The Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) is native to southern Asia and is one of the world’s largest snakes. Burmese pythons are now established firmly as an invasive species over a large portion of southern Florida. Since recognition as a reproducing population in 2000, the number of pythons found and their geographic range has expanded considerably. In 2012, severe declines in several once common species of mammals were documented that correlate both temporally and spatially with the proliferation of pythons. This study relied on the use of roads as transects to measure the relative abundances of mammals and compare those measurements to the temporal and spatial spread of pythons. To further evaluate mammal declines, we conducted a survey of mammal relative abundances using artificial turtle nests as potential mammal attractants, which were then monitored using automated game cameras. We found patterns of mammal relative abundances that negatively correlate with the spatial proliferation of pythons. Specifically, we recorded 174 raccoon observations and 32 bobcat observations in areas without pythons and no raccoon or bobcat observations in core python areas (i.e., Everglades National Park, where pythons have been established the longest). Opossums were approximately 7 times more abundant and deer were 11 times more abundant in areas without pythons. Rabbits were only observed in areas outside the python’s range. In recently invaded areas, mammal populations were reduced but not as severely as in core sites. Our study confirms the apparent devastating effects pythons have had on mammal populations in South Florida.
1Dept of Biological Sciences, Davidson College, Davidson, NC; 2 Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
P143 • George W. Szarka III1, Thomas P. Wilson
Sampling Amphibians and Reptiles in Southeastern Tennessee: Lessons Learned and Implications for Conservation and Management
Amphibians and reptiles are imperiled throughout much of the southeastern United States; and, in an effort to combat these declines, rapid assessments (RA) have been used to develop adaptive conservation and management strategies. However, researchers are urged to standardized capture techniques and have a working knowledge of the target species life-history and ecology before conducting an RA. Practitioners cannot elucidate action plans that are forward-thinking without first addressing these points. Furthermore, without this level of understanding, we cannot effectively sample populations of rare or cryptic species or assess landscapes that have been under sampled. To this end, we collected data from two sampling periods fall (9/12/11 to 11/3/11) and spring (3/11/12 to 5/3/12) totaling 107 days at a wetland in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Data were analyzed to show the efficacy of various capture methods (e.g., drift-fences, pitfalls, funnel traps, and incidental captures). We developed a decision tree that incorporates life-history data, literature, methodology, and associated costs. Using this decision tree and aforementioned methods, 15 amphibian species and 12 reptile species were captured, totaling 2,982 individuals. Funnel traps captured statistically more individuals than incidental captures with a t-test probability of .039 and a p-value <.05. Species captured by trap type are 15 for pitfall traps, 19 for funnels traps, and 20 for incidentals. Our study suggests that a combination of techniques that target specific species, habitats and timeframes can be as successful as studies of a longer duration.
P144 • Taniya S. Mathew1, Samantha L. Poarch1, Callie C. Wolfe2, Kirsten A. Work2, Briget C. Doyle1, Melissa A. Pilgrim1
Sewer Line Salamanders: Sewer Pipeline Impacts on Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) Breeding Activity
A current environmental challenge wildlife face is persistence through extreme anthropogenic habitat alterations and destruction. A common type of habitat alteration in Spartanburg County is the use of creek floodplains as placement sites for county sewer pipelines. An artifact of maintaining sewer pipelines is development of tire track depressions in dirt roads running alongside the pipelines that fill with water during periods of heavy rain, which provide potential amphibian breeding habitat. Our study presents pilot data focused on evaluating (1) the use of pipeline puddles as Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) breeding sites, (2) the relationship between puddle size and salamander egg mass density, and (3) the relationship between puddle resource base (i.e., zooplankton density) and salamander egg mass density. We used visual surveys to count salamander egg masses in 22 puddles during the 2013 breeding season. In addition, we collected zooplankton samples from each puddle to serve as an estimate of food resources potentially available to salamander larvae. Our egg mass counts varied from 0 to 109 egg masses per puddle. A paired t-test indicated that the number of salamander egg masses in sampled puddles significantly increased during the course of our study (t = -2.579, df = 13, p = 0.022). Linear regression analyses indicated that egg mass densities were positively associated with puddle area (r2=0.69, p < 0.001) and zooplankton density (r2=0.22, p = 0.039). We discuss our results within the context of anthropogenic habitat alterations serving as either ecological traps or surrogate/supplemental habitat for wildlife.
1 Biology, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC; 2 Biology, Stetson University, DeLand, FL
