Utilization of Open Marsh Water Management Ditches by the Treatened Atlantic SaltMarsh Snake ('Nerodia clarkii taeniata')

摘要

A survey of a population of Atlantic salt marsh snakes (Nerodia clarkii taeniata)located in a recovered mosquito control impoundment was made during a 6 month period beginning in July, 1991, and ending in early January 1992. Snakes were either hand caught or trapped using modified drift fences. Biological data was collected and each individual was uniquely marked for identification. Environmental conditions were monitored and photographs taken of all individuals. The population was shown to be viable in the recovered impoundment, and found in numbers comparable to similar surveys. Trapping techniques were successful in collecting snakes, but recaptures were not resultant from trapping. The majority of snakes were caught in either ditches or ponds, and no snakes were caught in land trap arrays. Phenotypical characteristics were relatively uniform, with moderate variations in coloration patterns. Trap results indicated sexual and age bias for the study population.