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Differential Effects of an Intense Wildfire on Survival of Sympatric Snakes
Author(s) -
WEBB JONATHAN K.,
SHINE RICHARD
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2007-515
Subject(s) - arboreal locomotion , endangered species , abundance (ecology) , sympatric speciation , biology , ecology , habitat , zoology
We analyzed 16 years of mark‐recapture data to investigate whether a wildfire influenced survival of an arboreal ambush‐forager (broad‐headed snake [ Hoplocephalus bungaroides ]) and a terrestrial active forager (small‐eyed snake Cryptophis nigrescens ). We predicted that wildfire would cause direct mortality and reduce subsequent survival of both snake species. Contrary to this prediction, wildfire did not affect abundance of broad‐headed snakes, but abundance of small‐eyed snakes decreased by 48% after the wildfire. Estimated annual survival of small‐eyed snakes was 37% lower after fire ( s =0.47, SE=0.07) than before fire (s=0.74, SE=0.05). Prescribed burning may be a suitable tool for creating open habitat mosaics for the endangered broad‐headed snake.