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Survival and population growth of a long-lived threatened snake species, Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake)

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Population Ecology

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 February 2012

Abstract

Demographic data provide a basis for understanding the life history and ecology of species, factors which are vital for informing conservation efforts; however, little is known regarding the population ecology of most snake species, including the threatened Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi). We used 11 years (1999–2009) of capture-mark-recapture (CMR) and 2.5 years (2003–2005) of radiotelemetry data from southeastern Georgia, USA, in a CMR modeling framework to estimate apparent survival, capture and transition probabilities, and evaluate factors influencing these parameters. The model-averaged estimate of overall apparent annual survival probability was 0.700 (±0.030 SE) and is comparable to that obtained from known fate analysis (radiotelemetry) at the same site. Body size positively influenced survival, regardless of sex. Capture probability differed seasonally by sex, suggesting lower capture probability for females in fall and males in winter. There was no evidence for effect of precipitation or site-specific differences in survival. Model averaged estimate of annual adult survival estimated using multistate CMR models was 0.738 ± 0.030 and 0.515 ± 0.189 for subadults. We estimated population growth rate (λ) and elasticity (proportional sensitivity) of λ to vital rates using a stage-structured matrix population model. Population growth rate ranged from 0.96 to 1.03 depending on the value of the probability of transitioning from subadult to adult stage. The λ was proportionally most sensitive to changes in adult survival rate, followed by subadult survival. Our results suggest that protecting adult snakes and their habitats would result in the highest likelihood of long-term population stability and growth.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge M. Wallace, R. Moulis, J. Waters, and R. Redmond for the use of their CMR data in these analyses. We thank The Orianne Society for providing funding for data analysis and manuscript preparation. Additional support was generously provided by J. Jensen, R. J. Cooper, J. M. Meyers, T. Norton, V. Rolland, K. McCarthy, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, USGS Patuxent, and the biologists and managers at Fort Stewart. K. Yamamura, L. Crespin, and an anonymous reviewer provided many helpful comments for which we are grateful. We also thank all of those who helped in the field throughout the years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 324 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Natalie L. Hyslop, Jeffrey A. Hostetler & Madan K. Oli

  2. The Orianne Society, 579 Highway 441 South, Clayton, GA, 30525, USA

    Dirk J. Stevenson & Chris L. Jenkins

  3. Fort Stewart Directorate of Public Works Fish and Wildlife Branch, United States Army, Ft. Stewart, GA, 31314, USA

    Dirk J. Stevenson, John N. Macey & Lawrence D. Carlile

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  1. Natalie L. Hyslop
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Correspondence to Natalie L. Hyslop.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10144-012-0304-y.

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Hyslop, N.L., Stevenson, D.J., Macey, J.N. et al. Survival and population growth of a long-lived threatened snake species, Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake). Popul Ecol 54, 145–156 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10144-011-0292-3

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