What observation might correlate a dip in Western Rat Snake size or number, indicating their role as a bio-indicator?
Answer
A correlation with an unseasonal crash in the local mouse population
Because the Western Rat Snake's survival and growth depend heavily on consistent caloric intake from small vertebrates, changes in their population metrics can reflect underlying ecosystem health. If a wildlife survey notes reduced growth rates or lower reproductive success among the snakes, it can often be linked directly to a scarcity of their primary food source. For adults, a sustained failure to secure large meals, such as a crash in the local population of mice or rats due to environmental stress or other predation pressures, directly translates into reduced energy reserves for the snake population.
Related Questions
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