Meeting Abstract

P1.39  Friday, Jan. 4  Habitat Selection and Body Temperatures of Free-ranging Cottonmouths, Agkistrodon piscivorus. FULBRIGHT, M.F.*; GIENGER, C.M.; Austin Peay State University, Center of Excellence for Field Biology mfulbright@my.apsu.edu

The ecology of snakes is linked to their thermal needs. Within an area, there may be a variety of thermal regimes, which afford reptiles the ability to thermoregulate based on the thermal resources available. The movements and thermal needs have been shown to be different among snake species based on sex and reproductive condition (e.g. gravid vs. non-gravid females). We implanted radio-transmitters and temperature loggers in nine adult male free-ranging western cottonmouths, Agkistrodon piscivorus in Cheatham County, Tennessee. This population is near the northern range limit for the species. At each new capture and relocation, we recorded life history data (e.g. sex, age, snout-vent length, tail length, and mass) and we measured 24 habitat variables at the point of capture. All snakes were PIT-tagged for identification of recaptures. A random point was measured for each snake captured. Throughout the study area, we placed 11 operative thermal models to record temperatures available to snakes. Because the snakes have to cross a heavily traveled walking path to get to their hibernacula, we were concerned with what environmental temperatures were associated with their movements across the trail, in order to potentially reduce human interactions. We found that snakes showed habitat selection that differed from randomly selected comparison sites, there was a large overlap in the home ranges of each snake, and site selection varied among individuals and across an ontogenetic range of body sizes. Juveniles were captured along the edges of the wetland, while larger individuals were more likely to be found towards the center of the slough.