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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Artificial shelters provide suitable thermal habitat for a cold-blooded animal
Scientific Reports, Vol.12(1), 5879
2022
PMID: 35393502
Abstract
Human activities such as urbanization often has negative affects wildlife. However, urbanization can also be beneficial to some animals by providing suitable microhabitats. To test the impact of urbanization on cold-blooded animals, we first conducted a snake survey at a national nature reserve (Xianghai natural reserve) and an adjacent tourist bird park (Red-crowned Crane Park). We show high presence of Elaphe dione in the tourist park even with high human activities and predator population (the endangered, red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis). We then radio-tracked 20 individuals of E. dione, set seven camera traps, and recorded the temperature of the snakes and artificial structures in Crane Park to document their space use, activity, and thermal preference, respectively. Our results show E. dione preferred to use artificial facilities to shelter from their predators and for thermoregulation. The high number of rats from the camera traps indicate abundant prey items. Overall, E. dione appears to be adapted to modified habitats and may expand population size at the current study site.
Details
- Title
- Artificial shelters provide suitable thermal habitat for a cold-blooded animal
- Authors/Creators
- Xin Yu - Beijing Normal UniversityNicholas Wu - The University of SydneyLuyuan Ge - Imperial College LondonLianshan Li - Fanjingshan National Nature ReserveZhengwang Zhang - Beijing Normal UniversityJuan Lei - Beijing Normal University
- Publication Details
- Scientific Reports, Vol.12(1), 5879
- Publisher
- NATURE PORTFOLIO
- Number of pages
- 9
- Identifiers
- 991005776032807891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2022
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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