Data from: Spatial ecology of copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) in response to urban park trails

Carrasco-Harris MF, Cole JA, Reichling S. 2020. Data from: Spatial ecology of copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) in response to urban park trails. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.3v106n1n

Abstract

NOTE: An updated and larger version of this dataset is available. See https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.1rs3j824. ABSTRACT: Urban forests and parks are important for recreation and may serve as a natural corridor for commuters. The consequences of human-mediated disturbance in natural areas are documented for avian and mammalian species. Less is known about the consequences of human disturbance on reptile species, specifically snakes, residing in natural refuges within the urban matrix. Thus, we examined the spatial activity of copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) in regard to pedestrian trails within an urban forest. We used radio telemetry to track snakes during the active season and estimated distances moved in between relocations, distances to the nearest trail and home range size for individuals. We found sex and season, but not distance to the nearest trail, affected the distance snakes moved. In addition, we observed a weak, positive relationship between home range size and average distance to the trail. Sex, season and body condition did not explain snake distance to the trail, but individual patterns were variable for snakes compared to random locations generated from snake relocations. Our study indicates copperheads may be tolerant of low-level human disturbances found in an urban forest. Further work should be done to quantify levels of disturbance, such as trail use, and compare the behavior of reptiles across urban park types and locations.

Keywords

Agkistrodon contortrix,animal tracking,Agkistrodon contortrix,copperhead snake,radio telemetry,reptiles,urban ecology,urban forest

Taxa

Taxon

Agkistrodon contortrix

Copperhead, Eastern Copperhead

Sensors

Sensor

Radio Transmitter

DOIs of related Publications

https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juaa007

URI

https://datarepository.movebank.org/handle/10255/move.1033

BibTex

@misc{001/1_3v106n1n,
  title = {Data from: Spatial ecology of copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) in response to urban park trails},
  author = {Carrasco-Harris, MF and Cole, JA and Reichling, S},
  year = {2020},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.3v106n1n},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.3v106n1n},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.3v106n1n
T1  - Data from: Spatial ecology of copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) in response to urban park trails
AU  - Carrasco-Harris, Malle F.
AU  - Cole, Judith A.
AU  - Reichling, Steve
Y1  - 2020/03/20
KW  - Agkistrodon contortrix
KW  - animal movement
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - Agkistrodon contortrix
KW  - copperhead snake
KW  - radio telemetry
KW  - reptiles
KW  - urban ecology
KW  - urban forest
KW  - Agkistrodon contortrix
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.3v106n1n
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.3v106n1n
ER  -

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