Major Slump Event at Grasslands National Park Snake Pit in Southwestern Saskatchewan

Gardiner, Laura E.; Sonmor, Kendall W.

doi:10.29173/bluejay6098

Cited by 2 publications

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“…Our study area is described in detail in Martino et al (). In addition to this description, unstable slump zones along the slopes of the river valley are a common location for winter hibernation sites for snakes in the area (Gardiner and Sonmor ). Landslides, or slumps, along unstable slopes create terraces containing slight depressions or sinkholes, fissures, or small faults, and loosely packed soil that attracts burrowing mammals.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prairie rattlesnakes (hereafter rattlesnakes) have been listed for assessment, and therefore updated information on the ecology of this species is in immediate demand (http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/, accessed 27 Oct 2012). These 3 snake species are vulnerable to extinction in Canada because of habitat loss and negative interactions with humans; they have specific requirements for suitable hibernacula, which are limiting in this portion of their range because of extreme winter temperatures (Watson and Russell , Ernst and Ernst , COSEWIC , Kapfer et al , Gardiner and Sonmor ). Although essential for effective conservation planning, little information exists on the spatial ecology and habitat selection of these species at northern range limits (Kapfer et al , Martino et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Balancing the dumbbell: Summer habitats need protection in addition to winter dens for northern snake communities

et al. 2013

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The grasslands of southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada are home to several snake species of conservation concern at the northern extreme of their geographic range. To aid conservation assessment and management planning for these snakes, we used radio‐telemetry, a geographic information system, and multivariate modeling to identify and compare macrohabitat selection by eastern yellow‐bellied racers (n = 33; Coluber constrictor flaviventris), bullsnakes (n = 16; Pituophis catenifer sayi), and prairie rattlesnakes (n = 23; Crotalus viridis). All 3 species shared communal hibernacula in the inactive winter season, but dispersed into different macrohabitats across the landscape during the spring and summer. Their home ranges varied in size by species and were dumbbell‐shaped with activity centers near hibernacula and in well‐defined summer grounds; activity centers were connected by narrow movement corridors. Racers strongly selected for riparian areas, bullsnakes selected for valley grassland habitats, and rattlesnakes selected for areas associated with prairie dog colonies. Some rattlesnakes traveled great distances (over 11 km) from the dens compared to the other species (bullsnake max. = 4 km; racer max. = 5 km), which may be a result of their selected macrohabitat being more patchily distributed in the landscape. Our results indicate that management plans for these snakes must consider the den area, corridors, and separate summering grounds, as well as differences in home range size and movement patterns for each species. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.

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confidence: 99%

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Balancing the dumbbell: Summer habitats need protection in addition to winter dens for northern snake communities

et al. 2013

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“…Despite uncertainty about the significance of differentiated racer and bullsnake populations, it is important to consider that populations of both species are vulnerable to stochastic events at hibernacula (see [ 30 ]), and also to human changes to grassland habitats. The potential influence of humans on these two snake species varies markedly by location, and may change further over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our study species are sympatric in the grasslands of Saskatchewan, hibernating communally in dens located in bluffs of river valleys. Hibernacula appear to persist for long periods of time (decades), but are vulnerable to erosion and other factors that cause them to become suddenly unavailable to snakes [ 30 ]. Connectivity between river valleys has not been previously investigated, but is critical to understand for conservation planning.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individuals occupying each river valley may therefore represent genetically differentiated populations that require individual management strategies. Destruction of even one den and its associated snakes (as in [ 30 ]), or extirpation of snakes from the few occupied dens in a single river valley, may represent major losses to the Canadian population with little chance of recovery due to rescue dispersal.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation genetics of the eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) and bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi): River valleys are critical features for snakes at northern range limits

et al. 2017

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On the North American Great Plains, several snake species reach their northern range limit where they rely on sparsely distributed hibernacula located in major river valleys. Independent colonization histories for the river valleys and barriers to gene flow caused by the lack of suitable habitat between them may have produced genetically differentiated snake populations. To test this hypothesis, we used 10 microsatellite loci to examine the population structure of two species of conservation concern in Canada: the eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) and bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in 3 major river valleys in southern Saskatchewan. Fixation indices (FST) showed that populations in river valleys were significantly differentiated for both species (racers, FST = 0.096, P = 0.001; bullsnakes FST = 0.045–0.157, P = 0.001). Bayesian assignment (STRUCTURE) and ordination (DAPC) strongly supported genetically differentiated groups in the geographically distinct river valleys. Finer-scale subdivision of populations within river valleys was not apparent based on our data, but is a topic that should be investigated further. Our findings highlight the importance of major river valleys for snakes at the northern extent of their ranges, and raise the possibility that populations in each river valley may warrant separate management strategies.

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Major Slump Event at Grasslands National Park Snake Pit in Southwestern Saskatchewan

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Balancing the dumbbell: Summer habitats need protection in addition to winter dens for northern snake communities

Balancing the dumbbell: Summer habitats need protection in addition to winter dens for northern snake communities

Conservation genetics of the eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) and bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi): River valleys are critical features for snakes at northern range limits

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