Pine Snake (Pituophis Ruthveni and Pituophis Melanoleucus Lodingi) Hibernacula

Rudolph, D. Craig; Schaefer, Richard R.; Burgdorf, Shirley J.; Duran, M.; Conner, Richard N.

doi:10.1670/06-235.1

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…During the inactive season, females and males selected areas in close proximity to each other with some differences in specific habitat features, possibly due to variation in thermal qualities [ 85 ] and subterranean characteristics [ 86 , 87 ]. Females selected areas with a high percentage of canopy cover, whereas this variable was not as important for males.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because body size and temperature are closely linked, larger individuals maintain heat longer [ 89 , 90 ] and females might have selected sites protected from daily temperature changes. The smaller body size of males might also have enabled them to inhabit a wider variety of subterranean sites, whereas females might have made use of burrow systems provided by tree roots or by rodents associated with those roots [ 87 , 91 , 92 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of seasonality and gestation on habitat selection by northern Mexican gartersnakes (Thamnophis eques megalops)

Sprague

Bateman

2018

PLoS ONE

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Species conservation requires a thorough understanding of habitat requirements. The northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops) was listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2014. Natural resource managers are interested in understanding the ecology of this subspecies to guide management decisions and to determine what features are necessary for habitat creation and restoration. Our objective was to identify habitat selection of northern Mexican gartersnakes in a highly managed, constructed wetland hatchery. We deployed transmitters on 42 individual gartersnakes and documented use of habitat types and selection of specific habitat features. Habitat selection was similar between males and females and varied seasonally. During the active season (March–October), gartersnakes primarily selected wetland edge habitat with abundant cover. Gestating females selected similar locations but with less dense cover. During the inactive season (November–February), gartersnakes selected upland habitats, including rocky slopes with abundant vegetation. These results of this study can help inform management of the subspecies, particularly in human-influenced habitats. Conservation of this subspecies should incorporate a landscape-level approach that includes abundant wetland edge habitat with a mosaic of dense cover for protection and sparsely vegetated areas for basking connected to terrestrial uplands for overwintering.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of seasonality and gestation on habitat selection by northern Mexican gartersnakes (Thamnophis eques megalops)

Sprague

Bateman

2018

PLoS ONE

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“…In our study, Louisiana Pinesnake burrow use and associated soil sampling occurred during summer when snakes are more active and exhibit movement between sites (Himes et al., 2006), thus it is unclear how interseasonal sampling may impact detection. In winter, snakes are largely dormant in gopher burrows (Pierce et al., 2014; Rudolph, Schaefer, Burgdorf, Duran, & Conner, 2007), potentially increasing eDNA accumulation in burrow soil. However, snakes also hibernate deeper in burrows during winter than the active season (Rudolph et al., 2007; Sperry, unpublished data), which may complicate soil sampling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental DNA is effective in detecting the federally threatened Louisiana Pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni)

et al. 2020

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Successful conservation of rare, threatened, or endangered (RTE) species is dependent upon rapid and accurate assessment of their distribution and abundance. However, assessments are challenging as RTE species typically exist as numerically small populations in often fragmented habitats and can possess complex natural histories. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis may provide a rapid, cost‐effective means of assessing RTE species presence/absence in viable habitat patches. We evaluated the efficacy of eDNA surveillance for the Louisiana Pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni), an elusive, semi‐fossorial, nonvenomous colubroid snake endemic to Louisiana and Texas, USA, that has dramatically declined in both distribution and abundance. We developed two quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays that target the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and mitochondrially encoded ATP synthase membrane subunit 6 (ATP6) genes. We validated each assay in silico, in vitro, and in situ, and investigated the influence of eDNA extraction method and genetic marker on assay performance. Both assays were highly sensitive and successfully detected the Louisiana Pinesnake under artificial and field conditions, including bedding samples collected from captive snake enclosures (100%), soil samples from Louisiana Pinesnake release sites (100%), and soil samples from sites where Louisiana Pinesnakes were documented via radio telemetry (45%). Although differences between genetic markers were negligible, assay performance was strongly influenced by eDNA extraction method. Informed by our results, we discuss methodological and environmental factors influencing Louisiana Pinesnake eDNA detection and quantification, broader implications for management and conservation of the Louisiana Pinesnake and other terrestrial reptiles and provide recommendations for future research. We suggest that eDNA surveys can more effectively assess Louisiana Pinesnake occupancy than conventional sampling, highlighting the need for comprehensive eDNA monitoring initiatives to better identify suitable habitat that will promote persistence of this imperiled species going forward.

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“…Northern Pine Snakes in New Jersey hibernate in extensive sand burrows with both conspecifics and other species of snakes, whereas those in Tennessee use concrete foundations and old stumps and do not hibernate with other conspecifics (Gerald et al, 2006b). Black Pine Snakes ( Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi ) in Mississippi hibernate singly as well (Rudolph et al, 2007). The variations within and among species means that the definition of philopatry also varies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hibernation Site Philopatry in Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in New Jersey

Burger¹,

Zappalorti²

2015

Journal of Herpetology

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Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) are one of the few snakes that spend the winter in underground hibernacula that they excavate. We report the use of hibernacula by Pine Snakes from 1986 to 2012 in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. We determined whether philopatry to a specific hibernaculum varied as a function of age, sex, and location of the hibernaculum. Three hibernacula were occupied nearly continuously for 27 yr by 1 to 27 snakes each year. With known-age snakes (N = 120), captured mainly as hatchlings and 2-yr-olds, we found that 23% were always philopatric. Philopatry was related to age of last capture, sex, and capture location. Philopatry was higher for 1) females compared with males, 2) snakes at two solitary hibernacula compared with a hibernaculum complex, and 3) snakes 6 yr old or younger, compared with older snakes. Of hatchlings found hibernating, 24% used the same hibernation site the next year, and 38% were located at year 4 or later. The number of snakes that always used the same hibernation site declined with the age of last capture. Snakes that entered hibernacula as hatchlings were found more often than those that entered as 2-yr-olds. For the seven snakes that were 14 yr or older, females were found 64– 86 % of the time, whereas males were found 15 to 50% of the time. Understanding the behavior and habitat requirements of snakes during different seasons is central to life-history analysis and for conserving viable populations.

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Pine Snake (Pituophis Ruthveni and Pituophis Melanoleucus Lodingi) Hibernacula

Cited by 16 publications

References 2 publications

Influence of seasonality and gestation on habitat selection by northern Mexican gartersnakes (Thamnophis eques megalops)

Influence of seasonality and gestation on habitat selection by northern Mexican gartersnakes (Thamnophis eques megalops)

Environmental DNA is effective in detecting the federally threatened Louisiana Pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni)

Hibernation Site Philopatry in Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in New Jersey

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