Size-based trends and management implications of microhabitat utilization by Brown Treesnakes, with an emphasis on juvenile snakes
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Abstract
The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis, or BTS), a costly invasive species, has been the subject of intensive research on Guam over the past two decades. The behavior and habitat use of hatchling and juvenile snakes, however, remain largely unknown. We used a long-term dataset of BTS captures (N = 2,415) and a dataset resulting from intensive sampling within and immediately around a 5-ha fenced population (N = 2,541) to examine habitat use of BTS. Small snakes were almost exclusively arboreal and that they appeared to prefer tangantangan (Leucaena leucocephala) habitats. In contrast, large snakes used arboreal and terrestrial habitats in roughly equal proportion, and were less frequently found in tangantangan. Among snakes found in trees, there were no clear size-based preferences for certain heights above ground, nor for size-based choice of perch diameters. We discuss these results as they relate to management and interdiction implications for brown treesnakes on Guam and in potential incipient populations on other islands.
Publication type | Conference Paper |
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Publication Subtype | Conference Paper |
Title | Size-based trends and management implications of microhabitat utilization by Brown Treesnakes, with an emphasis on juvenile snakes |
Year Published | 2007 |
Language | English |
Publisher | USDA/APHIS/WS, National Wildlife Research Center |
Contributing office(s) | Fort Collins Science Center |
Description | 11 p. |
Larger Work Type | Book |
Larger Work Subtype | Conference publication |
Larger Work Title | Managing vertebrate invasive species: Proceedings of an international symposium |
First page | 257 |
Last page | 267 |
Conference Title | Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species |
Conference Location | Fort Collins, CO |
Conference Date | August 7-9, 2007 |
Online Only (Y/N) | N |
Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |