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Ranging behaviour of adders (Vipera berus) translocated from a development site

Nash, Darryn James, Griffiths, Richard A. (2018) Ranging behaviour of adders (Vipera berus) translocated from a development site. Herpetological Journal, 28 (4). pp. 155-159. ISSN 0268-0130. (KAR id:72711)

Abstract

Translocation of animals from sites scheduled for development is a widespread but controversial intervention to resolve human-wildlife conflicts. Indeed, reptiles are very frequently the subject of such translocations, but there is a paucity of information on the fate of such animals or how their behaviour compares to residents. In 2014, a population of adders (Vipera berus) was translocated from a development site in Essex, UK. A sample of snakes was fitted with external radio tags and tracked for a period of 10 days during the spring. This exercise was repeated during the summer using a combination of translocated and resident individuals. Translocated males exhibited significantly greater average daily movements than resident conspecifics. Furthermore, all translocated males undertook long-distance, unidirectional movements away from the release site. In contrast, all translocated females remained within 50 m of the point of release. One of the males returned to the donor site, crossing large areas of unsuitable habitat in doing so. Translocated males also maintained significantly larger total ranges than resident conspecifics. No differences in range sizes were observed between translocated and resident females. The dispersal of male snakes from the release site may increase the risk of mortality of translocated snakes and reduces the likelihood of establishing a new population. Interventions to encourage the establishment of new home ranges within the boundaries of release sites may include mechanisms to prevent dispersal immediately following release.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled keywords: relocation, viper, radio-telemetry, reptile, human-wildlife conflict
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Richard Griffiths
Date Deposited: 21 Feb 2019 15:10 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 14:02 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/72711 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Nash, Darryn James.

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Griffiths, Richard A..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5533-1013
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