Long-term and short-term effects of temperature on snake detectability in the wild: a case study with Malpolon monspessulanus

Authors: Moreno-Rueda, Gregorio; Pleguezuelos, Juan M.

Source: The Herpetological Journal, Volume 17, Number 3, July 2007 , pp. 204-207(4)

Publisher: British Herpetological Society

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Abstract:

The relationship between temperature and rates of detection of the Mediterranean snake Malpolon monspessulanus (Montpellier snake) in the wild was analysed over a 26-year period. We used records of live and freshly road-killed snakes in south-eastern Spain. A short-term effect of temperature on rates of snake detection was found: the higher the yearly temperature, the higher the snake detectability was that year. Moreover, a long-term effect of temperature on snake detectability was found, as snake abundance in year x was also strongly affected by temperature during year x- 1 and x-2. A multiple-regression model demonstrated that these effects were independent. These long-term effects are probably due to an effect of temperature on snake population dynamics.

Keywords: ABUNDANCE; CLIMATE; MONTPELLIER SNAKE; POPULATION DYNAMICS; SPAIN

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-07-01

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The Herpetological Journal is an international scientific journal that publishes papers on the natural history of amphibians and reptiles. Experimental, observational and theoretical studies are published along with reviews and book reviews. Faunistic lists, letters and results of general surveys are not published unless they shed light on herpetological problems of wider significance.
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