Spatial Ecology and Survivorship of Resident and Translocated Hognose Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos)

Plummer, Michael V.; Mills, Nathan E.

doi:10.2307/1565272

Cited by 71 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Habitat selection.-Heterodon platirhinos in the park used forested areas that constituted the majority of the area, but also demonstrated strong selection of open habitats relative to their availability, which is consistent with other published studies and natural history observations (Platt 1969;Plummer and Mills 2000;Lagory et al 2009; but see Robson 2011). Goulet et al (2015) describe habitat selection at the home range scale of snakes from the same study area as Lagory et al (2009), and showed non-random selection for Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and pine (Pinus sp.)…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…However, we acknowledge that this is may be a function of the small number of snakes tracked. Lagory et al (2009) reported an average MCP of 51.7 ± 14.7 ha, Robson (2011) reported 39.43 ± 6.3 ha, and Plummer and Mills (2000) reported 50.2 ± 6.4 ha, but Buchanan (2012) reported a similar MCP of 31.0 ± 15.6 ha. A subsequent study of home range at the same site as Lagory et al (2009) revealed an even larger home range of 72.7 ± 35.3 ha (n = 5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Indeed, as with field ecology in general, snake ecology is severely limited by a lack of replication in field studies within and among species (Belovsky et al 2004;Mullin and Siegel 2009), and this confounds the ability to make sound conservation decisions. The few published studies suggest smaller home ranges in the northeastern past of range (New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the USA, and Ontario, Canada) than in the core of the geographic range (Plummer and Mills 2000;Lagory et al 2009;Robson 2011;Buchanan 2012). Habitat selection has been studied even less extensively, and with less methodological replication.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach

Vanek¹

2013

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Abstract.-Populations at the edge of the natural range of a species may deal with ecological challenges that differ from those at the core of the range. These differences can result in different patterns of resource use, which may confound resource managers and conservation biologists who must develop management strategies based upon the best available information. One such species is the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos), a species of conservation concern in the northeastern part of its geographic range due to habitat loss, declines in amphibian prey species, and wanton killing. To address these knowledge gaps, we used radio-telemetry to study the spatial ecology and natural history of six H. platirhinos at the northern-most portion of the range of the species in New York. Snakes that we tracked had mean home-range sizes (100% minimum convex polygon = 23.7 ± 21.2 ha) smaller than populations reported in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Arkansas, and Ontario. Snakes also used forests extensively, although compositional analysis revealed that they selected open and edge habitats in greater proportion to their availability, consistent with other studies. Snakes were more likely to be found in close proximity to coarse woody debris than was randomly available, and they selected microhabitats with denser vegetation than average, but we found no evidence of selection for ground cover, canopy cover, or proximity to trees.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach

Vanek¹

2013

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“…Though LDT is likely to remain a popular tool for managing snake populations, and it has been studied in a variety of species (Reinert and Rupert, 1999;Plummer and Mills, 2000;Nowak et al, 2002;Butler et al, 2005;Brown et al, 2008;Roe et al, 2010), studies have largely focused on the effects of LDT on spatial ecology (movements and activity range size) and mortality. Of the aforementioned studies, only Roe et al (2010) incorporated study of physiological impacts of LDT, studying the impact on body temperature in Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia s. sipedon).…”

Section: Catenatus)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mitigation of human-snake conflict through the relocation of nuisance animals has been the primary motivation behind snake translocation (Hardy et al, 2001;Nowak et al, 2002;Butler et al, 2005;Kingsbury and Attum, 2009). However, now that snake declines are being documented (Kingsbury and Attum, 2009), translocation has increasingly been investigated as a purely conservation tool, through the augmentation of a current population to increase its viability or the creation of a new population in a part of a species' historical range (Plummer and Mills, 2000;King et al, 2004;Kingsbury and Attum, 2009;Roe et al, 2010). Since translocation is likely to remain a popular management tool, especially for venomous snakes, it is crucial that its effects on subject animals be further studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The behavioral and physiological effects of long-distance translocation on Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus)

Heiken¹

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Kory Hayden HeikenLong-distance translocation (LDT), the relocation of an animal outside of its home range, is a popular strategy for mitigating conflict between humans and venomous snakes. While LDT has been demonstrated to prevent a snake's return to the location of capture, it may result in increased mortality, magnitude and frequency of movements, and activity range sizes. Thus, it has generally been discouraged. However, the effects of LDT on stress physiology and thermoregulation have gone largely unstudied in reptiles.To elucidate these effects, we conducted an experimental LDT on Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) on Vandenberg Air Force base in California.Fourteen snakes were monitored, beginning in mid July 2012 and ending in early September. Each was implanted with a radio transmitter and iButton temperature data logger within the coelomic cavity. In late August, seven snakes were translocated to similar habitat, approximately 30 kilometers away, where they were monitored for 9-13 days. Prior to translocation, all snakes were tracked every other day, while after translocation all snakes were tracked every day. A 'Before-After Control-Impact' (BACI) experimental design was used, with a dedicated control group, but also with the translocated group serving as control prior to the act of translocation.We collected data on snake body temperatures (T b ) and temperatures (T e ) of physical operative temperature models (OTMs) that simulated non-thermoregulating snakes and allowed for a comparison of habitat thermal quality between our two study sites. Together, T b and T e allowed for a formal assessment of thermoregulatory effectiveness. Additionally, blood concentrations of corticosterone (CORT), the primary stress hormone in reptiles, and testosterone (T), a metric of male reproductive ability that is often negatively associated with CORT, were assayed just prior to translocation and again at the end of the study. During each of the two sampling periods, in addition to baseline hormone concentrations, stressed hormone concentrations were assayed following the application of an acute stressor (the baseline blood draw plus one hour's captivity in a plastic bucket). We also studied the effect of LDT on the CORT and T response (stressed concentration minus baseline concentration). Furthermore, we evaluated how LDT impacted a suite of behaviors related to defense and movement, as well as snake body mass and body condition index (BCI). Finally, we assessed the effects of LDT on movements and spatial use (activity range size). We sought to assess the effects of LDT on movements, spatial use, and behavior in order to facilitate comparison with other translocation studies, as well as to evaluate those impacts in a physiological context. In addition to assessing the impact of LDT on CORT and T separately, we v evaluated a relationship between the two steroid hormones, and, using a model selection approach, we evaluated relationships between CORT and T and movements and spatial use.The thermal quality of the h...

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Spatial ecology and habitat selection of eastern hognose snakes

et al. 2017

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The eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is a species of conservation concern, especially in the northeastern portion of its range. They remain relatively common at Cape Cod National Seashore, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA, where we studied their spatial ecology and habitat selection. We radio‐tracked 17 adult snakes (10 F, 7 M) from May 2009 to November 2011, yielding 765 relocations. We conducted a use‐availability analysis to investigate patterns of microhabitat selection using a subset of snake locations. We conducted a compositional analysis of habitat selection at multiple spatial scales within home ranges using a high‐resolution (1‐m pixel size) vegetation cover map of the study area. Snakes moved frequently and had large home ranges (x¯ = 35.4 ha) relative to other snake species of similar body size but exhibited variation in home range size among individuals (1–209 ha). Movements peaked at different times of year for each sex, and were most different between sexes in fall. In gravid females, movement was significantly greater in the 2‐week post‐oviposition period versus the 2‐week pre‐oviposition period. Estimates of home range and average daily movements (x¯ = 30.1 m/day) were lower than estimates from other studies of eastern hognose snakes, possibly because of a greater density of resources at our study area. Probability of snake habitat use increased with grass and leaf litter and decreased with open soil. Compositional analysis revealed a strong avoidance of open dune areas. A comparison of edge density between use and random locations within home ranges revealed an apparent preference for edge habitat. We recommend that resource managers should limit recreational disturbance to and maintain the patchy mosaic of early successional vegetation with abundant edge to ensure the persistence of appropriate habitat for the species. We identified the timing of peak seasonal movements and recommend that this information be used to help prevent road mortality for this important population. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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Spatial Ecology and Survivorship of Resident and Translocated Hognose Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos)

Cited by 71 publications

References 21 publications

Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach

Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach

The behavioral and physiological effects of long-distance translocation on Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus)

Spatial ecology and habitat selection of eastern hognose snakes

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