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26 October 2006 Habitat Utilization of Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus (Northern Pinesnakes) on Arnold Air Force Base in Middle Tennessee
Gary W. Gerald, Mark A. Bailey, Jeff N. Holmes
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Abstract

Radio-transmitters were implanted in six male and three female adult Northern Pinesnakes at Arnold Air Force Base in Middle Tennessee. Snakes were radio-tracked during the spring, summer, and autumn of 2001 and 2002 to ascertain possible sexual variation and seasonal patterns of habitat use. Radio-tracked Pinesnakes spent most of their time within pre-existing stump holes or under old concrete foundations found scattered throughout the study area. They primarily used disturbed habitats with little or no canopy cover. Selected habitats were characterized by vegetative ground cover and woody debris during both years. Monitored pinesnakes avoided upland deciduous forest and closed-canopy pine forests. The affinity for open-canopy areas increased throughout the year, with males and females inhabiting these areas most often during autumn. Females used more underground retreats than males during summer. Moreover, both sexes used underground retreats most often during autumn. Considering past and ongoing land use patterns of the area, disturbance (e.g., fire and timber harvest) may be important to the maintenance of habitat diversity needed by Northern Pinesnakes.

Gary W. Gerald, Mark A. Bailey, and Jeff N. Holmes "Habitat Utilization of Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus (Northern Pinesnakes) on Arnold Air Force Base in Middle Tennessee," Southeastern Naturalist 5(2), 253-264, (26 October 2006). https://doi.org/10.1656/1528-7092(2006)5[253:HUOPMM]2.0.CO;2
Published: 26 October 2006
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