Spatial Ecology and Habitat Use of the Coachwhip in a Longleaf Pine Forest

摘要

We examined spatial ecology and habitat use of Coluber flagellum (Coachwhip) in a 12,000-ha Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) reserve in southwestern Georgia from 2007 through 2008. We radio-tracked 7 Coachwhips (5 males and 2 females) for 291 to 325 days. The average 100% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home-range for all snakes was 102.9 +/- 28 ha. Daily movement during the active season (April-November) varied from 28.6 to 73.6 m for males (n = 5) and from 27.5 to 95.6 m for females (n = 2). Snakes were usually associated with open-canopied pine forests and found less often in aquatic and agricultural habitats. Our results are consistent with evidence from previous studies in that Coachwhips used sites with open-forest structure and large expanses of habitat.