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The Rocky Reality of Roadways and Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus): An Intersection of Spatial, Thermal, and Road Ecology

Sisson, Garrett P.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501858940884785

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences).
A major challenge in conservation biology is balancing human transportation needs with biodiversity. I studied a remnant population of Ohio-endangered Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) in a forested landscape recently fragmented by a four- lane highway that featured crossing structures and exclusion fencing. I evaluated the success of mitigation structures for reptiles while also quantifying the impacts of the road on rattlesnake spatial and thermal ecology using a combination of radio telemetry, mark- recapture, mortality surveys, camera traps, operative temperature modeling, and resource selection functions. Fencing was not successful in excluding reptiles from the right-of- way due to structural and design failings, and reptiles did not use the crossing structures to maintain connectivity across the road. Gravid rattlesnakes used habitats within the road corridor throughout gestation, while conspecifics avoided open canopy areas beyond the forest edge. The road corridor provided warmer temperatures for more hours of the day compared with the forest, but also exceeded voluntary maximum temperatures at the surface. My models indicated that most of the available gestation habitat was predicted to be concentrated within the road corridor. The placement of exclusion fencing should be adjusted to allow access to favorable habitats within the road corridor while also preventing road mortality.
Willem Roosenburg, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Shawn Kuchta, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Viorel Popescu, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Joseph Johnson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
142 p.
Biology; Conservation; Ecology
road mitigation; road avoidance; resource selection; habitat; exclusion fence; ecopassage; wildlife crossing structure; landscape ecology; wildlife;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sisson, G. P. (2017). The Rocky Reality of Roadways and Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus): An Intersection of Spatial, Thermal, and Road Ecology [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501858940884785

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sisson, Garrett. The Rocky Reality of Roadways and Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus): An Intersection of Spatial, Thermal, and Road Ecology. 2017. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501858940884785.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sisson, Garrett. "The Rocky Reality of Roadways and Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus): An Intersection of Spatial, Thermal, and Road Ecology." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501858940884785

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1501858940884785
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.