Effects of off-road vehicles on reproductive success of pine snakes (Pituophus melanoleucus) in the New Jersey pinelands

Burger, Joanna; Zappalorti, Robert T.; Gochfeld, Michael; DeVito, Emile

doi:10.1007/s11252-007-0022-y

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Excavation can take several days, and digging females normally rest during the hottest part of the day in the shade of pine trees. Nesting females and their nests are vulnerable to off-road vehicles (ORVs), poachers, and predators, as are hatchlings [ 19 , 34 – 37 ]. Hatchlings presumably find their way to hibernacula by following adult scent trails [ 9 , 38 , 39 ].…”

Section: Methods and Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hatchling survival to breeding age in Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the New Jersey Pine Barrens: Human effects on recruitment from 1986 to 2017

Burger

Zappalorti²,

Gochfeld

2018

PLoS ONE

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To conserve threatened/endangered species, we need to understand the factors contributing to reproductive success and recruitment to reproductive stage. Obtaining this information is difficult for snakes because they are secretive, are not easy to locate at the same stage each year, and are sometimes sparsely distributed. We determined nest fate, hatchling growth and survival to age 5 years, and recruitment to breeding age of Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in New Jersey Pine Barrens from 1986 to 2017. Pine Snakes are ‘threatened’ in New Jersey and in other states, and are at risk because of increased human population, habitat loss, predation, and poaching. Age of first-breeding was 4-years, based on snout-vent length of gravid and laying females, and snout-vent length of females followed as hatchlings to 5-years. Mean clutch size (+ 1 SE) was 9.5 + 0.3 (N = 53). The annual percent of nests in which eggs hatched averaged 25% (N = 288 nests), and varied among 5-year periods (5% to 30%/year). Of lab-reared hatchlings released into natal nests (N = 90), 26% (2015) and 32% (2016) reached hibernacula excavated in 2016 and 2017. The sex ratio of hatchlings reaching hibernation sites (N = 181) between 1986 and 2015 was skewed toward females (74/106, 59% females), and varied among 5-year periods (47–75% females). Once hatchlings reached a hibernaculum, there was a sex-related difference in survival. For hatchlings reaching a monitored hibernaculum, survival to 3-years was 35% in females and 40% in males, and to 4-years was 25% in females and 33% in males. Using these data, only 10% of females reached 3 years (first possible breeding age), and 7% survived to 4-years. Methodological problems with determining survival rates during these early critical years are discussed.

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Section: Methods and Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Snakes are weighed and measured, and hibernacula are reconstructed the same day (we return all snakes into their den on the same day [ 18 ]). Protocols and methods for excavation and study of Pine Snakes in hibernacula are described fully in Burger and Zappalorti [ 18 , 26 ] and Burger et al [ 25 , 37 ].…”

Section: Methods and Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hatchling survival to breeding age in Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the New Jersey Pine Barrens: Human effects on recruitment from 1986 to 2017

Burger

Zappalorti²,

Gochfeld

2018

PLoS ONE

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“…The main threat faced by pine snakes throughout their range is habitat loss [53,54], although predation, mortality due to road and off-road vehicles, and poaching of eggs, hatchlings and adults are conservation concerns. The presence of off-road vehicles results in a decrease of recruitment of hatchlings from 28 % to about 15 %; thus presence of off road vehicles can cut recruitment nearly in half [55].…”

Section: Northern Pine Snakementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paved roads are barriers to movement, mating, genetic transfer among populations [53]. Mortality from highway traffic and offroad vehicles reduce nesting success and recruitment to nearly zero [55]. Pine Snakes are sedentary, and their home range in New Jersey averages about 70 ha, with a maximum of nearly 190 ha [60].…”

Section: Northern Pine Snakementioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat protection for sensitive species: Balancing species requirements and human constraints using bioindicators as examples

Burger¹,

Gochfeld²,

Powers³

et al. 2013

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Vertebrates have particular habitat needs as a function of life cycle and reproductive stage. This paper uses four species as examples to illustrate a paradigm of environmental assessment that includes physical, biological, toxicological and human dimensions. Species used include Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens), northern pine snake (Pituophis m. melanoleucus), and red knot (Calidris canutus rufa, a sandpiper). The life cycles of these species include reliance on habitats that are aquatic, terrestrial, aerial, or combinations of these. Two species (frog, snake) are sedentary and two (salmon, sandpiper) are long-distance migrants. While some measurement endpoints are similar for all species (reproductive success, longevity, contaminant loads), others vary depending upon life cycle and habitat. Salmon have a restricted breeding habitat requiring coarse sand, moderate current, and high oxygen levels for adequate egg incubation. Leopard frogs require still water of appropriate temperature for development of eggs. Pine snakes require sand compaction sufficient to sustain a nest burrow without collapsing, and full sun penetration to the sand to allow their eggs in underground nests to incubate and hatch. Red knots migrate to high Arctic tundra, but incubate their own eggs, so temperature is less of a constraint, but feedinging habitat is. These habitat differences suggest the measurement endpoints that are essential to assess habitat suitability and to manage habitats to achieve stable and sustainable populations. Habitat use and population stability have implications for human activities for some, but not all species. Salmon are important economically, recreationally, and as part of Native American culture and diet. Red knots are of interest to people mainly because of their long, intercontinental migrations and declining populations. Other measurement endpoints for these four species illustrate the differences and similarities in metrics necessary to assess habitat needs. The implications of these differences are discussed.

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“…habitat loss and habitat alteration) to plant and animal communities vary with the degree and type of disturbance. The negative effects of disturbance have been well documented and can result in species decline by direct impact (Minton 1968;Dodd 1987;Burger et al 2007) or by indirect impact through altering dispersal, breeding success and genetic exchange (Wilcox & Murphy 1985;Pither &Taylor 1998;Kurki et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of disturbance on small mammal community structure in the New Jersey Pinelands, USA

Shenko¹,

Bien²,

Spotila³

et al. 2012

Integrative Zoology

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We compared small mammal community composition among undisturbed habitats and habitats disturbed by military operations on Warren Grove Gunnery Range (WGR) in the New Jersey Pinelands. WGR is one of the largest tracts of protected land within this globally rare ecosystem. Disturbance in the form of fire, mowing, soil disruption and logging has had a large effect on small mammal occurrence and distribution. Of the 14 small mammal species that occur in the Pinelands, 9 live on WGR, including large populations of the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi Baird, 1858) and meadow jumping mouse [Zapus hudsonius (Zimmermann, 1780)]. Simpson's Index of Diversity was 0 for most disturbed sites and was generally greater in wetlands than in uplands. White-footed mouse [Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818)] was the most common species on WGR and had a dominant effect on species diversity and community similarity indices. It dominated upland habitats and was the only species to occur in several disturbed habitats, whereas all 9 species occurred in wetlands. Principal components analysis indicated that most variation in species diversity was explained by disturbance and differences between upland and wetland habitats, due to presence of white-footed mice in disturbed and upland sites. Meadow jumping mice, southern bog lemmings and red-back voles [Myodes gapperi (Vigors, 1830)] were positively correlated with wetland habitats, and pine voles [Microtus pinetorum (Le Conte, 1830)], short-tail shrews [Blarina brevicauda (Say, 1823)] and eastern chipmunks [Tamias striatus (Linnaeus, 1758)] were associated with uplands. Habitat heterogeneity at WGR, including extensive undisturbed wetlands and uplands supported a rich diversity of small mammal species.

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Effects of off-road vehicles on reproductive success of pine snakes (Pituophus melanoleucus) in the New Jersey pinelands

Cited by 15 publications

References 34 publications

Hatchling survival to breeding age in Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the New Jersey Pine Barrens: Human effects on recruitment from 1986 to 2017

Hatchling survival to breeding age in Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the New Jersey Pine Barrens: Human effects on recruitment from 1986 to 2017

Habitat protection for sensitive species: Balancing species requirements and human constraints using bioindicators as examples

Effects of disturbance on small mammal community structure in the New Jersey Pinelands, USA

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