engleski

Classification Modelling of Physiological Stages in Captive Balkan Whip Snakes Using Blood Biochemistry Parameters

Captive Balkan whip snakes (Hierophis gemonensis) were studied to determine blood biochemical parameters that are useful indicators of physiological status during different periods of the biological cycle, including pre- and post-hibernation, hibernation, sexual activity, and normal activity. In addition to classic statistical analyses, six machine-learning methods utilizing ten times ten-fold cross-validation evaluation were used in order to determine the best classification model for the blood biochemistry data. Results of the machine-learning models indicated that using simultaneously three of the blood biochemistry variables – urea, glucose, and lactate dehydrogenase is enough to obtain highly accurate discrimination between different physiological conditions during the biological cycle. This approach clarifies the role and importance of physiological processes which show diversity of functional characteristics of various biochemical parameters in ecological relation to snakes held under laboratory conditions which mimic natural environmental changes.

Balkan whip snake; blood biochemistry; biological cycle; machine learning techniques

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