The snake community of Serra do Mendanha, in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil: composition, abundance, richness and diversity in areas with different conservation degrees

Abstract

We studied and compared parameters of the snake community of the Serra do Mendanha, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil (22° 48'-22° 51' S and 43° 31'-43° 28' W), such as: abundance distribution, richness, species diversity and biomass, between forested areas, areas under regeneration and agriculture areas (banana plantations); to obtain information about the natural history and facilitate the development of future research. For capturing the snakes we used: pitfall traps, drift-fences and visual search (diurnal and nocturnal) along four transects for each habitat. The captured snakes were measured with a tape and caliper, weighed with dynamometers and sexed with the use of a catheter. The animals marked (with ventral scales cut) were released for posterior recapture. One individual per species was fixed and deposited at the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. We undertook an effort of 840 man/hour, and captured a total of 207 snakes belonging to 25 species (Colubridae 80.2%, Elapidae 12.6%, Viperidae 6.3% and Boidae 0.9%). The most abundant were: Liophis miliaris (n = 33), Micrurus corallinus and Chironius fuscus (both with n = 26); the least abundant: Elapomorphus quinquelineatus, Siphlophis compressus and Tropidodryas serra (all with n = 1). The species that contributed the greatest biomass were Spilotes pullatus (7,925 g), Chironius laevicollis (4,694 g), Liophis miliaris (3,675 g) and Pseustes sulphureus (3,050 g); those that contributed the lowest biomass were: Siphlophis compressus, Tropidodryas serra (both with 4 g) and Elapomorphus quinquelineatus (3 g). We found significant differences between the sampled habitats at the Serra do Mendanha (undisturbed forest, secondary forest and banana plantations). The results showed that a great reduction in the abundance, richness, diversity and biomass of the snakes occurs when the native forest is replaced by banana plantations.Keywords: Snake community, snake diversity, forest conservation degree, Atlantic Rainforest, Serra do Mendanha. A comunidade de serpentes da Serra do Mendanha, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Sudeste do Brasil: composição, abundância, riqueza e diversidade em áreas com diferentes graus de conservação ResumoEstudamos e comparamos parâmetros da comunidade de serpentes da Serra do Mendanha, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (22° 48'-22° 51' S e 43° 28'-43° 31' W), tais como: distribuição de abundância, riqueza e diversidade de espé-cies e biomassa total, entre áreas florestadas, áreas em regeneração e áreas agrícolas (bananais); para obter informações sobre a história natural e facilitar o desenvolvimento de futuros estudos. Para a captura dos animais foram usadas armadilhas de queda (pitfalls) com cercas-guia e procura visual (diurna e noturna) ao longo de quatro transectos por ambiente. As serpentes capturadas foram identificadas, medidas com trena e paquímetro, pesadas com dinamômetro e sexadas com uso de cateter. Um exemplar por espécie foi fixado e depositado como material testemunho no Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. Os demais indiví...

Composition and ecological patterns of snake assemblages in an Amazon-Cerrado Transition Zone in Brazil

“…The larger number of species found in the highly anthropogenic gallery forest compared to the preserved gallery forest is a pattern which has also been reported by Pontes et al (2009), who compared forest areas with banana plantations. Intense human activities, typical of agricultural areas, tend to result in a reduction of snake abundance, diversity, and species richness (Zug et al, 2001).…”

Herpetofauna do Parque Natural Municipal de Sertão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

“…Piroli & Chaffe (2003) observaram, neste fragmento, a distribuição irregular das espécies florestais. Pontes et al (2009) sugerem que a ausência de microhábitats potenciais para uso das espécies de serpentes em áreas florestadas para a termorregulação, forrageamento, abrigo e sítios de ovoposição, reduzem a riqueza e abundância de serpentes. A diferença na composição dessas comunidades pode ser um indício de que as alterações ambientais interferem na distribuição das espécies.…”

Chironius fuscus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Colubridae): distribution extension, new state record and variation in southern Brazil

“…In Brazil, C. fuscus was recorded in all Amazonian states (Hoge 1967;Hoge et al 1972;Cunha and Nascimento 1982;1993;Cunha et al 1985;Nascimento et al 1988;Zimmermann and Rodrigues 1990;Dixon et al 1993;Silva-Jr. 1993;Silva-Jr. and Sites-Jr. 1995;Martins and Oliveira 1998;Yuki et al 1999;Frota et al 2005). In Eastern Brazil, the species is associated to the Atlantic Forest domain, with records from Pernambuco to Paraná states (Amaral 1978;Bailey 1955;Marques et al 2001;Freitas 2003;Marques and Sazima 2004;Argôlo 2004;Bérnils et al 2007;Centeno et al 2008;Pontes et al 2009;Freitas 2011;Vrcibradic et al 2011). Certainly, the records of this species for the state of Paraná (Marques et al 2001;Bérnils et al 2007) are based on herpetological collections.…”