Introduction to Reptile Conservation

Ettling, Jeff; Schmidt, Fabian

doi:10.1111/izy.12099

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Ex situ breeding programs have been critical in the recovery and conservation of several snake species (Ettling & Schmidt, 2015; Odum & Reinert, 2015; Sacerdote‐Velat et al, 2014). Integrating life history knowledge and mimicking habitat parameters in ex situ settings can improve snake health and promote natural behavior and physiology (Burghardt, 2013; Lillywhite, 2014), which leads to achieving reintroduction goals (Péchy et al, 2015; Pike, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging conservation across the ex situ‐in situ spectrum: Insights into the reproductive ecology of the threatened narrow‐headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

Blais

Wells

Poynter³

et al. 2022

Zoo Biology

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Zoo‐based (ex situ) conservation breeding programs provide invaluable opportunities to uncover enigmatic behaviors and traits of focal species under managed care, which can support research and conservation management efforts. A suite of factors and a limited range have yielded population declines in the threatened narrow‐headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus). Better understanding its cryptic ecology and life history (e.g., reproductive ecology) offers conservation benefits. We analyzed data on courtship behavior, parity and litter size, offspring size, and neonatal growth from an ex situ T. rufipunctatus population at the Phoenix Zoo from 2009 to 2018. Courtship behavior and parturition phenology are likely linked with the North American monsoon season, yet the courtship window may be wider than realized. We document the first instances of interannual iteroparity and multigenerational rearing of successful breeders at the ex situ level. Litter sizes varied but were relative to maternal body mass, suggesting that fecundity may be driven by intrinsic condition (e.g., age and size) of breeding females. Mean offspring body masses were equivalent between sexes, and neonate growth trends were quadratic during their first 9 months. Sexual dimorphism became apparent around 4–5 months age. Much of these data are novel for T. rufipunctatus and provide insight into their reproductive ecology. Phenology of reproductive ecology and body size metrics can guide field surveillance, age estimations, and population ecology monitoring, as well as inform ex situ adaptive management practices. Strategies spanning the ex situ‐in situ spectrum are applicable to other imperiled taxa to better inform conservation management decisions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging conservation across the ex situ‐in situ spectrum: Insights into the reproductive ecology of the threatened narrow‐headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

Blais

Wells

Poynter³

et al. 2022

Zoo Biology

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“…Since the first modern conservation breeding programs started in the late 1980s (see review in Seddon et al 2007), reviews have highlighted low overall success rates (Dodd Jr and Seigel 1991;Fischer and Lindenmayer 2000;Griffith et al 1989;Wolf et al 1996), compounded by a general difficulty in assessing long-term success (at least partly due to often inadequate monitoring; Ewen and Armstrong 2007). To date, the few reviews of conservation breeding programs for reptiles have highlighted patterns similar to those of other taxa, where the potential for avoiding extinction in the short term is often challenged by unclear or negative outcomes in the long term (Dodd Jr and Seigel 1991;Ettling and Schmidt 2015;Ewen et al 2014;Germano and Bishop 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges of monitoring reintroduction outcomes: Insights from the conservation breeding program of an endangered turtle in Italy

Canessa

Paolo

Jesu

et al. 2016

Biological Conservation

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“…Conservation breeding programs of herpetofauna (i.e., amphibians and reptiles) have benefitted from adaptive husbandry and strategic planning (Ettling & Schmidt, 2015; Pike, 2016). Mimicking ecological and habitat complexities that occur in wild populations appears linked to ex situ program success (Lillywhite, 1996).…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive management in a conservation breeding program: Mimicking habitat complexities facilitates reproductive success in narrow‐headed gartersnakes (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

Blais

Wells

Poynter³

et al. 2022

Zoo Biology

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Mimicking natural parameters and complexities in zoo conservation breeding programs can facilitate natural physiological and behavioral traits, which in turn can inform more effective species reintroduction efforts. To curtail population declines of threatened narrow‐headed gartersnakes (Thamnophis rufipunctatus), the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo partnered with a multiagency conservation working group to develop an ex situ propagation‐for‐release program. Initially, Zoo staff followed common snake husbandry protocols of manually inducing brumation (i.e., winter dormancy). Copulation was observed during the first few years, but no births resulted. Also, some older individuals developed post‐brumation health abnormalities, prompting a strategic reassessment. To facilitate propagation and improve health, Zoo staff applied ecological knowledge of T. rufipunctatus and an adaptive management strategy to implement key parameters for success: sociality, refugia, breeding and foraging behaviors, and natural brumation. Zoo staff developed a large multisnake enclosure that mimicked natural ecological and habitat complexities including a hibernaculum to stimulate natural brumation. Gartersnakes were left mostly unimpeded to conduct natural behaviors across seasons in the enriched environment. We referenced change in body mass after ten brumation periods as a proxy for health. Under natural brumation, gartersnakes did not lose body mass, and this shift resulted in fully ex situ parturition events—the first for this imperiled species. We highlight the efficacy of adaptive management and incorporation of natural parameters and environmental complexities into conservation breeding programs. These actions can improve the health and success of animals under managed care—processes applicable to a range of taxa targeted for conservation translocations.

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Introduction to Reptile Conservation

Cited by 6 publications

References 38 publications

Bridging conservation across the ex situ‐in situ spectrum: Insights into the reproductive ecology of the threatened narrow‐headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

Bridging conservation across the ex situ‐in situ spectrum: Insights into the reproductive ecology of the threatened narrow‐headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

Challenges of monitoring reintroduction outcomes: Insights from the conservation breeding program of an endangered turtle in Italy

Adaptive management in a conservation breeding program: Mimicking habitat complexities facilitates reproductive success in narrow‐headed gartersnakes (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

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