Herpetological Inventory and Monitoring. Jennifer Frey Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Science Cafe June 6, 2017

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1 Herpetological Inventory and Monitoring Jennifer Frey Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Science Cafe June 6, 2017

2 Brief History Developed in 1992 through a cooperative agreement between the Mississippi Secretary of State s Office and the Mississippi DMR resulting from the Coastal Wetlands Protection Act (CWPA) in response to increased development within Mississippi s coastal zone. 83,000 acres of critical wetland habitat and associated uplands identified within twenty designated Coastal Preserve sites. The Program is actively acquiring these critical wetland habitats to manage and protect their ecological integrity and functions. Currently have over 39,000 acres. Properties are owned by the State and managed jointly by the Department of Marine Resources and Secretary of State s Office.

3 Mission and Goals The CPP is dedicated to effectively preserve, conserve, restore, and manage Mississippi's coastal ecosystems to maintain their natural characteristics, ecological integrity, social, economic and aesthetic values. 1. Restore, enhance, protect, and manage Mississippi's coastal and estuarine ecosystems. 2. Protect and preserve habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animals. 3. Promote opportunities for public appreciation compatible with protecting the natural resources. 4. Acquire, restore, and protect unique habitats. 5. Develop management strategies that foster coordination among federal, state, and local entities with jurisdiction and interests in coastal wetland protection. 6. Increase public awareness and interest in the values and functions of coastal habitats. 7. Monitor populations of non-native species and protect native species from negative impacts. 8. Contribute to the viability and natural biodiversity of coastal ecosystems through management

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5 Habitats Pine and Hardwood Forests Coastal Wetlands and Marshes Barrier Islands and Coastal Dunes

6 Forests LONG LEAF PINE SAVANNAH (longleaf pine and grasses) periodic fire, no hardwoods WET PINE FLATWOODS (slash pine, shrub and grasses) functions as a wetland and an upland, has the high plant diversity BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FORESTS (cypress and tupelo) lowland floodplain along rivers and lakes

7 Marshes ESTUARINE EMERGENT MARSH (spartina and juncus) Tidal Submerged Aquatic Vegetation SAV High and Low FRESH WATER MARSH (cattails and arrowhead) Tidal or Riverine PALUSTRINE MARSH (sawgrass and trees) no water flow

8 Barrier Islands UPLAND FOREST (slash pine, palmetto, smilax, yaupon) MARITIME HAMMOCK (live oak, smilax, palmetto, yaupon) FRESHWATER MARSH (torpedo grass, Iva/baccharis, yaupon) SALTWATER MARSH (juncus, spartina) SALT PANNE (salicornia, saltwort, sea-lavender, saltgrass) SAND DUNE SCRUB (iva, baccharis, myrica, sea oats, prickly pear)

9 Restoration

10 Management Shoreline erosion Altered hydrology Altered disturbance regimes Invasive species Rare, threatened and endangered species Off-road vehicle damage Illegal dumping Public access Bayou lacroix CP Hancock County Marshes Pascagoula River CP Ansley

11 Monitoring Bogue Homa Salvinia Apple Snail Removal Deer Island Tree Plantings 2017

12 Outreach, Education and Public Access Grand Bayou at Deer Island Habitat Stewards/Ansley Birding Trail Habitat Stewards Mucks to Marshes 7 trail systems

13 Current Projects and Monitoring National Fish and Wildlife Foundation NFWF(Invasives, Aquisition, and Beneficial Use) Deer Island Restoration/Education (MSU/SOS/USACE) Wild Hog removal USDA APHIS WS (total 566) Mucks to Marshes Program (BU monitoring) Habitat Stewards Initiatives (trail maintenance, etc.) Deer Island shorebird monitoring (CBC/MMNS/ACBS) Biological Inventory of Herpetofauna Invasive species surveys and treatment Terrapin nest predation surveys and monitoring Prescribed Fire (548 acres 2016) Deer Island Tree Plantings (3000 slash pine seedlings, 5 live oaks)

14 Terrapin Monitoring 3 populations, Bayou Caddy in Hancock County, Deer Island in Harrison County and Graveline Bayou in Jackson County yielded over 150 predated nests Daily surveys at Graveline, over 100 tracks and 100 predated nests since April 4, nests protected with 28 eggs total, 2 sites 4 temperature loggers in since April 27th Temp F Average of Average of

15 Biological Inventory

16 Biological Inventory Number of Species Number of Taxa (Species+ Subspecies) Frogs Salamanders Alligators 1 1 Lizards Snakes Turtles Total South MS

17 Methods Three 88 ft drift fences were deployed in May-July 2015, each has 4 funnel and 4 pitfall bucket traps 6 coverboards and 6 PVC pipes were installed in May of 2015, 2 at each site 6 Minnow traps and a hoop net were used at each site while trapping commenced NAAMP style surveys were completed Dipnetting commenced in any available water body Walking surveys are still being completed

18 Other Survey Methods Head Counting Road cruising Eyeshining Transect Sampling Seining Fyke net

19 Snake stick or tongs 5 gallon bucket with lid and small holes in lid Tubes Noose Gloves Plastic bags or plastic containers Camera or phone Field guide Ruler Tools

20 Marking Methods Pit Tag Telemetry receiver Elastomer Mark (toes, tail clip, belly scales, scute notching, drilling) Metal tags

21 Bell s Ferry, Wolf River Preserve

22 12 Oaks, Old Fort Bayou Preserve

23 Ansley, Hancock County Marshes

24 Results 145 Total species identified 61 Herpetological Species to date 60 Species Accumulation Curve SPECIES HOURS Species Totals 61 Bells Ferry Twelve Oaks Ansley Bells Ansley 12oaks 38

25 Results Acris crepitans Acris gryllus Agkistrodon piscivorus Alligator mississippiensis Ambystoma talpoidium Amphiuma means Anaxyrus terrestris Anaxyrus fowleri Anaxyrus quericus Anolis carolinenesis Apalone Sp. Chelonia mydas Chelonia mydas Chelydra serpentina Coluber constrictor Kinosternum subrubrum Lampropeltis getula Lepidochelys kempii Lithobates catesbiana Lithobates clamitans Lithobates grylio Lithobates sphenocephala Maclemys terrapin Nerodia cyclopion Nerodia fasciata Nerodia sipedon Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis Opheodrys aestivus Ophisaurus ventralis Pantherophis guttatus Eleutherodactylus planirostris Pantherophis obsoleta Eumeces fasciatus Plethodon Mississippi Eumeces inexpectatus Pseudacris crucifer Farancia abacura Pseudacris nigrata Gastrophyrene carolinensis Pseudymys concinna Heterodon platyrhinus Scaphiopus holbrookii Hyla cinera Scincella lateralis Hyla crysoscelis/versicolor Tantilla coronata Hyla femoralis Terrepene Caroliniana Hyla gratioso Thamnophis proximus Hyla squirrella Thamnophis sirtalis Incilius nebulifer Trachemys scripta elagans Virginia valerie elegans

26 Results Habitat Diversity Habitat Size and Surrounding Land Use Species Relationships Salt water intrusion Lack of Fire Hurricanes Erosion

27 Future Work We will continue to monitor the M. terrapin beaches We will continue to monitor the A. talpoidium pond and D. auriculatus. Three additional preserves have been selected to begin trapping in 2017.

28 Much Thanks!

29 Questions?

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31 Bonus What is the most common prey item of snakes? Do snakes give live birth? Can rattlesnakes hear their own rattle? What kind of snake is this?