Abstract
Habitat directly affects the population size and geographical distribution of wildlife species, including the Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), a critically endangered snake species endemic to China. We searched for Mangshan pit viper using randomly arranged transects in their area of distribution and assessed their habitat association using plots, with the goals of gaining a better understanding of the habitat features associated with P. mangshanensis detection and determining if the association with these features varies across season. We conducted transect surveys, found 48 individual snakes, and measured 11 habitat variables seasonally in used and random plots in Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve over a period of 5 years (2012–2016). The important habitat variables for predicting Mangshan pit viper detection were fallen log density, shrub density, leaf litter cover, herb cover and distance to water. In spring, summer and autumn, Mangshan pit viper detection was always positively associated with fallen log density. In summer, Mangshan pit viper detection was related to such habitats with high canopy cover, high shrub density and high herb cover. In autumn, snakes generally occurred in habitats near water in areas with high fallen log density and tall shrubs height. Our study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between Mangshan pit viper detection and specific habitat components. Mangshan pit viper detection was associated with habitat features such as with a relatively high fallen log density and shrub density, moderately high leaf litter cover, sites near stream, and with lower herb cover. The pattern of the relationship between snakes and habitats was not consistent across the seasons. Identifying the habitat features associated with Mangshan pit viper detection can better inform the forestry department on managing natural reserves to meet the habitat requirements for this critically endangered snake species.
Highlights
IntroductionMany wild animals require multiple habitats to obtain various resources (Raynor et al, 2017; Leite et al, 2018), which would provide them opportunities for predation, reproduction, and shelter (Doligez, Danchin & Clobert, 2002; Hyslop, Cooper & Meyers, 2009; O’Hanlon, Herberstein & Holwell, 2015)
The primary objectives of this study were: (1) identify the habitat features associated with P. mangshanensis detection across the study area (2) determine if the association with these features varies across season
Survey methods We looked for P. mangshanensis individuals by using transect surveys from 2012 to 2016 (Mazerolle et al, 2007)
Summary
Many wild animals require multiple habitats to obtain various resources (Raynor et al, 2017; Leite et al, 2018), which would provide them opportunities for predation, reproduction, and shelter (Doligez, Danchin & Clobert, 2002; Hyslop, Cooper & Meyers, 2009; O’Hanlon, Herberstein & Holwell, 2015). Effective conservation and management of species depends on an understanding of habitat requirements, if these aspects change seasonally. This is especially the case for species susceptible to habitat loss or fragmentation (Willems & Hill, 2009; Ali et al, 2017; Mandlate, Cuamba & Rodrigues, 2019). Information related to habitat requirements is often scarce when a species has low population densities, narrow and remote habitat, receives little low public attention, and when venomous animals can endanger investigators (Rechetelo et al, 2016; Sutton et al, 2017; Leite et al, 2018). If the biological resources are limited and patchily distributed across the landscape, the identification and protection of essential habitat components would be critical to population persistence, recovery efforts, and the design of protected areas (Ali et al, 2017; Leite et al, 2018)
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