An Improved Surgical Implantation Method for Radio-Tracking Snakes

Reinert, Howard K.; Cundall, David

doi:10.2307/1444674

Cited by 315 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

144

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For each python we measured snout-vent length (SVL), total length (TL), tail girth, and mass at the time of transmitter implantation. Each python was implanted intraperitoneally (Reinert and Cundall 1982;Greene 1999, 2000) with two VHF radio transmitters obtained from Holohil Systems Ltd. Small transmitters (11 g, 40 9 11 mm) were used for snakes less than 16 kg and larger transmitters (25 g, 45 9 11 mm) were used in larger snakes. Transmitter weights were less than 0.5% of each snake's body mass.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A recent record cold spell in southern Florida (2-11 January 2010) provided an opportunity to evaluate responses of an established population of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to a prolonged period of unusually cold weather. We observed behavior, characterized thermal biology, determined fate of radio-telemetered (n = 10) and non-telemetered (n = 104) Burmese pythons, and analyzed habitat and environmental conditions experienced by pythons during and after a historic cold spell. Telemetered pythons had been implanted with radio-transmitters and temperature-recording data loggers prior to the cold snap. Only one of 10 telemetered pythons survived the cold snap, whereas 59 of 99 (60%) non-telemetered pythons for which we determined fate survived. Body temperatures of eight dead telemetered pythons fluctuated regularly prior to 9 January 2010, then declined substantially during the cold period (9-11 January) and exhibited no further evidence of active thermoregulation indicating they were likely dead. Unusually cold temperatures in January 2010 were clearly associated with mortality of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Some radiotelemetered pythons appeared to exhibit maladaptive behavior during the cold spell, including attempting to bask instead of retreating to sheltered refugia. We discuss implications of our findings for persistence and spread of introduced Burmese pythons in the United States and for maximizing their rate of removal.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We implanted new 18 month transmitters in five individuals after the first 18 month tracking period. Transmitters were implanted using methods described in Reinert and Cundall (1982). We tracked snakes 1-2 times per week by homing in to their location and we recorded UTM coordinates using GPS as described above.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Copperheads are Common when Kingsnakes are Not: Relationships Between the Abundances of a Predator and One of their Prey

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Common Kingsnakes (formerly known collectively as Lampropeltis getula) are experiencing localized declines throughout the southeastern United States. Because there have been limited studies to determine how snakes regulate prey populations, and because Kingsnake declines may result in ecosystem impacts, we evaluated the hypothesis that Kingsnakes regulate the abundance of one of their prey, the venomous Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). We generated a database of captures of the two species across the southeastern United States and, while controlling for large-scale habitat preferences, identified a negative relationship between the relative abundance of Kingsnakes and the relative abundance of Copperheads. Our results are correlative but consistent with the hypothesis that Copperhead populations experience a release from predation pressure where Kingsnake abundances are low. We suggest that Kingsnake declines, which are occurring for unknown reasons, are having ecological effects in affected ecosystems. We further highlight the potential role that snakes play in influencing the population dynamics of their prey

show abstract

“…We also marked snakes using a unique scale-clip identity following a modified version of the Brown and Parker (1976) protocol. Snakes > 100 g that we captured before 1 August 2012 were surgically implanted with a 5g SB-2 radio transmitter (Holohil Systems Ltd., Carp, Ontario, Canada) by an experienced veterinarian at the Greenfield Animal Hospital (Greenfield Center, New York, USA) following the procedure described in Reinert and Cundall (1982). After surgery, we administered a course of antibiotics (Enrofloxacin) and painkillers (Meloxicam) to snakes at doses based on body weight and determined by the veterinarian.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach

Vanek¹

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

An Improved Surgical Implantation Method for Radio-Tracking Snakes

Cited by 315 publications

References 0 publications

Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida

Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida

Copperheads are Common when Kingsnakes are Not: Relationships Between the Abundances of a Predator and One of their Prey

Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About