Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnopsis Gigas)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnopsis Gigas) DRAFT RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE GIANT GARTER SNAKE (Thamnopsis gigas) Authors Karen J. Miller Kelly Hornaday U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office and The Giant Garter Snake Recovery Team Prepared for Region 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1999) Approved: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX In memory of George E. Hansen, an extraordinarily talented herpetologist who was dedicated to the conservation of giant garter snakes DISCLAIMER PAGE Recovery plans delineate reasonable actions that are believed to be required to recover and/or protect listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others. Objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views, official positions, or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Director, Regional Director, or Manager as approved. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species statuses, and the completion of recovery tasks. LITERATURE CITATION SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnopsis gigas). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. ix+ 192 pp. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We wish to sincerely thank and gratefully acknowledge the recommendations and assistance from the Giant Garter Snake Recovery Team: Technical Subteam: John Brode, California Department of Fish and Game, Rancho Cordova, CA George Hansen, Consultant Herpetologist, Sacramento, CA Robert Hansen, Editor, Herpetological Review, Clovis, CA Mark Jennings, U.S. Geological Service, Biological Resources Division, San Simeon, CA Norm Scott, U.S. Geological Service, Biological Resources Division, San Simeon, CA Michael Westfall, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Los Gatos, CA Michael Wolder, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, CA Glenn Wylie, U.S. Geological Service, Biological Resources Division, Dixon, CA David Zezulak, California Department of Fish and Game, Rancho Cordova, CA Stakeholder Subteam: John Beam, California Department of Fish and Game, Los Banos Wildlife Area, Los Banos, CA David Brown, Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, Elk Grove, CA Kevin Foerster, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows, CA Bob Herkert, California Rice Industry, Colusa, CA Jeff Jaraczeski and Daniel Keppen, Northern California Water Association, Sacramento, CA Terence Moore, City of Sacramento, Sacramento, CA David Widell, Grassland Water District, Los Banos, CA Olen Zirkel, The Nature Conservancy, Sacramento, CA ii Additional Contributors Ruth Elbert (Tricolored Blackbird Account) John Sargent (White-faced Ibis Account) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office Michael Miller (Pacific Flyway Waterfowl Account) U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, Dixon With apologies to anyone inadvertently left off of this list, we also wish to sincerely thank and gratefully acknowledge the advice, assistance, and comments from the following individuals (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel in italics): Tiki Baron, Ted Beedy, Brad Bortner, Betsy Bolster, Steve Brueggemann, Kati Buehler, Mike Carpenter, Mike Casazza, Kathleen Christian, Jeanne Clark, Dan Connelly, Marilyn Cundiff, Steve Cordes, Joan Daugherty, Diane Elam, Rosalie Faubion ,Alan Forkey, Ken Fuller, Cay Goude, James Hainline, David Hardt, Dwight Harvey, Larry Host, R. Josh Hoffman, Kevin Hunting, Eric Kelchlin, Bill Lehman, Marla Macoubrie, Darlene McGriff, Tina Menges, Steve Morey, Harry Mossman, John Nagle, Larry Norris, Jo Ann Odemar, Ruth Ostroff, Dan Yparraguire, Dave Patterson, Melanie Paquin, Tom Paulek, Dave Paullin, Bill Perry, Debra Schlafman, David Shuford, Chuck Solomon, Howard Stark, Dan Strait, Kenneth Sturm, Marie Sullivan, Deb Swain, Barbara Tatman, Dennis Taylor, Betty Warne, Alison Willy, Diane Windham, Mike Womack, Dennis Woolington, and Tara Zimmerman. iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Current Status: This recovery plan features the federally threatened giant garter snake (Thamnopsis gigas). This species inhabits wetland habitats within the Central Valley of California. Loss and fragmentation of wetland habitats have extirpated the giant garter snake from the majority of its historic range. This recovery plan also considers several species of concern that occur in Central Valley wetlands that benefit from actions taken to recover the giant garter snake. These species include the tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi), western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata), and associated waterfowl. Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: The giant garter snake inhabits agricultural wetlands and other waterways such as irrigation and drainage canals, sloughs, ponds, small lakes, low gradient streams, and adjacent uplands in the Central Valley. Because of the direct loss of natural habitat, the giant garter snake relies heavily on rice fields in the Sacramento Valley, but also uses managed marsh areas in Federal National Wildlife Refuges and State Wildlife Areas. There have been only a few recent sightings of giant garter snakes in the San Joaquin Valley. Habitat loss and fragmentation, flood control activities, changes in agricultural and land management practices, predation from introduced species, parasites, water pollution, and continuing threats are the main causes for the decline of this species. Recovery Priority: 2C (full species, high degree of threat, high recovery potential). See Appendix A for how recovery priorities are established for listed species. Recovery Objective: The ultimate goal of this recovery plan is to delist the giant garter snake. Recovery Criteria: Recovery criteria for the giant garter snake are defined for four recovery units in the Central Valley: the Sacramento Valley, Mid-Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and South Valley units. Recovery criteria include: a. Monitoring shows that in 17 out of 20 years, 90 percent of the subpopulations in four recovery units contain both adults and iv young. b. All extant populations within the recovery unit are protected from threats that limit populations. c. Supporting habitat within the recovery unit is adaptively managed and monitored. d. Subpopulations are well connected by corridors of suitable habitat. e. Repatriation (reintroduction) has been successful at a specified number of suitable sites. Actions Needed: 1. Protect existing populations and habitat. 2. Restore populations to former habitat. 3. Survey to determine species distributions. 4. Monitor populations. 5. Conduct necessary research, including studies on demographics, population genetics, and habitat use. 6. Develop and implement incentive programs, and an outreach and education plan. Total Estimated Cost of Recovery: The total estimated cost of recovery for the giant garter snake is broken down by priority of tasks. Certain costs, such as securing and protecting specific habitat areas, have yet to be determined. Priority 1 tasks: $61,048,000 Those actions that must be taken to prevent extinction or prevent the species from declining irreversibly in the foreseeable future. Priority 2 tasks: $950,000 Those actions that must be taken to prevent a significant decline in the species population or habitat quality, or some other significant negative impact short of extinction. Priority 3 tasks: $360,000 All other actions necessary to meet the recovery and conservation v objectives outlined in this recovery plan. Cost of Recovery: $62,358,000 plus additional costs yet to be determined. Date of Recovery: Delisting could be initiated by 2028, if recovery criteria have been met. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DISCLAIMER PAGE .............................................i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................... ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................iv INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1 Brief Overview ............................................ 1 Description and Taxonomy .................................. 3 Distribution .............................................. 7 Life History and Ecology ................................... 12 Habitat and Ecosystem Description ........................... 22 Reasons for Decline and Current Threats ....................... 25 Conservation Measures .................................... 30 National Wildlife Refuges, State Wildlife Areas, and Other Wetland Conservation Efforts..................................... 36 Ricelands and Agricultural Waterways as Giant Garter Snake Habitat . 40 Recovery Strategy ........................................ 41 RECOVERY .................................................. 44 Objective ............................................... 44 Recovery Criteria ......................................... 44 Giant Garter Snake Delisting Criteria .......................... 46 Recovery Priorities .......................................
Recommended publications
  • State of Sierra Frogs
    State of Sierra Frogs A report on the status of frogs & toads in the Sierra Nevada & California Cascade Mountains State of Sierra Frogs A report on the status of frogs & toads in the Sierra Nevada & California Cascade Mountains By Marion Gee, Sara Stansfield, & Joan Clayburgh July 2008 www.sierranevadaalliance.org State of Sierra Frogs 1 Acknowledgements The impetus for this report was the invaluable research on pesticides by Carlos Davidson, professor at San Francisco State University. Davidson, along with Amy Lind (US Forest Service), Curtis Milliron (California Department of Fish and Game), David Bradford (United States Environmental Protection Agency) and Kim Vincent (Graduate Student, San Francisco State University), generously donated their time and expertise to speak at two public workshops on the topics of Sierra frogs and toads as well as to provide comments for this document. Our thanks to the other reviewers of this manuscripts including Bob Stack (Jumping Frog Research Institute), Katie Buelterman, Dan Keenan, and Genevieve Jessop Marsh. This project was fortunate to receive contributions of photography and artwork from John Muir Laws, Elena DeLacy, Bob Stack, Ralph & Lisa Cutter and Vance Vredenburg. Photo credits are found with each caption. This work was made possible by generous grants from the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment and the State Water Resources Control Board. Funding for this project has been provided in part through an Agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) pursuant to the Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 (Proposition 13) and any amendments thereto for the implementation of California’s Non-point Source Pollution Control Program.
    [Show full text]
  • Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana Muscosa and Rana Sierrae) As Endangered Under the California Endangered Species Act
    BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION A Petition to List All Populations of the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae) as Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act Photo © Todd Vogel CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, PETITIONER January 25, 2010 Petition to California Fish & Game Commission to List the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog as Endangered Center for Biological Diversity January 25, 2010 Notice of Petition For action pursuant to Section 670.1, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR) and Sections 2072 and 2073 of the Fish and Game Code relating to listing and delisting endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. I. SPECIES BEING PETITIONED: Common Name: mountain yellow-legged frog (southern mountain yellow-legged frog and Sierra Nevada mountain yellow-legged frog) Scientific Name: Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae II. RECOMMENDED ACTION: List as Endangered The Center for Biological Diversity submits this petition to list all populations of the mountain yellow-legged frog in California the as endangered throughout their range in California, under the California Endangered Species Act (California Fish and Game Code §§ 2050 et seq., “CESA”). This petition demonstrates that the both the southern mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) and the Sierra Nevada mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae) clearly warrant listing under CESA based on the factors specified in the statute. III. AUTHOR OF PETITION: Name: Lisa Belenky, Senior Attorney, Center For Biological Diversity (with the assistance of Ellen Howard, B.A. EPO Biology, University of Colorado) Address: 351 California Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: 415-436-9682 x 307 Fax: 415-436-9683 Email: [email protected] I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, all statements made in this petition are true and complete.
    [Show full text]
  • Wind Dancer Retreat Wedding Planning Guide
    Wind Dancer Retreat Wedding Planning Guide © 2016 Wind Dancer Retreat www.winddancerretreat.com This wedding planning guide was prepared for couples to give them a starting point in planning their wedding. We meet many couples who come out to tour our venue who may not have considered many of these aspects of their wedding. We hope this wedding planning guide helps them prepare for their special day. The links provided throughout our e-book are not an endorsement, but meant to be used as helpful options in planning the details of your wedding. Congratulations on your engagement! You have found the groom and the ring, but now what about everything else? These upcoming months will be filled with exciting moments, lots of memories, and plenty of major decisions. Whether you’ve dreamed about this day and have been planning your wedding your entire life, or this is the first time you’ve given it any thought, don’t panic! We’re here to help. Hopefully with these easy-to-use resources from our Wedding Planning Guide, planning your wedding will be stress-free and fun as possible. Our idea behind writing this e-book was to help our brides ensure that every aspect of their wedding is given careful consideration, from catering to rehearsals to the vendors they choose. Throughout our e-book, we have included several links that can help you with making your budget, creating your guest list, deciding on a venue and much more! By conveniently putting all of our links into this one e-book that you can come back to again and again, this will save you many hours of searching the web.
    [Show full text]
  • Progress Report for the San Joaquin Valley Giant Garter Snake
    PROGRESS REPORT: 2003 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY GIANT GARTER SNAKE CONSERVATION PROJECT Prepared by: Todd Williams, Wildlife Biologist Veronica Wunderlich, Biological Science Technician U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex Box 2176 Los Banos, CA 93635 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND: The giant garter snake, Thamnophis gigas (Rossman & Stewart 1987), was designated as a federally threatened species throughout its range in October 1993 and (USFWS 1993). Giant garter snakes are endemic to the Central Valley of California, and historically occurred throughout the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys (Hansen and Brode 1980). They are thought to have occurred as far north as Butte County and south to Kern County, within the boundaries of the foothills of the Coastal and Sierra Nevada ranges. The current range of the giant garter snake is confined to the Sacramento Valley and isolated portions of the San Joaquin Valley (USFWS 1999). The giant garter snake is primarily an aquatic species that feeds on small fishes, tadpoles, and frogs (Fitch 1941). Historically, prey items included thick-tailed chub (Gila crassicauda), Sacramento blackfish (Orthodox microlepidus), and the California red- legged frog (Rana aurora draytoni), all of which have been extirpated from the giant garter snake’s current range (Rossman et al 1996). The habitat requirements of giant garter snakes include wetland areas with sufficient emergent vegetation for cover, openings in the vegetation for basking, and access to rodent burrows for shelter and winter periods of reduced activity (USFWS 1993). Giant garter snakes tend to be absent from rivers that support populations of large predatory fish as well as watercourses that have sand, gravel or rocky substrates (Hansen 1980).
    [Show full text]
  • GARTER Iideai of How Much People Are Get- Brovwn at the Gymri; Feb
    BOSTON, MASS., MONDAY. DECEMRFBR 10. 1906 I I __ r ---- ·-- -,~- ," 9-13 ---- i -~~~- I I I Ir~~ 1 ,1L I STATIONERY I I CHAMBERLAIN HATS' 1~~~ _~~4 --, Useful FINE PAPER i Xmas M. i.T. AND ENVELOPES 50 Cents to $50.00 BOSTON BOND I I -- - - - - - -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~II Gifts BOSTON LINEN Men's Cravats, English Squares, Ascots and De- From London, Paris BUNKER HILL Joinvilles, Four-in-Hand Scarfs, French Hand- and Vienna kerchiefs, Silk Handkerchiefs, IN VERY LATEST STYLES Dress Mufflers, Negligee Shirts, Evening Dress Shirts, Hosiery- ENGRAVED INVITATIONS Cotton, Fine Lamb's Wool, Silk, Underwear, Blanket Wraps for II men, women PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS and children, Students' Study Coats-Smoking Jackets, FOR TECH MEN House Coats, Long Gowns and Wraps, Men's and Women's Storm FOUNTAIN PENS Coats, Shaker Sweaters, Steamer Rugs, Fownes' Gloves-Men's BEACONSFIELD DERBY, $3.00 NOTE BOOKS and Women's hand sewn, Fur-Lined Gloves-Wool-Lined Gloves, REVELATION DERBY, $2.00 Scotch Wool Gloves for street and driving, Pajamas-Cotton, wool and silk, Vienna Novelties in Bags, Card Cases, Pocket Books and SAMUEL WARD- CO odd pieces, Ladies' Stocks, Belts, Umbrellas and Walking Sticks, 663I WASHINCTONO1663ne Store boutn ST. of Boston Boylston Scarf Pins and Sleeve Links, Hair Brushes-Military Brushes, Soaps 57-63 FRANKLIN STREET and Perfumes, Golf Clubs, Balls, Bags, Gloves, Hose and GolfJack- BOSTON. MASS. ets, Men's Vests - Street wear and evening dress, Auto Ulsters, Vests, Wash;nonand BOOKS - - Ii Leather Jackets and Caps, Shirt ·X-: rT? ....Jtn USA ess... Us.SA waists tor ladies. THE OLD COLTONY PRESS lM- tPrintero i (Continued from Page 2.) tise more what is preached, ifI Books, Periodicals, Catalogues essential tacts; anything that does there was a little less red tape andI Commercial and Society Work not bear directly on one of these fewer regulations, if a student wass Telephone 1380 Main points is a barnacle oil his brain.
    [Show full text]
  • S:\OPINIONS\January 2010\Ludwig.Vanburen.SJ.Res Judicata.Wpd
    2:07-cv-15317-AC-PJK Doc # 24 Filed 01/13/10 Pg 1 of 13 Pg ID 602 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION CRYSTAL LUDWIG, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 07-15317 TOWNSHIP OF VAN BUREN, HONORABLE AVERN COHN Defendant. __________________________/ MEMORANDUM AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT I. Introduction This is a First Amendment case. Plaintiff Crystal Ludwig is suing defendant Van Buren Township (Van Buren) under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claiming that Township Ordinance 2-16-99(2), section 6-69 entitled “Nudity on Licensed Premises” and Ordinance No. 2- 16-1994(4), section 58-206 entitled “Public Indecency” violates her violates her First Amendment rights. Both ordinances define nudity and forbid a person from appearing in a pubic state of nudity. Ludwig is an exotic dancer at The Garter Belt, Inc. d/b/a John’s Hot Spot (f/k/a Legg’s Lounge) located in Van Buren. The Garter Belt is owned by John Hamilton. Ludwig seeks monetary, declaratory and injunctive relief. She essentially claims the nudity ordinances are overbroad. As will be explained, this is one of several lawsuits challenging the nudity ordinances. Before the Court is Van Buren’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds of res judicata. Van Buren specifically contends that the instant case is virtually identical 2:07-cv-15317-AC-PJK Doc # 24 Filed 01/13/10 Pg 2 of 13 Pg ID 603 to a prior case, Bates v. Van Buren Township, No. 02-73692 (E.D. Mich. 2002), which involved the same nudity ordinances and which the Court dismissed on the grounds of res judicata based on prior litigation between Van Buren and The Garter Belt.
    [Show full text]
  • SWART, RENSKA L." 12/06/2016 Matches 149
    Collection Contains text "SWART, RENSKA L." 12/06/2016 Matches 149 Catalog / Objectid / Objname Title/Description Date Status Home Location O 0063.001.0001.008 PLAIN TALK TICKET 1892 OK MCHS Building Ticket Ticket to a Y.M.C.A. program entitled "Plain Talk, No. 5" with Dr. William M. Welch on the subject of "The Prevention of Contagion." The program was held Thursday, October 27, 1892 at the Central Branch of the YMCA at 15th and Chestnut Street in what appears to be Philadelphia O 0063.001.0002.012 1931 OK MCHS Building Guard, Lingerie Safety pin with chain and snap. On Original marketing card with printed description and instructions. Used to hold up lingerie shoulder straps. Maker: Kantslip Manufacturing Co., Pittsburgh, PA copyright date 1931 O 0063.001.0002.013 OK MCHS Building Case, Eyeglass Brown leather case for eyeglasses. Stamped or pressed trim design. Material has imitation "cracked-leather" pattern. Snap closure, sewn construction. Name inside flap: L. F. Cronmiller 1760 S. Winter St. Salem, OR O 0063.001.0002.018 OK MCHS Building Massager, Scalp Red Rubber disc with knob-shaped handle in center of one side and numerous "teeth" on other side. Label molded into knob side. "Fitch shampoo dissolves dandruff, Fitch brush stimulates circulation 50 cents Massage Brush." 2 1/8" H x 3 1/2" dia. Maker Fitch's. place and date unmarked Page 1 Catalog / Objectid / Objname Title/Description Date Status Home Location O 0063.001.0002.034 OK MCHS Building Purse, Change Folding leather coin purse with push-tab latch. Brown leather with raised pattern.
    [Show full text]
  • What Information Do We Hold?
    ST GEORGE’S CHAPEL ARCHIVES & CHAPTER LIBRARY Research guides No.1 The Order of the Garter Foundation and composition The Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest surviving Order of Chivalry in the world, was founded by Edward III in or just before 1348. St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, became and remains the spiritual home of the Order and holds the annual Service of Thanksgiving on Garter Day which is attended by the Sovereign and Companions of the Order. The origins of the Order’s blue garter and motto, ‘Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense’ (Shame on Him Who Thinks Evil of It), are uncertain. The date of the foundation of the Order of the Garter is a subject of historiographical controversy, largely due to the absence of early records of the Order. The French chronicler Froissart, writing between 1370 and 1400 and drawing upon the account of the English ecclesiastic Adam of Murimuth, claimed that the foundation of the Order coincided with the feast held by Edward III at Windsor Castle in January or February of 1344. At this feast, according to Murimuth, Edward had declared an intention to establish a Round Table of three hundred knights ‘in the same manner and estate as the Lord Arthur, formerly King of England’. It is now widely believed that Froissart wrongly conflated the events of the feast held in 1344 with the actual foundation of the Order of the Garter, which occurred later in the 1340s and possibly coincided with the establishment of the College of St George, Windsor, in 1348.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Garter Snake: the Role of Rice and Effects of Water Transfers
    Giant Garter Snake: The Role of Rice and Effects of Water Transfers Report of Point Blue Conservation Science May 2017 W. David Shuford Giant Garter Snake: The role of rice and effects of water transfers May 2017 Point Blue Conservation Science W. David Shuford Suggested Citation: Shuford, W. D. 2017. Giant Garter Snake: The role of rice and effects of water transfers. Report of Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive #11, Petaluma, CA 94954. Point Blue Contribution No. 2133. Point Blue Conservation Science – Point Blue’s 140 staff and seasonal scientists conserve birds, other wildlife and their ecosystems through scientific research and outreach. At the core of our work is ecosystem science, studying birds and other indicators of nature’s health. Visit Point Blue on the web www.pointblue.org. Main Points Effects on the federally and state threatened giant garter snake are a major concern under a long-term (10-year) plan to transfer water from sellers in the Sacramento Valley to users south of the Delta or in the San Francisco Bay Area. Water will be made available for transfer from cropland idling, crop shifting, groundwater substitution, reservoir release, and conservation. A maximum of 60,693 acres of rice land would be fallowed each year if the full amount of 565,614 acre feet of surface water is transferred annually. This level of idling potentially could have major impacts on this snake given the current importance of the rice landscape in the Sacramento Valley to the species’ continued survival. Giant garter snakes in the Sacramento Valley have a strong association with natural wetlands and aquatic agricultural habitats, particularly rice and associated water conveyances.
    [Show full text]
  • Expanded Description of a Chinese Endemic Snake Opisthotropis Cheni (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae)
    Asian Herpetological Research 2010, 1(1): 57-60 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2010.00057 Expanded Description of a Chinese Endemic Snake Opisthotropis cheni (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae) LI Cao1, LIU Qin1 and GUO Peng 1, 2* 1 Department of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, Sichuan, China 2 Chendgu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China Abstract Based on seven newly-collected specimens, we provide an expanded description for the rare Chinese snake Opisthotropis cheni. The new specimens are consistent with the type series in scale counts and body dimensions. How- ever, two individuals lack yellow cross-bands that are apparent in the type specimens. A key to the ten Chinese species of Opisthotropis is provided. Keywords snake, Opisthotropis cheni, morphology, China 1. Introduction 070140, 071041, 071046-071050) (Table 1), collected from the Nanling National Nature Reserve in Ruyuan The genus Opisthotropis Gǘnther (1872) is comprised of County, Guangdong Province, China (Figure 1), were 17 currently recognized species, and is widely distributed morphologically examined in this work. The specimens in eastern, southern, and southeastern Asia (Uetz, 2010). were preserved in 8% formalin for initial fixation, and Members of this genus are all small aquatic snakes, later transferred to 75% ethanol. All specimens were de- mainly inhabiting rapidly flowing streams or small rivers. posited at Yibin University (YBU), Sichuan Province, Ten species of Opisthotropis occur in China (Zhao, China. 2006). Snout-vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL) were Zhao (1999) described Opisthotropis cheni based on measured using a meter ruler to the nearest millimeter, four specimens collected from Mt.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Garter Snake Habitat Quantification Tool
    Giant Garter Snake Habitat Quantification Tool Part of the Multispecies Habitat Quantification Tool for the Central Valley Habitat Exchange Scientific Rationale and Methods Document, Version 5 Multispecies Habitat Quantification Tool: Giant Garter Snake Acknowledgements The development of the scientific approach for quantifying impacts and benefits to multiple species for use in the Central Valley Habitat Exchange (Exchange) would not have been possible without the input and guidance from a group of technical experts who worked to develop the contents of this tool. This included members of the following teams: Central Valley Habitat Exchange Project Coordinators John Cain (American Rivers) Daniel Kaiser (Environmental Defense Fund) Katie Riley (Environmental Incentives) Exchange Science Team Stefan Lorenzato (Department of Water Resources) Stacy Small-Lorenz (Environmental Defense Fund) Rene Henery (Trout Unlimited) Nat Seavy (Point Blue) Jacob Katz (CalTrout) Tool Developers Amy Merrill (Stillwater Sciences) Sara Gabrielson (Stillwater Sciences) Holly Burger (Stillwater Sciences) AJ Keith (Stillwater Sciences) Evan Patrick (Environmental Defense Fund) Kristen Boysen (Environmental Incentives) Giant Garter Snake TAC Brian Halstead (USGS) Laura Patterson (CDFW) Ron Melcer (formerly DWR; with Delta Stewardship Council as of February 2017) Chinook Salmon TAC Alison Collins (Metropolitan Water District) Brett Harvey (DWR) Brian Ellrott (NOAA/NMFS) Cesar Blanco (USFWS) Corey Phillis (Metropolitan Water District) Dave Vogel (Natural Resource
    [Show full text]
  • Edna), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys Picta) Edna Under Field Conditions Clare I
    Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Publications 2-28-2019 A Brief Review of Non-Avian Reptile Environmental DNA (eDNA), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA under Field Conditions Clare I. M. Adams University of Otago Luke A. Hoekstra Iowa State University, [email protected] Morgan R. Muell Southern Illinois University Carbondale Fredric J. Janzen Iowa State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/eeob_ag_pubs Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Genetics Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons The ompc lete bibliographic information for this item can be found at https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ eeob_ag_pubs/341. For information on how to cite this item, please visit http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ howtocite.html. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Publications by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Brief Review of Non-Avian Reptile Environmental DNA (eDNA), with a Case Study of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA under Field Conditions Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an increasingly used non-invasive molecular tool for detecting species presence and monitoring populations. In this article, we review the current state of non-avian reptile eDNA work in aquatic systems, as well as present a field experiment on detecting the presence of painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) eDNA.
    [Show full text]