for three doses. Two to five days after surgery, snakes were released at their original locations and radiotracked regularly during the active seasons (April-October 2007-11). Average daily movement data (distance traveled) were compiled for each snake. Snakes undergoing transmitter surgery in a given year did not differ significantly in distance traveled compared to snakes that had transmitters but did not have surgery in that year. Distance traveled for each snake did not differ before or after surgery or between weeks 1 and 2 postsurgery, indicating that the transmitter implantation did not alter snake movement.
无线电遥测发射器已成为野生动物生态学研究的关键工具。然而，对于发射器植入手术如何影响某些物种的活动能力，我们知之甚少，其中包括木纹响尾蛇（Crotalus horridus）。追踪蛇的活动可以深入了解发射器植入的影响。在2007年至2011年期间，对47条木纹响尾蛇进行了71次发射器腹腔内手术植入。其中超过20条蛇在5年内至少接受了两次手术以更换旧的发射器。手术在全身麻醉下进行，在泄殖腔前方20厘米的植入部位进行局部神经阻滞。术后每24小时给蛇注射美洛昔康和恩诺沙星，共注射三剂。手术后两到五天，将蛇放回其原始位置，并在活动季节（2007年至2011年4月至10月）定期进行无线电追踪。为每条蛇汇编了平均每日移动数据（行进距离）。与当年装有发射器但未接受手术的蛇相比，当年接受发射器手术的蛇在行进距离上没有显著差异。每条蛇在手术前后或手术后第1周和第2周之间的行进距离没有差异，这表明发射器植入并未改变蛇的活动。
