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We inventoried the robber fly (Family Asilidae) fauna of 2 distinct Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) habitat types (mesic pine flatwoods, xeric sandhills) on a large, fire-managed landscape (Fort Stewart) located in the Coastal Plain of southeastern Georgia. We conducted aerial-net and sweep-net surveys at 30 sites on 111 dates from October 2020 to November 2022. We also sampled hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood communities. We collected a total of 380 robber flies comprising 25 genera and 62 species. We recorded 47 species from Longleaf Pine habitats, with 42 species collected from xeric Longleaf Pine sandhills and 20 species from mesic Longleaf Pine flatwoods. Thirty-two species were found in hardwood habitats. Machimus polyphemi, a poorly known obligate commensal of Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) burrows, was found at 5 sites. Two species that we documented from xeric Longleaf Pine sandhills, Machimus blantoni and Efferia slossonae, represent the first state records for Georgia. An Echthodopa cf. formosa population found in mesic pine flatwoods represents a significant range extension. Also, we report Stichopogon abdominalis from Georgia for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrochelys suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) is restricted to the Suwannee River drainage in Florida and Georgia. Over the last century, there have been scattered reports in the published and gray literature of M. suwanniensis sightings from the Okefenokee Swamp. This large wetland straddles the Georgia–Florida border and serves as the headwaters of the Suwannee River. Here, we discuss historic records of M. suwanniensis within the Okefenokee Swamp, provide details of recent sightings (2000–2021), including an extension of the known distribution to the northern portion of the swamp, and discuss the conservation and management implications of these observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Suwannee alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis) was first described in 2014. The species is thought to occur in blackwater and spring-fed streams of sufficient size throughout the Suwannee River drainage, but we have limited detailed information regarding its range. To clarify the distribution of M. suwanniensis, we compiled 111 museum, 16 literature, and 40 other credible records and trapped streams throughout the Suwannee drainage in Georgia and Florida, plus 8 streams in the Big Bend region of Florida (total of 1893 trap nights). We documented the first records from the Willacoochee River and Okapilco, Piscola, Warrior, Jones, and Toms creeks in Georgia and from Rocky and Olustee creeks in Florida. Relative abundance based on catch per unit effort (CPUE) varied among streams (0.00–0.50) and sections of the same stream. Macrochelys suwanniensis is apparently scarce in the Okefenokee Swamp and in the Suwannee River upstream of White Springs, Florida (none trapped), but it occurs in small blackwater tributaries in this section of the river in both states. In the Suwannee River between White Springs and the estuary, we had a mean CPUE of 0.25, and the highest trapping success in Florida was in downstream reaches of the Suwannee River and in its major tributaries, the Santa Fe and New rivers. The species is widely distributed in Georgia, but relative abundance in most streams appears lower than in Florida. In Georgia, we had the highest trapping success in the Alapaha drainage and in sections of the Little River and Okapilco Creek in the Withlacoochee drainage. In Florida, we failed to trap Macrochelys in the purported distribution gap between the Suwannee and Ochlockonee drainages and in the Wacasassa River to the south, indicating that this species is restricted to the Suwannee drainage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the nesting habits of Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake), a federally threatened species native to the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. Here, we describe locations of nest sites based on reports in the literature and from our field observations of putative nests and hatched eggshells. All wild nest sites (n = 7) known for the species (i.e., excluding those from translocated and/or captive-bred snakes) have been found in xeric sandhill habitats in southern Georgia and all have been associated with Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) burrows, including in the sand of burrow aprons. To protect snake nests, buffers around tortoise burrows are highly recommended during all habitat management activities (e.g., selective thinning, Pinus palustris [Longleaf Pine] restoration). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of purseweb spiders, Sphodros abboti (Blue Purseweb Spider) and S. rufipes (Red-legged Purseweb Spider), are known to occur in northern Florida and southern Georgia, and a third, S. atlanticus (Atlantic Purseweb Spider), has been recorded from northeastern Georgia. Their distributions have not been well defined, and records are sparse for S. rufipes and S. atlanticus. We conducted visual surveys for the distinctive tubular webs of these spiders in a variety of forest types. We report 141 new locality records for S. abboti, including 19 new county records in Florida and 5 in Georgia; 80 new locality records for S. rufipes, including 13 new county records in Florida, 34 in Georgia, and 1 in Alabama; and 3 new locality records for S. atlanticus, including 2 new county records for Georgia. We provide additional information on reproductive biology and habitat use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The status and distribution of many mygalomorph spider species is poorly known because of their cryptic lifestyles and specific habitat requirements. In 2018, we conducted surveys to better determine the ranges of the mygalomorph spiders Antrodiaetus unicolor (a folding door spider), Cyclocosmia torreya (Torreya Trap-door Spider), and Myrmekiaphila spp. (wafer-lid spiders) in the Coastal Plain in Georgia. Our surveys focused on oak-beech- magnolia forests associated with north-facing bluffs and ravines. We documented one or more of these mygalomorph spiders at 17 Coastal Plain sites, finding A. unicolor at 7 sites, C. torreya at 5 sites, M. torreya at 3 sites, and an undetermined Myrmekiaphila species at 12 sites. Our collections include the first C. torreya records for the Atlantic Coastal Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the discovery of an adult female Nerodia erythrogaster containing 24 late-term embryos, shedding light on delayed parturition in this species, which typically gives birth in summer through early autumn, with parturition dates ranging from July to November.

The ogre-faced spider Deinopis spinosa is the sole representative of the family Deinopidae in the US. Museum records suggest this species is restricted to the extreme southeastern US (Alabama and Florida) and Jamaica. Through nocturnal surveys and records from naturalist-oriented internet sites, we have discovered that this species is more widely distributed in the Coastal Plain region of the southeastern US. Herein, we document new state records for Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, significantly expanding the known range of the species. It is unknown whether these records represent a recent range expansion or if the spider has historically been overlooked due to its cryptic nature and habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Altamaha River region of southeastern Georgia is widely recognized for its biodiversity and conservation value for imperiled species. Even so, intensive amphibian and reptile surveys have never been conducted in this area. From 2008 to 2016, we conducted herpetofaunal surveys at 13 conservation lands located along the Altamaha River and along the lower reaches of a main tributary, the Ocmulgee River. We used a variety of field methods including visual encounter surveys, turtle trapping, frog-call surveys, drift fences, and surveys for snakes at Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) burrows. From these data, combined with a review of the published literature and a search of relevant museum collections, we determined that conservation and other nearby lands along the Altamaha River support a diverse herpetofauna of 100 species, including 41 amphibian species (18 salamander and 23 frog and toad species) and 59 reptile species (1 crocodilian, 11 lizard, 33 snake, and 14 turtle species). Seventeen species (12 reptile and 5 amphibian species) that are either federally listed, state-listed, or tracked as special concern by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have been documented here, and sandhills along the Altamaha River support significant populations of Gopher Tortoises, Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake), and Crotalus adamanteus (Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake). Biogeographically, the Altamaha River is a notable influence on the distributions of many amphibians and reptiles. High species richness, including many declining species, underscores the Altamaha River’s importance to conservation, and future efforts should focus on long-term monitoring of imperiled species and effective management of conservation lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Indigo Snakes (EIS, Drymarchon couperi) and Eastern Diamondbacked Rattlesnakes (EDB, Crotalus adamanteus) are species of conservation concern, in large part attributable to anthropogenic landscape changes within the southeastern Coastal Plain of North America. Both species use Gopher Tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus) burrows on xeric sandhills for winter retreat sites. Protected lands play an important role in the conservation of threatened species by offering the potential to conserve potentially limiting resources such as sandhills. We surveyed 40 randomly selected xeric sandhills containing Gopher Tortoise burrows on protected lands throughout the Lower Altamaha River Watershed in southern Georgia using visual encounter surveys over three winters (November through March). We used single-season occupancy models to relate detection and occupancy rates to survey- and site-specific covariates collected at both the sandhill- and landscape-scale. Eastern Indigo Snake occupancy was positively related to the number of Gopher Tortoise burrows and the amount of surrounding sandhill habitat. In contrast, EDB occupancy was not associated with any of the covariates we considered, perhaps because EDB/EIS use a greater diversity of winter retreat sites. Detection of EIS was higher than EDB (0.40 vs. 0.22) and most influenced by air temperature, whereas EDB detection was most influenced by survey date. Our study provides previously lacking population-level detection rates and habitat associations for EIS and corroborates the previously noted importance of Gopher Tortoise burrows as overwintering retreat sites. Our study also illustrates the potential shortcomings of monitoring multiple species using survey methodologies designed for a single species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents distribution records of amphibian and reptile species in Georgia as of October 2014. These include Ambystoma opacum or marbled salamander, Gastrophryne carolinensis or eastern narrow-mouthed toad, ,Chelydra Serpentina or Snapping turtle, Agkistrodon Contortrix or copperhead snake, and Virginia Valeriae or smooth earthsnake.

Conservation of the imperiled spotted turtle ( Clemmys guttata) at the regional level (i.e., Georgia, USA) will require knowledge of the species historic and contemporary distribution, activity patterns, and habitat preferences. To address these needs, we compiled 170 records of spotted turtles in Georgia from 1892 to 2014, including 89 museum records, 80 records based on credible observations or photos, and 1 literature record. There are recent (1995-2014) records for 79 locations in 31 counties, with 29 of these occurring on 14 conservation lands. Our results demonstrate that the spotted turtle ranges throughout much of the Coastal Plain of Georgia including the Flint River and Withlacoochee River drainages of the Gulf Coastal Plain. Half of the records for which habitat could be classified (62 of 124 records, 50%) were associated with blackwater creek swamps or seepage slope swamps. Remarkably, all but 4 Georgia spotted turtle records with body size data (i.e., 150 of 154; 97%) were based on adult turtles. The majority of Georgia records with the date included were from the late winter-spring (134 of 160 records, 84%, February-May). Likewise, the majority of observations were turtles found on roads (94 of 170 records; 55%), the majority of which (63; 67%) were alive. For the spotted turtle in Georgia, we recommend 1) continued protection and state-listing status, and 2) initiating long-term mark-recapture efforts to estimate population sizes and demographics and evaluate population trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse assemblage of invertebrates associated with Pinus (pine) snags in Florida and the Coastal Plain of Georgia include the large, widely distributed assassin bug, Microtomus purcis, and the scorpion Centruroides hentzi which is restricted to this region. We describe two instances of predation by M. purcis on C. hentzi in Georgia. These represent the first documented observations of predation on a scorpion species by an assassin bug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field collections made by the authors in pineland ecosystems in southern Georgia during 2011 significantly expand the previously published range limits of the scorpion Centruroides hentzi in Georgia. We commonly found specimens beneath the exfoliating bark of Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) and P. elliottii (Slash Pine) snags, stumps, and logs in sandhills and pine flatwoods habitats, documenting this scorpion from 50 sites in 34 south Georgia counties, and extending the known range of C. hentzi 150 km north (from near Waycross, Ware County, GA) to Statesboro, Bulloch County, GA. Our collections indicate that the species is widespread in pine-dominated uplands throughout much the lower and middle Coastal Plain of southern Georgia. We comment on the life history, ecology, and habitat requirements of the species based on this survey and the existing literature. In Georgia, C. hentzi is a characteristic associate of Longleaf Pine and Slash Pine ecosystems, is often locally abundant, and is part of an arthropod-vertebrate food web that includes the endangered Picoides borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpecker). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prey items for the federally protected Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) were compiled from published and gray literature, field observations, necropsies, dissection of museum specimens, and personal communications from reliable sources. One hundred and eighty-six records were obtained for 48 different prey species. Anurans, Gopher Tortoises, snakes, and rodents comprised ca. 85% of the prey items. Most records (n = 143) that mentioned size were from adult indigos; 17 were from juveniles. Prey records were collected from 1940-2008 and were available for all months of the year. These data confirm that Eastern Indigo Snakes eat a wide assortment of prey of varying sizes. This strategy allows D. couperi to potentially forage successfully in many different types of habitats and under fluctuating environmental conditions, a valuable trait for a top-level predator that requires a large home range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective sampling of pond-dwelling larval stages of the federally listed Ambystoma cingulatum (Flatwoods Salamander) requires sufficient knowledge of when larvae are present and how best to sample them. Through systematic sampling with active and passive sampling techniques, we found dipnetting to be significantly more effective than three types of passive traps. During surveys for Flatwoods Salamander larvae at Fort Stewart Military Installation, GA in 2005 and 2006, we found that pond residency varied by at least 1.5 months between the 2 years due to the timing of pond filling. In addition, our latest capture on 23 May 2005 was about 2 weeks later than previously recorded at any site range-wide. A simple growth model was used to evaluate likely hatching dates based on significant rain events, observed sizes at capture, and likely growth rates. This analysis suggested that the primary dates of hatching occurred in late February 2005 and early January 2006, a difference that corresponds to that seen in the residency of the latest larval stages. A review of the survey records for Fort Stewart for the past 13 years shows a steep decline in the number of occupied ponds from near 20 to a single pond for the past two years (the only documented breeding success in a natural pond since 1999). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information related to a dead adult female Drymarchon couperi snake found on the ground surface near a sandstone ledge, southern Georgia, following a prescribed fire. It mentions microscopic evidence of acute injury to the pulmonary epithelium which is consistent with acute thermal injury, supporting the assessment that the snake died as a result of fire.

The article discusses the author's experience of studying Indigo snake. The author and his wife are biologists who help monitor wildlife on the Fort Stewart Military Installation. In December, 2001, they have captured, marked and released an indigo snake and named it Chas. The eastern indigo snake was placed on the Endangered Species List by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 1978. In June, 2004, the author with his wife and Natalie Hyslop radio-tracked Chas which has grown to a length of seven feet long and weighs nine pounds. They got, sample of his blood and orange chiggers from his skin, and took measurements to assess his health. When the author revisited the burrow where he found Chas, he unearthed a male indigo snake and called him Snapper.

We studied the federally threatened eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) from 1992 to 2002 in southeastern Georgia, including a 4-year mark-recapture study conducted on the Fort Stewart Military Reservation. Indigo snakes in this region are sexually dimorphic in size, with males attaining greater maximum lengths. Subadult and small adult snakes grow more rapidly than larger adults. Georgia specimens prey on a variety of vertebrates, including juvenile gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). The return of adult indigo snakes to the same sandhills in multiple years has conservation and management significance. Long-term population monitoring of indigo snakes is feasible and may yield valuable information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information of RYMARCHON COUPERI (Eastern Indigo Snake) featured on the cover page of the periodical, found in the U.S., GEORGIA.

The article offers information on geographical distribution along with collection of amphibians and reptiles across Georgia. Topics discussed include collections of Spotted Salamander belonging to Caudata, collection of Southern Leopard Frog under Anura, and collection of Six-lined Racerunner lizard belonging to Squamata.

The article offers information related to Southern Hog-nosed Snake, with specific focus on their use of use of pocket gopher mounds and gopher tortoise burrows.

The article offers information related to Scarletsnake with specific focus to their dietary behavior which consists of other arthropods, widow spiders.

The article provides information on Coluber flagellum (coachwhip) in Liberty County, Georgia, which has also been documented from Sapelo Island, McIntosh County.

The article offers information on lizard specie Plestiodon Cf. laticeps, and mentions that Plestiodon are relatively abundant lizards found throughout the eastern U.S., and feeds primarily on a variety of small invertebrates.

The article presents information on the geographic location of a female Clemmys guttata or spotted turtle species at a wetland site in the Coastal Plain of southern Georgia found on April 9, 2015.

We conducted a 14-year mark-recapture study of a population of Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake) inhabiting an unusual geologic region (Altamaha Grit) embedded within the Vidalia Uplands Physiographic Province of southeastern Georgia. Here, we documented regular cool-season use of refuges (ground holes, crevices) associated with aboveground sandstone outcrops. Several discrete rock outcrop sites were used throughout our study period, with individual snakes often returning to the same rock dens in successive years. We describe these habitats and discuss the significance of this d iscovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With populations declining across their geographic range, the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is currently a species of conservation concern. Though broadly distributed, the species is particularly enigmatic at its southern periphery, and many aspects of its ecology and population biology in this portion of the range have either just recently been described or are currently unknown. One of the current knowledge gaps is a robust assessment of the population genetics of the southern populations. We collected tissue samples from 204 spotted turtles from 5 sites across South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and used 11 microsatellite loci to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure in these populations. We found that southern populations exhibited low, but significant, population differentiation (mean FST = 0.062) and each site clustered as its own genetic group. Genetic diversity across sites was comparable to estimates reported for northern populations. Net effective population sizes were generally robust and no populations showed indication of recent bottlenecks. Our results suggest that populations inhabiting relatively intact environments do not appear to face immediate threats from past loss of genetic diversity. However, continued monitoring, both demographic and genetic, of this long-lived species is an important management goal to insure that continued global changes do not threaten population viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the course of surveys for freshwater amphibians/reptiles in the Coastal Plain of southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, we documented parasitism of the Amphiuma means (Two-toed Amphiuma) by the leech Macrobdella ditetra (Family Macrobdellidae). We observed this leech on Two-toed Amphiumas at 4 different wetland sites, with 1–3 individual M. ditetra present on 6 of 16 (37.5%) Two-toed Amphiumas captured via aquatic trapping. Leeches were not found on Siren lacertina (Greater Siren; n = 10), a second large, eel-like salamander inhabiting some of the same wetlands. We did not document Philobdella floridana, a second macrobdellid leech species often found syntopically with M. ditetra, feeding on the Two-toed Amphiuma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecology of many ectotherms depends heavily on their ability to navigate the surrounding thermal environment in a manner that maintains body temperature (Tb) within or near some optimal temperature range at least some of the time. From April–December 2016, we measured shell temperatures (Ts) and water temperatures (Tw) in two Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) populations in southeastern Georgia using iButton temperature loggers. We attached radio transmitters and iButtons to the carapace of adult Spotted Turtles (n = 18 and 11 in each population, respectively) in early spring. Temperature loggers recorded a Ts measurement every 90 minutes (accuracy = 0.5°C), and we restricted our analyses to temperatures recorded between sunrise and sunset. Monthly mean Ts ranged from 12.3±3.4 to 27.1±2.7°C (SD), and seasonal variation accounted for a majority of the observed variation in temperatures. We found a strong positive correlation between weekly mean Ts and weekly mean Tw at one site that remained flooded throughout the study (P < 0.0001, R2 = 0.99). Tw could not be measured at the other site because it dried completely early in the study. Spotted Turtles did occasionally (<5% of total temperature observations) bask to raise Ts above that of the surrounding Tw. Gravid females achieved significantly higher daily maximum temperatures (26.2°C) than males (24.5°C) during the four weeks surrounding egg development (P = 0.043). In general, Spotted Turtles at the southern end of their range appear to spend a majority of their time conforming to environmental temperatures that often fall within the preferred range for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses reproduction in the species Pseudobranchus Striatus. It mentions that for female P. striatus in southern Georgia, eggs develop in the ovary from January−October and egg deposition may occur throughout this period, with a possible hiatus in the hottest months of July and August. It states that oviposition period of mid-June–August has been reported for captive P. striatus.

Effective protection of habitats for rare or declining species depends on a fundamental understanding of species' movements and space use. We studied the spatial ecology of 2 populations of Clemmys guttata (Spotted Turtle) in southeastern Georgia. We attached radio transmitters to 29 individuals and located them for a 9-month (April–December) period during 2016. We found that home ranges of individual Spotted Turtles were generally small, varying from 0.38 to 6.14 ha at Site 1 and from 0.39 to 8.21 ha at Site 2 (95% minimum convex polygon estimates). Estimates for the space used by the population as a whole varied from 26.7 to 49.4 ha at Site 1 and 11.1 to 14.5 ha at Site 2. Movement distances decreased from ∼15 m/day during the spring to <5 m/day in late summer and fall. Our results indicate that some Spotted Turtle populations in Georgia utilize relatively small areas of interconnected wetland complexes. Protecting wetland complexes along with the surrounding upland habitat will allow Spotted Turtle populations to move between wetlands and exploit riparian areas during certain times of the year without suffering the negative effects of fragmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an exceptional clutch size for Farancia abacura (Mud Snake). A large female specimen of F. a. abacura (Eastern Mud Snake), collected July 2008 in southern Georgia, deposited 111 eggs in captivity. Sixty-nine of the eggs hatched, yielding 65 (94.2%) normal hatchlings and 4 (5.8%) anerythristic (i.e., white-bellied) morphs. This clutch exceeds the previous record of 104 eggs reported in 1931. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alligator snapping turtles (genus Macrochelys) are the largest freshwater turtles in North America. Despite strong interest in their conservation, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of their natural history, including behaviors associated with terrestrial activity. We reviewed the literature and solicited unpublished observations of terrestrial movements of these highly aquatic turtles. We compiled 206 observations of terrestrial activity from 9 states. The majority of observations were associated with nesting behavior. Observations expanded our knowledge regarding the spatial extent and timing of terrestrial movements and the nesting season. In addition, we compiled observations of terrestrially foraging animals, as well as males and juveniles traveling overland and crossing roads. Collectively, this information clarifies the extent of terrestrial movement by Macrochelys, behaviors that should be considered in conservation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the conservation status of Macrochelys (alligator snapping turtles) being examined at the national level, our objective was to compile categorical data on threats from anthropogenic interactions. We included information from (1) author-collected anecdotes on human–turtle interactions and (2) radiographs to assess the prevalence of ingested fishing hooks. We placed 173 interactions involving 192 incidents into 9 IUCN threat categories and found bycatch involving fish hooks to be 4 times more numerous than the second-most numerous threat, turtle persecution. Fishing bycatch resulted in a high proportion of turtle mortalities (39%), and bycatch incidents in several cases preceded the highest-mortality threat (53%), persecution of individuals involving shooting or blunt trauma. We recommend fishing bycatch-mitigation measures and educational efforts to help conserve Macrochelys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and threatens snake health worldwide. It has been documented throughout the eastern United States and severe cases have recently been reported in Georgia, USA. To evaluate disease distribution and prevalence in this state, 786 free-ranging snakes were examined for skin lesions consistent with ophidiomycosis and swabbed to detect O. ophiodiicola DNA using qPCR. Sampled snakes represented 34 species and 4 families; 27.5% had skin lesions, 13.3% were positive for O. ophiodiicola DNA, and 77.8% of the qPCR positive individuals had skin lesions. This is the first report of O. ophiodiicola in five of the 22 species that were qPCR positive. Multinomial logistic regression modeling indicated that Drymarchon couperi had a higher relative risk of apparent ophidiomycosis (lesions present and qPCR positive), and the best models predicting qPCR result and ophidiomycosis category included individual factors and excluded temporal and spatial factors. Phylogeny-based bipartite network analysis showed that Nerodia erythrogaster, Nerodia taxispilota, and D. couperi had the highest prevalence of apparent ophidiomycosis; this category was more prevalent in the subfamily Colubrinae and less prevalent in Natricinae. These results provide important information about ophidiomycosis epidemiology, which has implications for snake conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife diseases have posed a significant challenge to the conservation of many species in recent years. Diseases have been implicated in population declines over large geographic areas, with severe disease outbreaks leading to either local or complete extinctions of wild populations. Ophidiomycosis, commonly known as snake fungal disease, is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which has been documented in snake populations across the eastern and southern United States. We collected swab samples from the federally threatened Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) in populations across the species’ Georgia range. We used quantitative PCR to determine the presence of O. ophiodiicola DNA and also recorded skin abnormalities characteristic of ophidiomycosis. From 1 September 2016 to 4 August 2018, Eastern Indigo Snakes tested positive for O. ophiodiicola DNA on 47 of 107 occasions (43.9%) and tested negative for fungal DNA but had skin lesions consistent with ophidiomycosis on 42 occasions (39.3%). Symptomatic and qPCR positive individuals were more likely to be encountered during January and February when compared to November and December. We found no effect of sex (p = 0.517), age-class (p = 0.106), or body size (snout-vent length: p = 0.083; mass: p = 0.206; body condition: p = 0.063) on ophidiomycosis status. Over the two-year study, we encountered individuals in which infection was clearly negatively impacting overall health and also documented individuals in which infection apparently cleared from one year to the next. These results demonstrate that O. ophiodiicola and lesions characteristic of ophidiomycosis are widespread in Georgia’s Eastern Indigo Snake populations. However, there are many unanswered questions regarding this disease, including the effects of disease on populations and individuals, the presence of infection vectors, and the change in prevalence over time. More research is needed to address ophidiomycosis and understand its impacts on ongoing conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A primary goal of landscape genetics is to elucidate factors associated with genetic structure among populations. Among the important patterns identified have been isolation by distance (IBD), isolation by barrier (IBB), and isolation by environment (IBE). We tested hypotheses relating each of these possible patterns to genetic divergence in the Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus (Green, 1818)) species complex across the lower Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Georgia, USA, and adjacent areas of South Carolina, USA. We sequenced 2148 total bp, including three regions of the mitochondrial genome and a nuclear intron, and related genetic distance to GIS-derived surrogate variables representing possible IBD (geographic distance), IBE (principal components of 19 climate variables, watershed, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)), and IBB (streams of fourth order and higher). Multiple matrix regression with randomization analysis indicated significant relationships between genetic distance and two principal components of climate, as well as NDVI. These results support roles for environment (IBE) in helping to drive genetic divergence in this group of salamanders. The absence of a significant influence of IBD and IBB was surprising. It is possible that the signal effects of geographic distance and barriers on genetic divergence may have been erased by more recent responses to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a geographic distribution record for the species name Desmognathus cf. auriculatus, commonly known as Southern dusky salamander, which cites various information that includes its locality, collection date, and collectors.

The Harlequin Coralsnake (Micrurus fulvius) is an iconic and imperiled species of the southeastern United States, but we know little of its ecology and natural history. We used our field notes on incidentally observed coralsnakes within three large, protected areas in Georgia and Florida (Apalachicola National Forest, Eglin Air Force Base, and Fort Stewart Military Installation) to generate information related to the habitat preferences of individual animals. We generated random location points in each of our study areas and compared the landscape-scale habitats surrounding them to the habitats surrounding coralsnake location points. We obtained evidence that coralsnakes exhibit hierarchal (i.e., multiscale) habitat selection. Specifically, coralsnakes were found in areas with more sandy soils (250 m scale) and scrub/shrub habitat (500 m scale) than random points across the landscape. Our study generates novel habitat information for a poorly known species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake) has a threatened conservation status and restricted range in the southeastern US. Evidence suggests it mainly consumes other reptile species. Dietary nutrient analysis is a component of habitat/resource quality and species health assessments, and the results provide guidelines for optimal captive-feeding protocols. Native prey items (7 snakes, 1 tortoise, 1 rodent) had higher protein and lower fat content, considerably higher concentrations of vitamins A and E, and variable mineral content (high Ca, P, Na; low Cu, Mn) compared to the diets of commercially reared and captive-fed rodents. Data suggest that diets for captive snakes may require modification to better duplicate natural food sources. Further investigation of captive diets is warranted to understand possible health implications for wild Indigo Snake populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Gopher tortoises ( Gopherus polyphemus) are among the most frequently translocated herpetofauna; yet, determining translocation success is difficult because tortoises are slow-growing, long-lived organisms with low reproductive potential. Comparing behavioral traits of translocated individuals with those of sympatric or nearby resident individuals can provide an ecologically relevant baseline to determine if translocated individuals show behavioral traits consistent with those of long-term residents. We used radio telemetry to concurrently monitor 21 translocated and 15 resident gopher tortoises across 2 sites in southern Georgia and compared movement patterns, body weights, and multi-scale habitat selection between treatments. Translocated tortoises moved farther and had larger home ranges than resident tortoises but showed similar patterns of site fidelity. We observed no differences in body weight change between treatments. Patterns of habitat selection were similar between treatments in that tortoises selected structurally open habitats at all scales. Our study suggests that more extensive post-release movements compared to resident individuals may not necessarily lead to lower site fidelity in translocated individuals. We suspect that the presence of structurally suitable habitat within the release area and retaining translocated individuals within a pre-release enclosure for 10 months contributed to high site fidelity. Although comparing translocated and resident individuals can help inform translocation efforts, we caution that using resident individuals from ecological sinks may lead to misleading results. © 2014 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common Kingsnakes (formerly known collectively as Lampropeltis getula) are experiencing localized declines throughout the southeastern United States. Because there have been limited studies to determine how snakes regulate prey populations, and because Kingsnake declines may result in ecosystem impacts, we evaluated the hypothesis that Kingsnakes regulate the abundance of one of their prey, the venomous Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). We generated a database of captures of the two species across the southeastern United States and, while controlling for large-scale habitat preferences, identified a negative relationship between the relative abundance of Kingsnakes and the relative abundance of Copperheads. Our results are correlative but consistent with the hypothesis that Copperhead populations experience a release from predation pressure where Kingsnake abundances are low. We suggest that Kingsnake declines, which are occurring for unknown reasons, are having ecological effects in affected ecosystems. We further highlight the potential role that snakes play in influencing the population dynamics of their prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakes often occur in species-rich assemblages, and sympatry is thought to be facilitated primarily by low diet overlap, not interspecific interactions., We selected, a priori, three species pairs consisting of species that are morphologically and taxonomically similar and may therefore be likely to engage in interspecific, consumptive competition. We then examined a large-scale database of snake detection/nondetection data and used occupancy modelling to determine whether these species occur together more or less frequently than expected by chance while accounting for variation in detection probability among species and incorporating important habitat categories in the models., For some snakes, we obtained evidence that the probabilities that habitat patches are used are influenced by the presence of potentially competing congeneric species. Specifically, timber rattlesnakes ( Crotalus horridus) were less likely than expected by chance to use areas that also contained eastern diamond-backed rattlesnakes ( Crotalus adamanteus) when the proportion of evergreen forest was relatively high. Otherwise, they occurred together more often than expected by chance. Complex relationships were revealed between habitat use, detection probabilities and occupancy probabilities of North American racers ( Coluber constrictor) and coachwhips ( Coluber flagellum) that indicated the probability of competitive exclusion increased with increasing area of grassland habitat, although there was some model uncertainty. Cornsnakes ( Pantherophis guttatus or Pantherophis slowinskii) and ratsnakes ( Pantherophis alleghaniensis, Pantherophis spiloides, or Pantherophis obsoletus) exhibited differences in habitat selection, but we obtained no evidence that patterns of use for this species pair were influenced by current interspecific interactions., Overall, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that competitive interactions influence snake assemblage composition; the strength of these effects was affected by landscape-scale habitat features. Furthermore, we suggest that current interspecific interactions may influence snake occupancy, challenging the paradigm that contemporary patterns of snake co-occurrence are largely a function of diet partitioning that arose over evolutionary time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The federally threatened eastern indigo snake ( Drymarchon couperi), native to the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States, has experienced population declines caused primarily by habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. To examine spatial and habitat use requirements of the species, we radiotracked 32 eastern indigo snakes from 2002 to 2004 on Fort Stewart Military Installation and adjacent private lands in Georgia. We estimated annual and seasonal home ranges and evaluated a priori hypotheses examining morphometric and ecological factors (sex, body size, location) associated with intraspecific differences in home range size. We analyzed habitat use hierarchically by examining use across the study area and within home ranges. Annual home range size varied from 33 ha to 1,528 ha (average minimum convex polygon: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the depredation of a Picoides borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpecker) nest by an Elaphe alleghaniensis (Eastern Rat Snake). Of 38 banded woodpecker groups monitored by video surveillance during 1998-2000, we documented one nest depredation by an Eastern Rat Snake. Woodpecker visitation to the nest area during the depredation event increased substantially compared with pre-depredation nesting behavior. Woodpecker visitation to the nest cavity was minimal during the first six hours after the snake was discovered by the adult woodpeckers. Visitation levels by woodpeckers remained higher than pre-depredation levels while the snake remained in the nest cavity. After the snake's departure from the nest, visitation rates dropped below pre-depredation levels. Woodpeckers continued to visit the cavity during the day and roost in the cavity at night for the remaining seven days of surveillance post-depredation. This same banded woodpecker pair nested in the same cavity in 1999 and fledged 1 female. Overall, we observed a low rate of nest depredation by rat snakes during this study: only one instance was recorded during more than 15, 000 hours of video surveillance. Based on the proclivity of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers to re-nest in previous nest cavities, and the potential for snakes to re-climb trees based on past successes, resource managers may want to prioritize placement of snake excluder devices or use of bark-shaving at active cavity trees where snake depredation has occurred, especially if funding is limited. We urge ornithologists to continue to incorporate snake research into their avian research to achieve a greater understanding of predator-prey relationships that impact cavity-nesting birds, especially threatened and endangered species such as Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery of the federally threatened Ambystoma cingulatum (Flatwoods Salamander) will require monitoring of known populations, as well as continued searches for additional populations. In an effort to develop recommendations for maximizing efficiency of future surveys of larval Flatwoods Salamanders, we combined data from surveys conducted between 1990 and 2004 in Florida and Georgia. Analysis of these data revealed variation in the number of larvae captured, survey effort, capture rates, and larval body size among years and months. An average of 16 min or 45 one-m long dipnet sweeps was required to catch each larva. For wetlands surveyed twice in a season, results (i.e., larval presence or assumed absence) were consistent in 74% of consecutive surveys. We make recommendations for conducting future surveys and the implementation of a coordinated research and monitoring program for Flatwoods Salamanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports the sighting of MACROCHELYS SUWANNIENSIS (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) at this Claiborne County, Mississippi, location.