Seasonal, daily activity, and habitat use by three sympatric pit vipers (Serpentes, Viperidae) from southern Brazil.

MARCELO C. ROCHA,PAULO A. HARTMANN,GISELE R. WINCK,SONIA Z. CECHIN

doi:10.1590/0001-37652014119013

Abstract

Viperid snakes are widely distributed in the South America and the greater distribution range of the family is found at the Crotalinae subfamily. Despite the abundance of this snakes along their geographic distribution, some ecological aspects remain unknown, principally at subtropical areas. In the present study, we evaluated the activity (daily and seasonal) and the use of the habitat by Bothrops diporus, B. jararaca and B. jararacussu, in an Atlantic Forest area at southern Brazil. We observed higher incidence of viperid snakes during the months with higher temperatures, while no snakes were found during the months with lower temperatures. The data suggest the minimum temperature as environmental variable with the greatest influence on the seasonal activity of this species. Considering the daily activity, we observed a tendency of snakes to avoid the warmest hours. Bothrops jararacussu tend to avoid open areas, being registered only inside and at the edges of the forest. We compared our results with previous studies realized at tropical areas and we suggest the observed seasonal activity as an evolutive response, despite the influence of the different environmental variables, according to the occurence region.

Highlights

Ecological studies using snakes as a model organism have become more frequent in recent decades (e.g., Huey et al 1989, Shine and Bonnet 2000, Blouin-Demers and Weatherhead 2001, Miller et al 2011), mainly due to their greaterThe family Viperidae is widely spread, with more diversity in the tropics of Central America, South America and Southeast Asia
Studies are still incipient in remnants of Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil, where Bothrops diporus (Cope 1862), Bothrops jararaca (Wied 1824), and Bothrops jararacussu Lacerda, 1884 occur in sympatry
With 17,491 ha, the conservation unit is inserted within the Atlantic Forest biome domain (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE 2010)

Summary

Introduction

Ecological studies using snakes as a model organism have become more frequent in recent decades (e.g., Huey et al 1989, Shine and Bonnet 2000, Blouin-Demers and Weatherhead 2001, Miller et al 2011), mainly due to their greaterThe family Viperidae is widely spread, with more diversity in the tropics of Central America, South America and Southeast Asia Most radiation occurred within the subfamily Crotalinae, and in South America representatives can be found in all ecosystems (Martins et al 2001). In Brazil, the members of this subfamily are generally abundant in inventories and studies of snake assemblages (Martins and Oliveira 1998, Santos et al 2005, Zanella and Cechin 2006, Pontes et al 2008, Sawaya et al 2008, Hartmann et al 2009a, b, Guizoni-Jr et al 2009, Centeno et al 2008), with exceptions (e.g., Winck et al 2007, Martins et al 2012). Studies are still incipient in remnants of Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil, where Bothrops diporus (Cope 1862), Bothrops jararaca (Wied 1824), and Bothrops jararacussu Lacerda, 1884 occur in sympatry

Methods

Results

Conclusion