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THE BLACK PINESNAKE: SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT and HABITAT MODELING Danna Leah Baxley University of Southern Mississippi

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THE BLACK PINESNAKE: SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT and HABITAT MODELING Danna Leah Baxley University of Southern Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Dissertations Fall 12-2007 THE BLACK PINESNAKE: SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT AND HABITAT MODELING Danna Leah Baxley University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations Part of the Animal Sciences Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Baxley, Danna Leah, "THE BLACK PINESNAKE: SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT AND HABITAT MODELING" (2007). Dissertations. 1298. https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1298 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of Southern Mississippi THE BLACK PINESNAKE: SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT AND HABITAT MODELING by Danna Leah Baxley A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Studies Office of The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Approved: December 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. COPYRIGHT BY DANNA LEAH BAXLEY 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The University of Southern Mississippi SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, HABITAT MODELING, RESOURCE SELECTION, AND PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT OF THE BLACK PINESNAKE by Danna Leah Baxley Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Studies Office of The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT SPATIAL ECOLOGY, PREY DYNAMICS, HABITAT MODELING, RESOURCE SELECTION, AND PHYLOGENETIC ASSESSMENT OF THE BLACK PINESNAKE by Danna Leah Baxley December 2007 As human-caused species losses approach unprecedented levels, informed biological studies at the landscape, community, organismal, and genetic levels become increasingly important. The six chapters of this dissertation target the black Pinesnake, Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi, an imperiled specialist of the longleaf pine ecosystem, to answer biological questions on all four of these levels. At the landscape level, we sought to identify areas where black Pinesnake populations persist as well as the landscape-level variables driving presence of this secretive taxon. At the community level, we assessed habitat associations of reptile and amphibian communities within the longleaf pine ecosystem, and identified habitat parameters that appear to drive community composition. On a finer scale, we conducted a radio-telemetry study to examine spatial ecology of black Pinesnakes, and to test several hypotheses regarding prey dynamics and resource selection of these snakes. Lastly, we used molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA, i.e. mtDNA) to assess the intraclade relationships of eastern Pituophis, which includes P. m. lodingi, P. m. mugitus, and P. m. melanoleucus, in an attempt to add to existing phylogenetic knowledge of these eastern congeners. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Results of our landscape and community-level studies demonstrate the importance of large forested tracts of longleaf pine as well as the importance of frequent fire and low stand densities (low basal areas) to black Pinesnake persistence and restoration. Our radio-telemetry study indicates that these snakes travel great distances, inhabit large home ranges, and frequently cross and suffer mortality from roads. Core home ranges of P. m. lodingi contained significantly more hispid cotton rats than peripheral areas, indicating a correlation between prey availability and movement for these snakes. Results of molecular analysis show a lack of sub-species monophyly within eastern Pituophis, and little geographic structure; however, since there are high levels of morphological and ecological distinction between these three sub-species, future work using alternative molecular markers may clarify these within-clade relationships. By using multiple scales and divergent methods of study, we hope to provide land managers and biologists with the information necessary to conserve and restore P. m. lodingi populations. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Numerous people have been invaluable to the completion of the research involved in this dissertation. My deepest thoughts of appreciation go to Drs. Carl Qualls, Brian Kreiser, Jake Schaefer, and Michael Davis, members of my graduate committee, and to Linda LaClaire of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Each member of my committee has played a major part in the progress and completion of my research. Dr. Jake Schaefer provided statistical guidance, conceptual ideas, help with manuscript revisions, and access to multivariate software. Dr. Micheal Davis assisted in plant identification, and facilitated thought in plant-animal interactions, which resulted in my second dissertation chapter. Dr. Brian Kreiser provided manuscript reviews, constructive criticism, and countless hours of instruction and assistance in the genetics laboratory. I am grateful to Dr. Carl Qualls, my major professor, for diligently seeking and attaining project funding, for editing and contributing to countless manuscripts, abstracts, and papers, and for his availability and openness as a mentor. This dissertation would not have been possible without funding from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, U. S. Forest Service, Gopher Tortoise Council, The Nature Conservancy, The Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society, and The University of Sothem Mississippi Biological Sciences Department. Special thanks goes to Sandra Kilpatrick of the U.S. Forest Service for her interest and involvement, to Dr. Thomas Ricks who conducted all transmitter implantation surgeries, and to Mike Sisson, Krista Noel, Josh Ennen, Sam Holcomb, Shea Hammond, Wyatt iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Rochelle, and Will Selman for their steadfast assistance in the field and lab. The GIS habitat modeling portion of this dissertation would not have been possible without the assistance, patience, and commitment of Greg Lipps. I would also like to express appreciation to Tom Mann and Dr. Robert Jones of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science for providing scientific collection permits as well as their opinions and advice. Numerous biologists contributed tissue samples to our genetics project and, although I will not list them all here, I would like to thank them all for their gracious donations of time and tissue to our project. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents, Jody and Danny Baxley, my sister Tracy Baxley, and Mike Sisson for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout my graduate career. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......................................................................................................x CHAPTER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION......................................................................... 1 II. HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN COMMUNITIES IN LONGLEAF PINE HABITATS OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI.......................................................................................7 Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion III. THE BLACK PINESNAKE {PITUOPHIS MELANOLEUCUS LODINGI): SPATIAL ECOLOGY AND ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN HABITAT USE AND PREY DYNAMICS........................... 29 Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. IV. ASSESSING SECOND AND THIRD ORDER HABITAT SELECTION BY BLACK PINESNAKES {PITUOPHIS MELANOLEUCUS LODINGI): A BOOLEAN MODEL USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS.........................................................................48 Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion V. RAPID POPULATION EXPANSION AND RECENT DIVERGENCE OF EASTERN PITUOPHIS: P. M. LODINGI, P. M. MUGITUS, AND P. M. MELANOLEUCUS...................................... 69 Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion VI. GENERAL CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATIONS..................... 82 APPENDIXES............................................................................................................................85 LITERATURE CITED..............................................................................................................96 Reproduced with permission
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