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Burnett AD, Koprowski JL. Shrub avoidance by an open-adapted ground squirrel in a shrub-encroached environment. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297993. [PMID: 38346052 PMCID: PMC10861037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss and degradation are leading drivers of the widespread decline in wildlife populations, and understanding how wildlife perceive and navigate their environment is useful for predicting responses to future landscape changes. Small mammals play an important role in their environments, however, many species are threatened by rapid environmental change. The Harris' antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii) is endemic to the Sonoran Desert but faces multiple landscape changes due to anthropogenic activity. We fitted A. harrisii with radio collars to quantify resource selection and better understand how further environmental change may affect squirrels. Squirrels exhibited differential selection depending on behavior and scale. When selecting for microsites suitable for burrows and alarm calling (i.e., fourth-order selection), squirrels selected for both cacti and shrub portions of the habitat. Overall habitat selection within home ranges (i.e., third-order selection) showed selection against shrub patches, however, suggesting that further shrub encroachment may have consequences for A. harrisii behavior and distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra D. Burnett
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - John L. Koprowski
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
- Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States of America
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Akresh ME, Meeker ED, King DI. Observations of Snakes and Game Birds in a Managed Pine Barren in Massachusetts. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2022. [DOI: 10.1656/045.029.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael E. Akresh
- Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH 03431
| | - Evan D. Meeker
- Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH 03431
| | - David I. King
- US Forest Service Northern Research Station, Amherst, MA 01003
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Robson LE, Blouin‐demers G. Eastern Hog‐Nosed Snake Habitat Selection at Multiple Spatial Scales in Ontario, Canada. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Robson
- Department of Biology University of Ottawa 30 Marie‐Curie Ottawa ON K1N 6N5 Canada
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Zhang B, Wu B, Yang D, Tao X, Zhang M, Hu S, Chen J, Zheng M. Habitat association in the critically endangered Mangshan pit viper ( Protobothrops mangshanensis), a species endemic to China. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9439. [PMID: 32676224 PMCID: PMC7334975 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat directly affects the population size and geographical distribution of wildlife species, including the Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), a critically endangered snake species endemic to China. We searched for Mangshan pit viper using randomly arranged transects in their area of distribution and assessed their habitat association using plots, with the goals of gaining a better understanding of the habitat features associated with P. mangshanensis detection and determining if the association with these features varies across season. We conducted transect surveys, found 48 individual snakes, and measured 11 habitat variables seasonally in used and random plots in Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve over a period of 5 years (2012–2016). The important habitat variables for predicting Mangshan pit viper detection were fallen log density, shrub density, leaf litter cover, herb cover and distance to water. In spring, summer and autumn, Mangshan pit viper detection was always positively associated with fallen log density. In summer, Mangshan pit viper detection was related to such habitats with high canopy cover, high shrub density and high herb cover. In autumn, snakes generally occurred in habitats near water in areas with high fallen log density and tall shrubs height. Our study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between Mangshan pit viper detection and specific habitat components. Mangshan pit viper detection was associated with habitat features such as with a relatively high fallen log density and shrub density, moderately high leaf litter cover, sites near stream, and with lower herb cover. The pattern of the relationship between snakes and habitats was not consistent across the seasons. Identifying the habitat features associated with Mangshan pit viper detection can better inform the forestry department on managing natural reserves to meet the habitat requirements for this critically endangered snake species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhang
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bingxian Wu
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Daode Yang
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaqiu Tao
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mu Zhang
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shousheng Hu
- Administration Bureau of Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Administration Bureau of Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Ming Zheng
- Administration Bureau of Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
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