Preliminary Observations of Habitat Use and Movements of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus)

Prior, Kent A.

doi:10.2307/1565122

Cited by 43 publications

(47 citation statements)

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“…This value is higher than the threshold for the first simulation because resistance units are not directly comparable to Euclidean geographic distance, but depend on the specific landscape context. However, preliminary runs showed that this translated into approximately 1.3–1.5 km average dispersal distances that match empirical averages reported for massasaugas (Weatherhead & Prior ) and also those used in the first simulation. All other simulation parameters were the same as our first simulation set.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Because juvenile natal dispersal distances are unknown for wild massasaugas and population size varies across regions, we ran simulations using three different juvenile dispersal thresholds (1.77, 2.00 or 2.20 resistance units) across two populations densities (low: 4/km 2 or high: 6/km 2 ), producing six sets of simulations. Resistance units are not directly comparable to geographic distance, but preliminary runs showed that thresholds of 1.77, 2.00 and 2.20 translated into average juvenile dispersal distances of 0.8, 1.4 and 2.2 km, respectively, reflecting values that are lower than, equal to or larger than known dispersal distances for adult massasaugas, respectively (Weatherhead & Prior ). For all simulations, individuals dispersed following a linear function and adults dispersed to a maximum of 2.00 resistance units, which translated into maximum dispersal of 2.5 km, and an average simulated dispersal distance of 1.4 km, reflecting the maximum and average range size of radio‐tracked massasaugas (Weatherhead & Prior ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Resistance units are not directly comparable to geographic distance, but preliminary runs showed that thresholds of 1.77, 2.00 and 2.20 translated into average juvenile dispersal distances of 0.8, 1.4 and 2.2 km, respectively, reflecting values that are lower than, equal to or larger than known dispersal distances for adult massasaugas, respectively (Weatherhead & Prior ). For all simulations, individuals dispersed following a linear function and adults dispersed to a maximum of 2.00 resistance units, which translated into maximum dispersal of 2.5 km, and an average simulated dispersal distance of 1.4 km, reflecting the maximum and average range size of radio‐tracked massasaugas (Weatherhead & Prior ). Mortality rates were set to reflect those published for massasaugas, where 65% of newly born snakes (Miller ) and 45% of adult snakes die (Harvey & Weatherhead ) every generation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of landscape on gene flow in the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus): insight from computer simulations

et al. 2013

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Understanding how gene flow shapes contemporary population structure requires the explicit consideration of landscape composition and configuration. New landscape genetic approaches allow us to link such heterogeneity to gene flow within and among populations. However, the attribution of cause is difficult when landscape features are spatially correlated, or when genetic patterns reflect past events. We use spatial Bayesian clustering and landscape resistance analysis to identify the landscape features that influence gene flow across two regional populations of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus c. catenatus. Based on spatially explicit simulations, we inferred how habitat distribution modulates gene flow and attempted to disentangle the effects of spatially confounded landscape features. We found genetic clustering across one regional landscape but not the other, and also local differences in the effect of landscape on gene flow. Beyond the effects of isolation-by-distance, water bodies appear to underlie genetic differentiation among individuals in one regional population. Significant effects of roads were additionally detected locally, but these effects are possibly confounded with the signal of water bodies. In contrast, we found no signal of isolation-by-distance or landscape effects on genetic structure in the other regional population. Our simulations imply that these local differences have arisen as a result of differences in population density or tendencies for juvenile rather than adult dispersal. Importantly, our simulations also demonstrate that the ability to detect the consequences of contemporary anthropogenic landscape features (e.g. roads) on gene flow may be compromised when long-standing natural features (e.g. water bodies) co-exist on the landscape.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of landscape on gene flow in the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus): insight from computer simulations

et al. 2013

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“…This interpretation is supported by the finding that non-gravid female and male eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Pennsylvania moved an average of 9.1±1.6 m/day (Reinert and Kodrich 1982), and males in New York moved an average of 20.5±2.3 m/day (Johnson 1995). In contrast, non-gravid females and males that were subject to experimental human approaches several times weekly in Ontario (Prior and Weatherhead 1994) moved an average of 56.2±12.4 m/day (Weatherhead and Prior 1992). Whatever the explanation, it is clear that human activity does affect the snakes' behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Behavioral and life history responses of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) to human disturbance

Parent

Weatherhead

2000

Oecologia

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Parks and nature reserves protect important natural habitats but also provide public opportunities for outdoor recreational activities that may have unintended negative effects on wildlife. We examined the response of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) to inadvertent disturbance by humans in Killbear Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Radio telemetry of 25 adult snakes over two active seasons revealed that, as disturbance increased, gravid females were less visible to observers, but the visibility of non-gravid females and males did not change. Mean distance moved per day decreased and mean time between moves greater than 10 m increased in gravid females, non-gravid females and males with increasing exposure to human disturbance. However, mark-recapture data revealed no differences in the condition or growth rates of snakes, or in the litter size of gravid females, between individuals captured in disturbed and undisturbed study areas. While it is possible that the behavioral responses we observed are not sufficient to have life history consequences, more detailed information on the exposure of individual snakes to human activity is necessary before the conclusion that disturbance is not detrimental to snakes can be accepted. Similarly, other potential negative effects of human disturbance not investigated here remain to be explored.

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“…Knowledge of animal movement patterns and home range size and juxtaposition is critical for making effective wildlife management decisions regarding the management of threatened or endangered species and their habitats. The spatial ecology of snakes can be influenced by several factors including gender, age, reproductive status, size, and resource distribution (Gregory et al 1987, Macartney et al 1988, Weatherhead and Prior 1992. Additionally, the spatial ecology of a species may vary among populations (Shine 1987, Macartney et al 1988).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Massasauga Home Range Patterns in the Midwest

Durbian¹,

King²,

Crabill³

et al. 2008

J Wildl Manag

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The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) has drastically declined throughout its range mainly due to habitat loss and human persecution. Populations of the massasauga that occur north and east of the Missouri River, USA, are currently candidates for listing under the United States Endangered Species Act. In areas where land managers wish to improve habitat for existing populations or create habitat for repatriation efforts, an understanding of massasauga spatial ecology is necessary to ensure that adequate sized blocks of habitat are created and properly managed. We studied spatial ecology of massasaugas at 2 sites in Wisconsin and 3 sites in Missouri over an 11‐year period. Our results indicated that male massasaugas had larger spatial requirements than all other cohorts. Our study sites supporting viable populations indicated that managers interested in restoring or enhancing massasauga habitat should use 100 ha as a minimum restoration or management target. (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(3):754–759; 2008)

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Preliminary Observations of Habitat Use and Movements of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus)

Cited by 43 publications

References 0 publications

The influence of landscape on gene flow in the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus): insight from computer simulations

The influence of landscape on gene flow in the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus): insight from computer simulations

Behavioral and life history responses of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) to human disturbance

Massasauga Home Range Patterns in the Midwest

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