ZIMS in Research: How Growth Data is Helping Save the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
- By Mary Ellen Amodeo
As we prepare for the upcoming Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium, to be held in July, we are reviewing highlights from research shared by leading conservation scientists at the inaugural 2024 symposium. Here is a look at an important study using ZIMS zoo and aquarium data to help inform a Species Survival Plan, shared by Dr. Devin Chen, MA, PhD, and Postdoctoral Fellow in Wildlife Science at Toronto Zoo.
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake might not be the first animal you think of when you hear about endangered species, but it’s one of the most threatened snakes in North America. In Ontario, the population is dangerously close to disappearing. That’s why zoos and conservationists are working together through a Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program, coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), to breed and reintroduce these snakes into the wild.
One key part of that effort? Understanding how these snakes grow, and how to support their health at every life stage.
What Growth Can Tell Us
Knowing how fast an animal grows helps conservationists make better decisions about its care and potential release into the wild. It affects when an animal can breed, how likely it is to survive after release, and how to provide proper care in a zoo setting.
While scientists have studied wild massasauga growth, there hasn’t been much data on how these snakes grow in zoos, until now.Â
Using ZIMS to Study Growth Over Time
Dr. Devin Chen from the Toronto Zoo led a study to fill that gap. She used the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) – a global database that tracks animal records in zoos and aquariums – to study growth patterns in over 110 eastern massasaugas kept at 23 different institutions.
By analyzing weight data over several life stages—from hatchlings to adults—Dr. Chen discovered that:
- Snakes grow fastest between 12 and 35 months of age.
- Females grow faster than males during this stage.
- Whether a snake was born in the wild or in a zoo didn’t affect its long-term growth.
- The zoo where a snake was housed made a difference, especially during the early months of life.
Why This Matters for Conservation
These findings give zoos important benchmarks for healthy growth. With this knowledge, animal care teams can track whether a snake is developing as expected, make adjustments if needed, and plan more effectively for breeding or reintroduction. Even more importantly, the study shows that zoo-raised snakes grow in ways similar to their wild counterparts. That’s a good sign for reintroduction efforts, meaning zoo-born snakes are likely strong candidates for release.
ZIMS made this study possible by providing access to years of animal records from multiple institutions. With a shared platform like ZIMS, researchers can look beyond the data of a single zoo and identify broader patterns that support conservation across a species’ entire range.
Dr. Chen’s work is a powerful example of how global data can lead to local impact—helping ensure that the eastern massasauga rattlesnake has a future in the wild.
Join the second annual Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium
If you would like to learn more about the many fascinating ways that researchers are using ZIMS data for research, then be sure to join the second annual Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium on 16 July.Â
The free, event will be held virtually and promises to showcase a variety of interesting wildlife research. You can catch up on last year’s event, as well as Dr. Chen’s presentation through the video below.Â
Global information
serving conservation.