Does mammalian prey abundance explain forest-edge use by snakes?

Carfagno, Gerardo L.F.; Heske, Edward J.

doi:10.2980/i1195-6860-13-3-293.1

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Although shrubs can provide cover for nests, we have shown that shrubs are heavily used by snakes (i.e., C. constrictor) and may contribute to increased predation pressure. Snakes may use shrub habitat because it affords cover and increased structural heterogeneity, which may provide protection from predators (Wilgers and Horne 2007), a favorable thermal environment (Blouin-Demers and Weatherhead 2001a), or higher prey densities (Carfagno et al 2006). Studies in the tropics have shown that snakes are attracted to shrubby edges because of an increased density of small mammals (Heard et al 2004), but studies in temperate regions have not shown the same relationship, possibly due to greater prey diversity or because thermoregulatory needs place a greater constraint on habitat selection (Carfagno et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking snake habitat use to nest predation risk in grassland birds: the dangers of shrub cover

2010

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Extremes in rangeland management, varying from too-frequent fire and intensive grazing to the suppression of both, threaten rangeland ecosystems worldwide. Intensive fire and grazing denude and homogenize vegetation whereas their suppression increases woody cover. Although habitat loss is implicated in grassland bird declines, degradation through intensive management or neglect also decreases breeding habitat and may reduce nesting success through increased rates of nest predation. Snakes are important nest predators, but little is known about how habitat use in snakes relates to predation risk for grassland birds nesting within tallgrass prairie subjected to different grazing and fire frequencies. We evaluated nest survival in the context of habitat used by nesting songbirds and two bird-eating snakes, the eastern yellowbelly racer Coluber constrictor flaviventris and Great Plains ratsnake Pantherophis emoryi. Daily nest survival rates decreased with increasing shrub cover and decreasing vegetation height, which characterize grasslands that have been neglected or intensively managed, respectively. Discriminant function analysis revealed that snake habitats were characterized by higher shrub cover, whereas successful nests were more likely to occur in areas with tall grass and forbs but reduced shrub cover. Because snakes often use shrub habitat, birds nesting in areas with increased shrub cover may be at higher risk of nest predation by snakes in addition to other predators known to use shrub habitat (e.g., mid-sized carnivores and avian predators). Depredated nests also occurred outside the discriminant space of the snakes, indicating that other predators (e.g., ground squirrels Spermophilus spp. and bullsnakes Pituophis catenifer) may be important in areas with denuded cover. Targeted removal of shrubs may increase nest success by minimizing the activity of nest predators attracted to shrub cover.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking snake habitat use to nest predation risk in grassland birds: the dangers of shrub cover

2010

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“…3). Ratsnakes are an edge-associated species (Durner and Gates, 1993;BlouinDemers and Weatherhead, 2001a,b;Carfagno et al, 2006) and appear to use edges for the thermoregulatory heterogeneity that they provide (Blouin-Demers and Weatherhead, 2001b;Carfagno et al, 2006). As climate warms, edges may continue to provide thermal refugia for ratsnakes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Thus, forest edge extended 15 m into the forest and 15 m out from the forest. We chose 30 m as the definition of edge to be consistent with studies of snake habitat use (e.g., Carfagno et al, 2006). Although wetlands occurred at our study site, they were not used by ratsnakes and were excluded from analyses.…”

Section: Thermal Landscape and Inputsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Indirect effect of climate change: Shifts in ratsnake behavior alter intensity and timing of avian nest predation

DeGregorio

Westervelt

Sperry

2015

Ecological Modelling

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“…However, for snakes whose prey is locally abundant, there is the opportunity to obtain a better view of their feeding ecology (e.g. Godley 1980;Carfagno et al 2006;Luiselli 2006aLuiselli , 2006b). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The golden lanceheadBothrops insularis(Serpentes: Viperidae) relies on two seasonally plentiful bird species visiting its island habitat

Marques

Martins

Develey³

et al. 2012

Journal of Natural History

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Adult individuals of the island pitviper Bothrops insularis have a diet based on birds. We analysed bird species recorded in the gut of this snake and found that it relies on two out of 41 bird species recorded on the island. When present, these two prey species were among the most abundant passerine birds on the island. A few other migrant birds were very occasionally recorded as prey. A resident bird species (Troglodytes musculus) is the most abundant passerine on the island, but seems able to avoid predation by the viper. Bothrops insularis is most commonly found on the ground. However, during the abundance peak of the tyrannid passerine Elaenia chilensis on the island, more snakes were found on vegetation than on the ground. We suggest that one cause may be that these birds forage mostly on vegetation, and thus cause the snakes to search for prey on this arboreal substratum.

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Does mammalian prey abundance explain forest-edge use by snakes?

Cited by 31 publications

References 20 publications

Linking snake habitat use to nest predation risk in grassland birds: the dangers of shrub cover

Linking snake habitat use to nest predation risk in grassland birds: the dangers of shrub cover

Indirect effect of climate change: Shifts in ratsnake behavior alter intensity and timing of avian nest predation

The golden lanceheadBothrops insularis(Serpentes: Viperidae) relies on two seasonally plentiful bird species visiting its island habitat

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