Background
Reproduction is potentially the most important processes any animal goes through in its life cycle. Throughout the history of vertebrates, a variety of reproductive strategies have evolved. This diversity is especially present among reptiles, which exhibit a wide range of strategies. Despite this, reproduction and its effects on the organism are understudied for many species, hampering insights into evolution and ecology. Norway has three snake species, with different reproduction modes. One species lays soft-shelled eggs, while the two others are viviparous. Obviously, these two processes have a vastly different impact on the female body. In this project, you will study how these differences are reflected in the skeleton of the snakes. The inner microstructure of animal skeletons reflect physiology and biomechanics and is a valuable data source for interpreting their biology.
Research aim
Uncover the effect of pregnancy and egg-laying in Norwegian snakes on vertebral histology and microanatomy.
Methods
You will use already collected snake material from the Norwegian snake species, and study the inner microstructure of the vertebral column. This can be done using different approaches, including histological thin sections and digital CT data, and the results can be compared to other vertebrates that we are working on.
The project will be supervised by Feiko Miedema and Lene Liebe Delsett, as part of the EXPLAC project.