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Proquest Dissertations Ecology and conservation of the twin- spotted rattlesnake, Crotalus pricei Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Prival, David Benjamin Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 28/09/2021 01:08:24 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278752 INFORMATiON TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. 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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Ariaor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF THE TWIN-SPOTTED RATTLESNAKE, CROTALUS PRICEI by David Benjamin Prival A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the SCHOOL OF RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCES WITH A MAJOR IN WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SCIENCE In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2000 UMI Number: 1403178 UMI ® UMI Microform 1403178 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Comp»any. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 1 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation firom or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: /9J^y APPROVAL BY THESIS COMMITTEE This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: Cecil R. Schwalbe Date Assistant Professor/Research Ecologist Sonoran Desert Field Station, USGS r. Steidl I / Date Aslsi^tant Profes^ School of Renewable Natura.1 Resources ^ ^ Oc) Scott Bonar Date Assistant Professor School of Renewable Natural Resources 3 ACBCNOWLEDGMENTS I was fortunate to have elicited support from many people during this project and would like to express my deep gratitude to all involved. This study was initially designed by Matt Goode, Don Swann, and my advisor, Cecil Schwalbe of the U.S. Geological Survey. They obtained the primary funding for the study and donated large amounts of time to ensure the success of the project. I would also like to thank my committee members, Cecil Schwalbe, Bob Steidl, and Scott Bonar, each of whom provided valuable assistance as advisors at the university and as fellow researchers in the field. Mike Schroff was an outstanding field technician during 1998, went on to perform the entire diet analysis, and, with Cristina Jones, provided instrumental support for follow-up work on these snakes. Kate Schoenecker provided excellent field assistance during 1997. Gary Helbing of the U.S. Forest Service enthusiastically provided project support. Greg Lelo, U.S. Forest Service, loaned me seismic sensors and Evert Herrick, Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force, and Bruce Haviland, U.S. Forest Service, assisted with their emplacement and concealment. Phil Young, National Park Service, and Paul BCrausman, University of Arizona, loaned me cameras for surveillance. Chris Scott, BCim Murphy, Jeff Gee, Rob Danno, Steve Mazur, and Barney Tomberlin shared their insights regarding reptile poaching in the Chiricahuas. Steve DeStefano helped develop distance sampling protocols. Don DeYoung and Stephanie Cameron performed some of the snake surgeries and helped us procure surgical equipment. Most surgeries were performed by Matt Goode. Cristina Jones, Caren Goldberg, Erin Zylstra, George Bradley, Yar Petrysyn, Tom Huels, and Nina Johnson assisted with data analysis. Rosie Huerta, Carol Wakely, and Cecily McCleave provided vital administrative support. Special thanks go to Andy Holycross, who donated not only his time, but his field personnel, equipment, and advice. I am also very grateful to the many other volunteers who braved cold, rainy weather, unstable rocks, and the risk of snakebite to make this project possible, including Marit Alanen, Heather Amrhein, Merryn Avent, Laurie and Roy Averill-Murray, Paul and Sherry Barrett, Joe Beals, Chris Beck, Dan Bell, Scott Bonar, James Borgmeyer, Scott Breeden, Dennis Caldwell, Jay Cook, Chris Davis, Pat Devers, Adam Duerr, Taylor Edwards, Dawn Emmons, Alex Enna, Wendy Estes, Brian Fedorko, Dan Fisher, Julia Fonseca, Ockie Fourie, Ryan Gann, Caren Goldberg, Tiggy Grillo, Bryan Hamilton, Jeff Howland and family, Danny Kirk, Ed Kuklinski, Dave Larson, Jean-Francois LeGalliard, Carol Lutyk, Carlos Madden, Joe Martinez, Tiffany McFall, Andrea and Todd McWhorter, Andreas Meyer, Jeff Moorbeck, Mark Morris, Jack Oleile, April Osboum, Mike Perkins, Phi Pham, Stephane Poulin, Laura Prival, Roger Repp, Jim Rorabaugh, Christopf Rusterholz, Ron Ryskalzc, Carol Schauffert, Chris Scott, Jeff Servoss, Brent and Michelle Sigafus, Jesus Sigala. Lee Sloane, Lawrence Smith, Bryan Starrett, Eric Stitt, Debby Tipton, Jenny Treiber, Andrea Tuijl, Thomas Tully, Dale Turner, Vince Walkosak, Mike Wall, Eric Wallace, David and Melody Ward, Chris Wolner, and Shane Zumpf. This study was funded by the Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund, T & E, Inc., and the University of Arizona Graduate Student Final Project Fund. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES 6 LIST OF TABLES 7 ABSTRACT 8 INTRODUCTION 9 CHAPTER I: ECOLOGY OF THE TWIN-SPOTTED RATTLESNAKE 12 INTRODUCTION 12 METHODS 13 Study Area 13 Capture Methodology 14 Morphology 15 Diet 16 Reproduction 16 Habitat L7 Radiotelemetry and Activity Patterns 17 Statistical Analyses 20 RESULTS 21 Morphology 21 Growth 22 Diet 23 Reproduction 25 Habitat 29 Movements 32 Home Range Sizes 34 Body Temperatures 35 Intensive Observation Periods 37 Winter Activity 39 DISCUSSION 41 Growth 41 Diet 41 Reproduction 43 Movement Patterns and Habitat 47 Winter Activity 51 CHAPTER H: CONSERVATION OF THF TWIN-SPOTTED RATTLESNAKE. 53 INTRODUCTION 53 Study Area 56 Crotalus pricei Collecting 57 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Population Size and Density 59 Other Population Comparisons 60 Statistical Analyses 60 ElESULTS 62 Historical Collecting of Crotalus pricei in the Chiricahua Mountains 62 Current Collecting of Crotalus pricei in the Chiricahua Mountains 64 Habitat Destruction 66 Population Size and Density 66 Other Population Comparisons 71 DISCUSSION 74 Historical Collecting of Crotalus pricei 74 Current Collecting of Crotalus pricei. 77 Dijferences Between Hunted and Unhunted Crotalus pricei Populations 79 Implications for Reptile Monitoring 83 APPENDIX A: POPULATION DENSITIES OF MOUNTAIN SPINY LIZARDS 86 APPENDIX B: POTENTIAL IMPACT OF TWIN-SPOTTED RATTLESNAKE COLLECTING ON MOUNTAIN SPINY LIZARDS 93 APPENDIX C; EVOLUTIONARY fflSTORY. TAXONOMY. AND DISTRIBUTION 98 APPENDIX D: SURVIVAL PROBABILITIES OF CROTALUS PRICEI 102 APPENDIX E: REPRODUCTION DATA 104 APPENDIX F: CANNIBALISM 108 APPENDIX G: WINTER ACTIVITY IN LIZARDS 110 APPENDIX H: FEEDING OBSERVATIONS Ill APPENDIX I: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF C. Pig/C£/MONITORING EFFORTS AT SITE A 113 APPENDIX J: PROCESSING DATA FROM C. PRICEI CAPTURES. 1997-2000120 REFERENCES 126 6 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. Percentage of captured C. pricei with food boli in 1998 24 nGURE 2. Prey distribution in C. pricei fecal samples 24 FIGURE 3. Prey distribution of C. pricei on talus and off talus 26 FIGURE 4. Most abundant plant genera within 5 m of snake locations and random points on largest talus slope at Site A 30 FIGURE 5. Nearest plant genera to snake locations and random points on largest talus slope at Site A 30 FIGURE 6. Movements of male C. pricei during monsoon months (July - September): average distance moved per week 33 RGURE 7. Movements of male C. pricei #1 during monsoon months (July
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