Impacts of Translocation on Behavior and Survival of Timber Rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus

Reinert, Howard K.; Rupert, Robert R.

doi:10.2307/1565542

Cited by 125 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

119

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We used straight-line distance as a measure of geographic distance between populations because evidence suggests that longdistance movements of tortoises and other reptiles do not follow natural geographic forms but are essentially linear in nature (Barrett et al 1990;King and Duvall 1990;Reinert and Rupert 1999). Within the Saguaro National Park radiotelemetry plots, we located tortoises to within approximately five meters using hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers (GARMIN International Inc.).…”

Section: Radiotelemetry and Spatial Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Translocation of tortoises from nearest-neighbor populations should be evaluated as a potential management strategy to recover or maintain small populations isolated by anthropogenic barriers. Tortoises generally exhibit strong site tenacity (Barrett et al 1990, Bailey 1992, and translocation studies of reptiles indicate that they generally fare poorly in unfamiliar areas (Barrett et al 1990;Dodd and Seigel 1991;Reinert and Rupert 1999). However, preliminary studies in the Mojave Desert indicate that translocation may be an effective strategy for supplementing depauperate populations of desert tortoises (Tracy et al 2000).…”

Section: Management and Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Implications of Anthropogenic Landscape Change on Inter-Population Movements of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Edwards

Schwalbe

Swann

et al. 2004

Conservation Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the Sonoran Desert of North America, populations of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) occur in rocky foothills throughout southwestern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Although tortoise populations appear to be isolated from each other by low desert valleys, individuals occasionally move long distances between populations. Increasingly, these movements are hindered by habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic landscape changes. We used molecular techniques and radiotelemetry to examine movement patterns of desert tortoises in southern Arizona. We collected blood samples from 170 individuals in nine mountain ranges and analyzed variability in seven microsatellite loci to determine genetic differentiation among populations. Gene flow estimates between populations indicate that populations exchanged individuals historically at a rate greater than one migrant per generation, and positive correlation between genetic and geographic distance of population pairs suggests that the limiting factor for gene flow among populations is isolation by distance. Life history traits of the desert tortoise, a long-lived species with delayed sexual maturity, may severely constrain the ability of small populations to respond to disturbances that increase adult mortality. Historic gene flow estimates among populations suggests that recovery of declining populations may rely heavily on the immigration of new individuals from adjacent mountain ranges. Management strategies compatible with the evolutionary history of gene flow among disjunct populations will help ensure the long-term persistence of Sonoran desert tortoise populations.

show abstract

Section: Radiotelemetry and Spatial Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Management and Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of Anthropogenic Landscape Change on Inter-Population Movements of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Edwards

Schwalbe

Swann

et al. 2004

Conservation Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…-We do not know the fate of these animals, but other studies on the eventual fate of translocated reptiles are not encouraging. Radio-tracked relocated rattlesnakes tended to wander over wider areas, and experienced lower survival rates, than did resident animals (Nowak, 1997;Reinert and Rupert, 1999). 2.…”

Section: Effects Of Translocationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snakes in the garden: an analysis of reptiles “rescued” by community-based wildlife carers

Shine

Koenig

2001

Biological Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stimulated by animal-welfare concerns, community programs to ''rescue'' urban wildlife generate many interactions between humans and wildlife. Such rescue activities (1) may have direct ecological effects (by modifying mortality patterns of wildlife, or geographic distributions at the local level), and (2) may provide valuable information on local abundance and distribution of taxa, the nature of threats to urban wildlife, and biological attributes of poorly-known species. We examine these issues for reptiles rescued by community-based animal-welfare groups in south-eastern Australia. Records gathered by the Wildlife Information and Rescue Service over a 10-year period (1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998) in New South Wales quantify rates, determinants and outcomes of reptile rescues. Despite their scarcity in urban habitats, snakes (11,067 records) were represented almost as often as lizards (11,108). Typically, rescued lizards were large in size or snake-like in appearance. Most reptiles (especially snakes) were rescued not because of injury, but because the local residents wanted them removed. Thus, very large numbers of these animals were translocated to release sites. Of the injured animals, small-bodied reptile species (and juveniles of larger species) were frequent victims of attacks by domestic cats and dogs. Larger reptiles were more often injured by motor vehicles. Capture rates for all species were highest in warmer months, and especially on days with dry, warm weather. These temporal patterns seem to be due to reptile biology not human behaviour. The rapid increase in animal-rescue activities indicates that potential ecological effects (especially, arising from translocation of ''problem'' wildlife) deserve further study. At the same time, such community groups can provide valuable information for ecologists. #

show abstract

“…Translocated individuals often have reduced survivorship compared with individuals resident to the release site, particularly immediately following release (Ruth et al 1998, Reinert & Rupert 1999. In this study, 2 TW seals likely died within 1 wk of being translocated and may have accounted for the difference in first-year survival that was observed between translocated and non-translocated weanlings at NIH (~60% for both groups if these 2 TW seals were excluded).…”

Section: First-year Survivalmentioning

confidence: 86%

An integrated approach for assessing translocation as an effective conservation tool for Hawaiian monk seals

Norris¹,

Littnan²,

Gulland³

et al. 2017

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For threatened and endangered species, translocations have been widely used to mitigate multiple sources of mortality that threaten population recovery. Although numerous Hawaiian monk seals Neomonachus schauinslandi have been translocated for a variety of purposes, few monk seal translocations have addressed the problem of prey limitation. To assess the efficacy of using translocations to mitigate reduced prey availability, 12 weanling monk seals were translocated with pre-release health screening and post-release monitoring. Specifically, the health, foraging behavior, habitat use, and survival of translocated seals were compared with those of 17 monk seals resident to the release site. There was little evidence of infectious diseases in translocated and resident seals, although Chlamydophila abortus antibodies and enteric bacteria were detected in many individuals. Translocated and resident weanling seals also demonstrated similar diving, movements, and habitat use, whereas resident adult seals had greater variability in foraging patterns. First-year survival for translocated weanlings (50%, n = 12) and non-translocated weanlings at the donor (31%, n = 36) and recipient sites (69%, n = 16) was related to weaning body size, with larger individuals having greater survivorship. These results supported 3 main conclusions that have important consequences for future translocation and population recovery efforts: (1) there was minimal risk of exposing seals to novel infectious diseases as a result of translocation; (2) individuals translocated with limited foraging experience rapidly adapted to their post-release environment; and (3) translocation for the purpose of mitigating prey limitation is a viable and important conservation tool for Hawaiian monk seals.

show abstract

Impacts of Translocation on Behavior and Survival of Timber Rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus

Cited by 125 publications

References 31 publications

Implications of Anthropogenic Landscape Change on Inter-Population Movements of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Implications of Anthropogenic Landscape Change on Inter-Population Movements of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Snakes in the garden: an analysis of reptiles “rescued” by community-based wildlife carers

An integrated approach for assessing translocation as an effective conservation tool for Hawaiian monk seals

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About