31st Annual Student Research Conference
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) use for Controlling the Populations of the Invasive California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
Jake A. Friebohle♦
Dr. Chad Montgomery, Faculty Mentor
Invasive species are threatening biodiversity and ecosystem stability globally. An emerging case of invasion occurs in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain with the introduction of California Kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula. Acetaminophen could be an effective control of invasive populations of California Kingsnakes in Gran Canaria. Dead mice laced with a known acetaminophen dose (0mg, 40mg, 60mg, and 80mg) were fed to California Kingsnakes from Gran Canaria. I tested 20 males and 20 female snakes for each treatment, and no individual was tested more than once. After snakes ate the treated mouse they were monitored for mortality and time of death. Lethality for each treatment was 0% for 0mg, 87.5% for 40mg, and 100% for 60mg and 80mg, and time of death decreased with higher dosages (dose of acetaminophen/ kg of snake). Acetaminophen could be an efficient and effective population control method because it is lethal at low doses.
Keywords: Invasive Speices, California Kingsnake, Acetaminophen, Gran Canaria , Population Control
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 405-1
Location: MG 2050
Time: 2:30