Microhabitat Preferences of Snake Species at Glacier Creek Preserve
Advisor Information
Travis Robbins
Location
MBSC Ballroom - Poster #308 - U
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-3-2022 12:30 PM
End Date
4-3-2022 1:45 PM
Abstract
Coverboards offer herpetofauna protection from predators and space to thermoregulate their body temperature. These boards also create microhabitats that are slightly different from the overall habitat. We set out to identify snake microhabitat preferences. We used ten sets of coverboards placed along a north to south transect across a riparian floodplain into lowland prairie. Each set of coverboards consisted of a wooden and metal sheet. The boards were checked a total of 12 times, 4 times each during morning, afternoon, and dusk. Snake species were identified and counted, and ambient temperatures and humidity were checked at each board. Of the four snake species found, microhabitat preferences T. sirtalis for habitat type and in S. dekayi for type of board and habitat type. Further review is necessary to understand the possible explanations for these microhabitat preferences. Understanding microhabitat preferences could result in more efficient sampling for herpetofauna and produce more accurate sampling data for conservation efforts.
Scheduling Link
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Microhabitat Preferences of Snake Species at Glacier Creek Preserve
MBSC Ballroom - Poster #308 - U
Coverboards offer herpetofauna protection from predators and space to thermoregulate their body temperature. These boards also create microhabitats that are slightly different from the overall habitat. We set out to identify snake microhabitat preferences. We used ten sets of coverboards placed along a north to south transect across a riparian floodplain into lowland prairie. Each set of coverboards consisted of a wooden and metal sheet. The boards were checked a total of 12 times, 4 times each during morning, afternoon, and dusk. Snake species were identified and counted, and ambient temperatures and humidity were checked at each board. Of the four snake species found, microhabitat preferences T. sirtalis for habitat type and in S. dekayi for type of board and habitat type. Further review is necessary to understand the possible explanations for these microhabitat preferences. Understanding microhabitat preferences could result in more efficient sampling for herpetofauna and produce more accurate sampling data for conservation efforts.