Date of Award

Fall 12-2007

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biological Sciences

Committee Chair

Dr. Carl Qualls

Committee Chair Department

Biological Sciences

Committee Member 2

Dr. Brian Kreiser

Committee Member 2 Department

Biological Sciences

Committee Member 3

Dr. Jake Schaefer

Committee Member 3 Department

Biological Sciences

Committee Member 4

Dr. Michael Davis

Committee Member 4 Department

Biological Sciences

Abstract

As human-caused species losses approach unprecedented levels, informed biological studies at the landscape, community, organismal, and genetic levels become increasingly important. The six chapters o f this dissertation target the black Pinesnake, Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi, an imperiled specialist of the longleaf pine ecosystem, to answer biological questions on all four of these levels. At the landscape level, we sought to identify areas where black Pinesnake populations persist as well as the landscape-level variables driving presence o f this secretive taxon. At the community level, we assessed habitat associations o f reptile and amphibian communities within the longleaf pine ecosystem and identified habitat parameters that appear to drive community composition. On a finer scale, we conducted a radio-telemetry study to examine spatial ecology o f black Pinesnakes, and to test several hypotheses regarding prey dynamics and resource selection o f these snakes. Lastly, we used molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA, i.e. mtDNA) to assess the intraclade relationships of eastern Pituophis, which includes P. m. lodingi, P. m. mugitus, and P. m. melanoleucus, in an attempt to add to existing phylogenetic knowledge o f these eastern congeners.

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