Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations Biological Sciences Winter 2009 Ecology of Neotropical Arboreal Snakes and Behavior of New World Mollusk-Eating Snakes Julie M. Ray Old Dominion University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, and the Environmental Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Ray, Julie M.. "Ecology of Neotropical Arboreal Snakes and Behavior of New World Mollusk-Eating Snakes" (2009). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), dissertation, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/ysd1-2855 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/84 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. ECOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKES AND BEHAVIOR OF NEW WORLD MOLLUSK-EATING SNAKES by Julie M. Ray M.S. May 2004, Northern Illinois University B.S. May 2000, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY December 2009 Approved by: Alan H. SavTtzky^Director) Christopher A. Bincklej (Member) ABSTRACT ECOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKES AND BEHAVIOR OF NEW WORLD MOLLUSK-EATING SNAKES Julie M. Ray Old Dominion University, 2009 Director: Dr. Alan H. Savitzky The Neotropics is a biologically diverse region that provides many opportunities for ecological and behavioral studies. I utilized the speciose ophidian fauna of central Panama to explore the general ecology of arboreal snakes, the defensive behaviors of the snake community, and the diet of mollusk-eating snakes.