Volume 22 thiS mOnth’S guESt SPEakEr
May 2009
Number 5
Erika Nowak
Northern Arizona University
Integrating Predator Ecology and Management: Venomous Reptiles in National Parks
7:15 PM Tuesday, 19th May University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street
Erika grew up in upstate Cornell University in 1991B.S. New York. She earned a in Natural Resources from
and completed a M.S. in Biology from Northern Arizona University in 1998, examining the effects and effectiveness of rattlesnake relocation. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Biology at Northern Arizona University, also in nuisance rattlesnake ecology and management. Erika has been fortunate to work with great colleagues at the USGS and collaborate with the National Park Service since 1992. Along the way she has studied all manner of southwestern herps, most notably three species of rattlesnakes (Crotalus), Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum), and milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum). More recently, she has collaborated with very dedicated and fun folks from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the New Mexico Fish and Game Department, the US Forest Service, and many volunteers in monitoring Narrow-headed Gartersnakes (Thamnophis rufipunctatus). Erika currently lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, nExt mOnth’S guESt SPEakEr
Erika measuring silt depth in Oak Creek after erosion from the Brins Fire in 2006. Photo by Jusitn Schofer.
and one of her dreams is to find an Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) within city limits.
Tuesday, 16th June Tucson Herpetological Society meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:15 PM
No Fangs, No Fun: Evolution of Venom Composition in Snakes
Wolfgang Wuster
Why Does the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard Have a Blunt Nose?
Howard O. Clark, Jr., Wildlife Division, H. T. Harvey & Associates, Fresno, CA, USA; hclark@harveyecology.com
I have worked with theyears on the Pixley National Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard, Gambelia sila, for several
The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard has the prevalent sexual dimorphic condition found among iguanian lizards: males have a larger head and body size compared to females. Longnosed Leopard Lizards, on the other hand are just the opposite; females are larger than males.
Wildlife Refuge, Tulare County, and the Carrizo National Monument, San Luis Obispo County, California. Within the past few years, I’ve had the privilege to work in the Mojave Desert and observe the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii. I first thought that the differences in snout length between the species were minimal and difficult to ascertain, but after researching both lizards, I realized that the differences are substantial and noticeable (Fig. 1). But I still wanted to know why the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard has a blunt nose. Here I examine several factors that may have contributed to this distinctive morphological feature. One of the most obvious ways to differentiate between the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard and the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard is biogeography. The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard is confined to the San Joaquin Valley, whereas the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard occurs throughout the deserts of western North America (Lappin and Swinney 1999). The two species were likely one population in the prehistoric past, as shown by fossil evidence of a Long-nosed Leopard Lizard found in a McKittrick asphalt formation in Kern County, California (Brattstrom 1953). However, after the Pleistocene, the species became separated due to the uplift of the Transverse Range. During the separation period, the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard remained essentially unchanged while the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard experienced morphological changes, notably the “blunting” of the snout. Genetic isolation then set the stage for the differences in snout length (see Weiner 1994). As geological mountain building events took place, the once continuous leopard lizard population gradually became more and more isolated. Individuals trapped in the San Joaquin Valley likely did not have all the genes that the leopard lizards occurring throughout the rest of the range possessed (i.e., allelic isolation), which provides an opportunity for the expression of recessive genes—one of which may have been a “blunt” snout. The blunt snout could have also evolved in the absence of recessive blunt-nosed genes in the ancestral population through a gradual selective process (N. Sisk, pers. comm.). In the upper Cuyama River Valley in California (Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties), where the ranges of the two leopard lizards overlapped, a hybrid form became established approximately 20,000 years ago (Montagne 1979, Stebbins 2003). Climate changes and loss of habitat from human inhabitation disturbed the genetic flow between the species, SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
Figure 1. Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia silas; top) and Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (G. wislizenii; bottom). Photos by Patrick Briggs.
essentially halting hybridization and leading to the decline of the hybrid population (Montagne 1979). The hybrids likely did not contribute much genetic material to the isolated Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard populations within the San Joaquin Valley (Montanucci 1978); therefore, whatever forces contributed to the blunting of the snout of the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard occurred only within the San Joaquin Valley. Previous authors have noted that the two lizard species can be distinguished from one another through morphology of the head (Montanucci 1978, Stebbins 2003). The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard has the prevalent sexual dimorphic condition found among iguanian lizards: males have a larger head and body size compared to females (Lappin and Swinney 1999). Long-nosed Leopard Lizards, on the other hand are just the opposite; females are larger than males. Male Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards actively defend their territory with head-bobbing and other behaviors (Lappin and Swinney 1999); the larger body and head size are advantageous in these contests during the establishment of breeding territory. Could it also be that these selection pressures resulted in the blunting of the snout? A lizard with a bigger, blunter head has the advantage in securing territory and breeding with females, thus passing along the “blunt-nosed” gene. The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard’s blunt nose may also be related to its diet of invertebrate species, such
50
as beetles (Tollestrup 1979, Germano et al. 2007). Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards actively pursue insect prey, while Long-nosed Leopard Lizards feed primarily on vertebrate species, such as Common Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana; Tollestrup 1979, 1982). A longer snout is advantageous for catching small lizards, as a longer snout increases the closing velocity of the jaw tips, enabling the capture of lizards and other active prey (Lappin and Swinney 1999). A blunt snout may be an advantage in securing species that do not readily attempt to escape or prey items that are smaller or harder. Although closing velocity decreases with a blunter snout, the power of the bite increases (N. Sisk, pers. comm.). This is the main tradeoff between long and blunt snouts. So why does the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard have a blunt nose? There isn’t one final answer to the question. Along with other factors like genetic isolation and biogeography, evolution took place to allow the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard to adapt to its new habitat in the San Joaquin Valley, and one of these adaptations was the blunting of the snout. The Long-nosed Leopard Lizard’s environment remained relatively unchanged, so evolutionary selection pressures on snout shape was not necessary. So why was the San Joaquin Valley so much different? Vegetation may be the key. The Valley floor, when compared to the Mojave Desert, is much more open, and has lower shrub densities. That means that the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard could see more of the landscape, which explains a higher level of territoriality. They, as a result, are more active, which requires more energy. Although a small lizard, such as Uta stansburiana, may provide the needed calories to support the active regimen of the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard, they are likely not abundant enough to be a main prey item. Germano et al. (2007) report that Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards are opportunistic predators that eat whatever is most abundant and easy to catch – invertebrates fit these criteria. Lizard diversity in the Mojave Desert and other deserts where the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard occurs is greater than the arid environments of the San Joaquin Valley (Tollestrup 1979), therefore, it makes sense that Longnosed Leopard Lizards are more of a lizard predator, while the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard focuses mainly on invertebrate prey. In addition, the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard likely moved to a higher trophic level (feeding on other lizards) because competition with other insect-eating lizards was so great (Tollestrup 1979). Further research may uncover other factors that contributed to the morphological differences between these two lizard species, but I believe that genetic isolation, diet, and differences in territoriality in conjunction with sexual dimorphism – all acting over geological and evolutionary time – are the main reasons for snout differences.
Acknowledgements R. Hansen, N. Sisk, and D. Newman provided feedback on the various evolutionary ideas on the differences between the lizard species. S. Hagen provided editorial support on the manuscript. Literature Cited Brattstrom, B.H. 1953. Records of Pleistocene reptiles from California. Copeia 1953:174-179. Germano, D.J., P.T. Smith, and S.P. Tabor. 2007. Food habits of the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila). Southwestern Naturalist 52:318-323. Lappin, A.K., and E.J. Swinney. 1999. Sexual dimorphism as it relates to natural history of leopard lizards (Crotaphytidae: Gambelia). Copeia 1999:649-660. Montagne, M.E. 1979. The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard hybrid in Ballinger Canyon. Cal-Neva Wildlife Transactions 15:174-176. Montanucci, R.R. 1978. Discriminant analysis of hybridization between leopard lizards, Gambelia (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Iquanidae). Journal of Herpetology 12:299-307. Tollestrup, K. 1979. The ecology, social structure, and foraging behavior of two closely related species of leopard lizards, Gambelia silus and Gambelia wislizenii. Ph.D. dissertation, Universtiy of California, Berkeley. Tollestrup, K. 1982. Growth and reproduction in two closely related species of leopard lizards, Gambelia silus and Gambelia wislizenii. American Midland Naturalist 108:1-20. Stebbins, R.C. 2003. Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. Weiner, J. 1994. The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, NY.
Long-nosed Leopard Lizards are more of a lizard predator, while the Bluntnosed Leopard Lizard focuses mainly on invertebrate prey.
Remember the THS in Your Will
Including the value in your organization and the the THS will is an excellent way to support of this
conservation of the herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert. We would like to recognize and thank anyone who has included the THS in their will. Please contact us so we can express our appreciation. For information about designating the THS in your will, please contact Kent Jacobs, Treasurer, Tucson Herpetological Society, at JacobsKent@earthlink.net.
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
51
n at u r a L h i S tO ry n Ot E S
CurrEnt rESEarCh SummariES
Trap Hazard Posed by “Pop-top” Beverage Cans to Desert Snakes
Mike Cardwell, California State University, Sacramento, CA, USA; mdc73@saclink.csus.edu
Thermal Costs of Refuge Use in Striped Plateau Lizards
Figure 1. Sonoran gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer) with head stuck inside aluminum can.
I encountered anaffinis) near midday in April in the adult Sonoran Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer
middle of a gravel road in Cochise County, Arizona (Fig. 1). The animal would crawl a meter or two (<6.6 ft), thrash its head (and the can) side-to-side for a few seconds, remain still with its sides heaving for a minute or so, and then repeat the behavior. A few minutes work with some improvised tools released a very unhappy snake and revealed superficial bilateral neck lacerations about 10 cm (3.9 in) posterior to its mandibles, where its rear-pointing scales had prevented it from withdrawing its head. An old desiccated rodent nest was found in the can. More antiquated methods of opening metal cans often produced larger openings and, thus, less danger of trapping inquisitive snakes, as demonstrated by the radio-telemetered Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus s. scutulatus) using an old No. 2 steel can as a refuge (Fig. 2).
Figure 2. mohave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) using steel can as refuge.
probability of Striped Plateau Lizards (Sceloporus virgatus) entering refuges and the effects of thermal cost on hiding time (duration in refuge). The study was conducted in late April and May 2006 in the western division of the Coronado National Forest, Chiricahua Mountains, southeastern Arizona, at an elevation of about 1800 m (5905 ft). Escaping prey decide whether to enter and how long to stay in refuges. According to refuge-use theory, hiding time increases as costs of emerging increase and costs of staying in refuge decrease. Few Striped Plateau Lizards used refuges at intermediate air temperatures, but most readily entered cool refuges at the lowest air temperatures and relatively warm refuges at higher temperatures. Because running speed in lizards decreases as body temperature decreases, S. virgatus that are cool upon morning emergence presumably reduced their probability of being captured by entering refuges. As air and presumably body temperatures increase, refuges are initially cooler than outside, contributing to infrequent use. At higher, but not thermally stressful, temperatures, a greater probability of using refuges may reflect lower thermal costs in refuges that have warmed. Hiding time decreased as temperatures became cooler in refuges than outside. The authors’ results confirm previous work on actively foraging lacertid lizards showing that hiding time decreases as thermal costs of refuge use increases, and extend this finding to a very distantly related phrynosomatid species that is an ambush forager. Thus, the thermal cost of refuge use affects hiding time even in lizards that do not require high body temperature for prolonged foraging movements. A growing body of knowledge supports the hypothesis that tradeoffs between costs of emerging and remaining in refuges guide decisions about hiding time. Cooper, W.E., Jr., and D.S. Wilson. 2008. Thermal cost of refuge use affects refuge entry and hiding time by Striped Plateau Lizards Sceloporus virgatus. Herpetologica 64:406-412.
The authorstemperature onstudied of this paper effects of air
52
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
Phylogeography of the Rosy Boa
The (mtDNA) sequence variation in mitochondrial authors of this paper examined DNA 131 individuals
of the Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) from across the species’ range in southwestern North America. They used Bayesian inference and nested clade phylogeographic analyses to estimate relationships and infer evolutionary processes, as well as to evaluate these patterns as they relate to previously hypothesized vicariant events. The authors found three major lineages (Lineages A, B, and C) with very little overlap. Lineage A and B are predominately separated along the Colorado River and are found primarily within California and Arizona (respectively); specimens from the Gila Mountains, southwestern Arizona, aligned with those from California. Lineage A further consists of a ‘desert’ clade found primarily within the western Mojave and Sonoran deserts and a ‘coastal’ clade along the northern extensions of the Peninsular Ranges. Lineage C consists of disjunct groups distributed along the Baja California peninsula as well as southcentral Arizona, southward along the coastal regions of Sonora, Mexico. Estimated divergence time points and geographic congruence with postulated vicariant events suggest early extensions of the Gulf of California, and subsequent development of the Colorado River during the Late Miocene–Pliocene led to the formation of these mtDNA lineages. The authors’ results also suggest that vicariance hypotheses alone do not fully explain patterns of genetic variation, and they highlight the importance of dispersal to explain these patterns and current distribution of populations. For example, trans-gulf dispersal of peninsular populations (potentially across land bridges prior to sea level rise in the current interglacial period) into the Sonoran Desert of mainland Mexico is offered as the best explanation for the current distribution of Lineage C. The authors also compare the mtDNA lineages with those based on morphological variation and propose taxonomic changes. In the absence of strong genetic evidence
of gene flow between Lineages A+B and C and the lack of information on mating systems, the authors recognize Lineage A+B as L. orcutti and Lineage C as L. trivirgata. However, the authors also acknowledge that this classification is an hypothesis that should be tested with additional data from nuclear molecular markers and/or morphology. Wood, D.A., R.N. Fisher, and T.W. Reeder. 2008. Novel patterns of historical isolation, dispersal, and secondary contact across Baja California in the Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46:484-502.
Desert Tortoise Habitat Use
Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in thebajadas Sonoran Desert typically occur on rocky slopes and
and are absent from intermountain valley floors. Tortoises also occur along deeply incised washes emanating from rocky bajadas, using caliche caves as shelter sites. Little is known about low-density tortoise populations found below the rocky slopes and bajadas of the Sonoran Desert, so the authors of this study examined habitat use by Desert Tortoises in one such population in Pinal County, Arizona. The Florence Military Reservation (FMR) is typified by gently sloping alluvial fans bisected by steeply incised washes. One 10.9-ha hill consisting of volcanic outcrops and boulders occurs at the northern end of the reservation. Tortoise locations at FMR were concentrated around incised washes with dense caliche caves or near the volcanic hill. Home ranges of male (33.4 ha [82.5 ac]) and female tortoises (17.8 ha [44.0 ac]) were not significantly different, and the sexes used shelter types (caliche caves, woodrat middens, soil burrows, burrows under boulders, pallets) similarly. Tortoises used caliche caves as shelter more than other shelter types, especially those tortoises without access to the rocky hill. Compositional analysis of the three principal habitat types used by tortoises at FMR revealed that they selected incised washes over the other habitat types. However, the authors did not find tortoises in washes with few caliche caves. Woodrat middens appeared to be an important shelter substrate when tortoises used the alluvial slopes. These results suggest that availability of shelter sites strongly influences tortoise distribution at FMR.. Riedle, J.D., R.C. Averill-Murray, C.L. Lutz, and D.K. Bolen. 2008. Habitat use by Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) on alluvial fans in the Sonoran Desert, south-central Arizona. Copeia 2008:414-420.
In the absence of strong genetic evidence of gene flow between Lineages A+B and C and the lack of information on mating systems, the authors recognize Lineage A+B as Lichanura orcutti and Lineage C as L. trivirgata.
rosy Boa, Lineage C (Lichanura trivirgata) from Organ Pipe Cactus national monument. Photo by roy C. averill-murray.
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
53
nEwS and nOtES
Information for Contributors
Sonoran herpetology,accepts manuscriptsconservation, Herpetologist on diverse topics in with emphasis on
The Sonoran Herpetologist welcomes submissions for Local Research News, Natural History Notes, Current Research Summaries, News and Notes, Herpetofauna of the 100-mile Circle, and letters to the editor.
education, and research involving amphibians and reptiles of Arizona and Mexico. We welcome submissions for Local Research News, Natural History Notes, Current Research Summaries, News and Notes, Herpetofauna of the 100-mile Circle, and letters to the editor. In addition, we encourage essays or other unique contributions that do not fall within these regular categories. Submissions will not be peerreviewed, but they may be edited. Local Research News articles update our readers on current research about amphibians and reptiles in the Sonoran Desert region. These articles need be only a few paragraphs long and do not need to include data, specific localities, or other details. Emphasis should be on how science is being applied to herpetological questions. Herpetofauna of the 100-mile Circle articles provide accounts of species within an area radiating 100 miles from the center of Tucson (see tucsonherpsociety.org/circle.html). These articles may be formatted as short notes or longer, detailed species accounts. Current Research Summaries provide readers with summaries of interesting recent scientific articles about reptiles and amphibians. News and Notes are usually short news articles and announcements of interest specifically for members of the Tucson Herpetological Society. Style and format of both features are flexible (see recent issues of Sonoran Herpetologist for examples). Submit manuscripts electronically to Roy Averill-Murray, Editor (averillmurray@sbcglobal.net). Natural History Notes include photographs and descriptions of noteworthy or unusual behavior of amphibians and reptiles observed in the wild. Notes can feature information such as diet, predation, community structure, interspecific behavior, or unusual locations or habitat use. Please submit your observations electronically to Dale Turner (dturner@ theriver.com), editor for this section. Consult the Editor prior to submitting a paper if you have doubts as to its suitability. Style and Formatting Title – The article title should be followed by the list of authors. Each author should include numbered references for their affiliation/address as shown below. Include an email address for the corresponding author.
Lewis S. Smith1,3 and James. R. Clark2 1 Department of Biology, University of Western Kansas, Simpson, Kansas, USA 2 Department of Zoology, Nebraska State University, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA 3 Present Address: Southcentral Louisiana State University, Houma, Louisiana, USA; smith@email.edu
Main Body – Manuscripts submitted as featurelength articles (>2000 words) should typically consist of the following sections: Introduction (no heading), Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, Literature Cited, and Figure Legends. Style and format of shorter contributions are informal. Use a single space after a period, except between author initials in the Literature Cited. Use metric units, followed by English conversions in parentheses. Date format is day, month, year (e.g., 13 October 2003). Use 24-h times (e.g., 1301 h, not 1:30 PM). Scientific and English/Spanish names should generally follow Crother et al. (2008) and Liner and Andreu (2008). If the author prefers to use a different scientific name, particularly a different generic name, please include (in parentheses) the name given in the applicable reference above. Use italics for Latin names, and capitalize common names. We generally recommend use of the English/Spanish with scientific name in parentheses for the first reference (e.g., Desert Tortoise [Gopherus agassizii]), followed by the English/ Spanish name only in subsequent use. Abbreviations – Spell out week, month, day, and mean. Spell out generic names the first time used for each species, regardless of whether the same genus has been used for a different species (within a paragraph or elsewhere in the article). Abbreviate genus for each species throughout the rest of the article. In-text References – Cite references in the text in chronological order, using a semicolon to separate citations. Use “et al.” for three or more authors (example: Smith, 1975; Jones and Jones, 1987; Brown et al., 1990). Papers accepted for publication should be cited as Smith (in press). Unpublished manuscripts (including manuscripts submitted for publication) should be cited as A.A. Smith (unpubl. data) and should not be placed in the Literature Cited (include all names and initials for multi-authored unpublished data). Be careful that all references cited in the text (including tables and figure legends) are included in the Literature Cited. Literature Cited – Spell all journal titles in their entirety (i.e., no abbreviations). Be sure that all entries in the Literature Cited also appear in the text (and vice-versa). Entries with more than four authors should use “et al.” instead of listing each author (see Crother et al. [2008] in Literature Cited, below). Do not include issue number for journals that have consecutive page numbering throughout the volume. Article in a Journal
Smith, A.T. 1992. Ecology of rattlesnakes in Florida. Journal of Herpetology 26:100-105.
Book
Smith, A.T., and J. Jones. 1995. Physiology of Amphibians and Reptiles. McGraw-Hill Inc., New York (page numbers not needed when entire book is the citation).
54
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
Be sure to include the state and country (unless U.S.A.) with each book entry unless it is given in the name of the publisher (e.g., Arizona Game and Fish Department). Capitalize the first letter of each significant word in book titles. Chapter in a Book
Smith, A.T. 1994. Systematics of frogs and toads. In J. Black and M. Lee (eds.), Systematics of Amphibians and Reptiles, pp. 52-65. Univ. of Kansas Press, Lawrence.
Smith, A.T., W. White, and J. Jones. 1989. Mating behavior in Gila Monsters. Herpetologica 23:230-234. Smith, A.T., A. Black, and J. Jones. 1995. Temperature relationships in gartersnakes. Bulletin of the Gartersnake 29:30-34.
Works “in press”
Smith, J.Q. (in press). Things my uncle never said about snakes. Journal of Ethnography.
Dissertation or Thesis
Smith, A.T. 1991. Behavioral Ecology of Turtles. Unpubl. Ph.D. Diss. (or Thesis), Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence. (Use state name if not obvious from the university name and include country if not U.S.A.).
Unpublished Report
Schneider, P.B. 1981. A population analysis of the Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, in Arizona. Unpublished report to U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix.
Tables – Tables should be provided as separate files (XLS or DOC formats). Tables should be double-spaced, and each table should be numbered consecutively and placed on its own page. Do not use vertical lines. The legend of the table should be concise but sufficiently detailed so the table can be understood without reference to the text. The legend should appear on the same page as the table. Avoid footnotes whenever possible. Figure Captions – Figure captions should be placed on a single page and numbered in the order in which they are cited in the text. Figures – Figures should be provided as separate files (one per figure) in TIF, EPS, PDF, or JPG formats, with resolution at least 300 dpi. Scan line art at 1200dpi. Figures with multiple parts should have each part labeled with a capital letters (e.g., A,B,C, …). Literature Cited Crother, B.I., et al. (Committee on Standard English and Scientific Names). 2008. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. 6th ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular 37. Liner, E.A., and G. Casas-Andreu. 2008. Nombres Estándar en Español en Inglés y Nombres Cientificos de los Anfibios y Reptiles de México/ Standard Spanish, English, and Scientific Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of Mexico, 2nd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular 38.
Multiple Citations – Multiple citations for the same author should be organized as follows: single citations first, two-author citations second (in alphabetical order), three or more authors third (in chronological order).
Smith, A.T. 1992. Ecology of rattlesnakes in Florida. Journal of Rattlesnake Ecology 26:100-105. ----- 1993. Ecology of turtles in Louisiana. Journal of Herpetology 27:91-99. Smith, A.T., and B. Black. 1991. Systematics and morphology of snakes. Journal of Ophidology 25:100-105. Smith, A.T., and J. Jones. 1989. Diamond-backed Terrapins in Louisiana. Bulletin of the Society for Aquatic Critter Study 23:234-236.
We encourage essays or other unique contributions that do not fall within these regular categories.
Upcoming Meetings
1-4 June 2009 – Venom Week Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico. http://hsc.unm.edu/conf/venomweek2009/. 6-7 June 2009 – Southewestern PARC (Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) meeting and Herpetofauna Conservation Training (4-5 June), St. George, Utah. http://chelydra.unm.edu/swparc/. 22-27 July 2009 – 52nd Annual Meeting, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; 89th Annual Meeting, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; 67th Annual Meeting, The Herpetologists’ League. Portland, Oregon. http://www.dce.ksu.edu/jointmeeting/.
Sonoran Herpetologist Natural History Observations
The Tucsonto our Natural History Notes section. Herpetological Society invites your contributions
We are particularly interested in photographs and descriptions of amphibians and reptiles involved in noteworthy or unusual behaviors in the field. Notes can feature information such as diet, predation, community structure, interspecific behavior, or unusual locations or habitat use. Please submit your observations to Dale Turner (dturner@theriver.com), who is editor for this section. Submissions should be brief and in electronic form.
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
55
2009 C.H. Lowe Research Fund Award Recipients
Taylor Edwards, C.H. Lowe Research Fund, Committee Chair, Tucson Herpetological Society; taylore@email.arizona.edu
Thewas established to Jr., Herpetology Research Charles H. Lowe, Fund support research that
Lowe Fund Award Recipients: Antje Adams, Kevin Bonine, Adrian Munguia-Vega, Krystyn Pozarowski & Hans-Werner Herrmann, and Adrian QuijadaMascareñas & Philip Rosen
contributes to the conservation of the herpetofauna of the Sonoran Desert, including the states of Arizona, southern California, Sonora and on the Baja California peninsula and gulf islands. The Fund is chaired by Taylor Edwards, and the Committee consists of Dr. Cecil Schwalbe, Don Swann, Roy Averill-Murray, and the current THS President. Since T. Edwards is the current President, Roger Repp, the past president, was invited back as the 5th committee member. The Committee reviews proposals blind, and decisions are made on a variety of criteria, including quality of research, regional significance, conservation and education application, ability to reuse equipment, and availability of funds. The Committee received 5 proposals for the 2009 funding cycle and is pleased to announce that $500 will be awarded to all of them. Antje Adams, Undergraduate, University of Arizona: Genetic variation of the Yarrows Spiny Lizard (Sceloporous jarrovii) from the Santa Catalina Mountains in relation to other sky island populations in Southern Arizona The primary goal of this project is to determine the genetic relatedness of the recently documented Santa Catalina population of Yarrows Spiny Lizard to the other Sky Island populations in Southern Arizona. The C.H. Lowe Fund will provide field and lab equipment for the project. Kevin E. Bonine, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona: Phylogeography of the Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor) in the Rincon and Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona This project will expand on previous research using mDNA sequences to examine the movements of Canyon Treefrogs both within and across generations in the foothill canyon habitats of southern Arizona. This effort will work to develop microsatellite nuclear DNA markers that will provide finer scale resolution of recent gene flow within and among drainages. The C.H. Lowe Fund will contribute to laboratory costs. Adrian Munguia-Vega, PhD student, Conservation Genetics Laboratory, School of Natural Resources, The University of Arizona: Molecular tracking of three species of lizards in a fragmented landscape from the Sonoran Desert to prevent the extirpation and extinction of endemic reptiles from the Baja California peninsula, Mexico
This project will collect tissue samples from 3 species of lizards from Baja California, Mexico, and genotype them for microsatellite loci. The ultimate goal is to use genetic data to understand how far the selected species move in a fragmented landscape, how many individuals had moved between fragments since they became isolated, how their populations are currently structured, which landscape features represent barriers to gene flow, how severe is the loss of genetic variation and the increase on inbreeding, how their social and/or mating systems are affected, and to identify differences in the extinction risk and the specific biological traits associated. The C.H. Lowe Fund will contribute to laboratory supplies. Krystyn Pozarowski, Undergraduate Researcher, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, and Hans-Werner Herrmann, PhD, Human Origins Genotyping Laboratory, Arizona Research Laboratories, and Wildlife Conservation and Management, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona: Effects of Fragmentation on Rattlesnake Populations in a Human-dominated Landscape This study will focus on the impact of landscape change on species diversity and abundance by focusing on three non-endangered, comparatively abundant, and easily studied rattlesnake species as models. The project will use DNA analyses to set a baseline for populations of all three rattlesnake species to study their population genetics and population ecology. The C.H. Lowe Fund will provide PIT tags for the project. Adrian Quijada-Mascareñas, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, and Philip C. Rosen, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona: For Lowe’s enjoyment: a survey of canyon whiptails in the Gran Desierto Mountains of northern Sonora The objective of this project is to further explore the mountain system located in the municipality of Caborca, Mexico, to discover and describe variation of whiptail lizards in the area. The project will focus on two mountain chains that are isolated in the area and use morphological variation characteristics of whiptail lizards as a correlationship with mountain isolation. The C.H. Lowe Fund will be used to support exploration efforts. The C.H. Lowe Research Fund Committee is extremely happy that the Fund continues to attract the attention of such well-written and scientifically strong proposals. However, the committee noted this year that many of the recommended criteria were not addressed in the proposals, especially in the area of conservation and education. We encourage next year’s applicants to consider proposals that address more variety in the projects that the fund encompasses.
56
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
Ninth Jarchow Conservation Award: Request for Nominations
BOard mEEting SynOPSiS
31 March 2009 Philip R. Brown, Secretary Directors Present: Dennis Caldwell, Roger Repp, Young Cage, Taylor Edwards, Philip Brown, Robin Llewellyn, Tara Luckau Directors Absent: Paul Condon, Heidi Flugstad, Robert Villa, Jeff Stensrud Members Present: Ed Moll, Adrian Quijada-Mascareñas, Emma Mujica The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by President Edwards. Minutes of the February Board Meeting were approved as written (moved by Cage, seconded by Repp, unanimously approved). Treasurer’s Report – Edwards for Flugstad 21 March 2009 Beginning Balance $7,970.61 Deposits $1,505.00 Expenses $4,352.46 Ending Balance $5,123.15 Speaker’s Bureau $993.13 Jarchow Award $732.05 FTHL Fund $784.00 C.H. Lowe Research Fund $7,269.50 General Fund $9,959.47 Mexican Tortoise $385.00 CRHSD CD $5,5070.71 Itemized Deposits (23 February – 21 March 2009): General Fund $50; Membership $1015; Jarchow Fund $30; FTHL Fund $75; Mexican Tortoise Fund $310; Speaker’s Bureau $5; Café Press $20. Itemized Expenses: Newsletter $155.30; Postage $63; Dennis Caldwell (Café Press) $37.73; Arizona Corporation Commission $10; Heidi Flugstad (Quicken Software) $70.25; Heidi Flugstad (envelopes and calculator) $16.18; Mexican Tortoise Fund $4,000. It was moved (Repp), seconded (Llewellyn), and passed to accept the report as presented. Committee Reports Homepage – Edwards for Tuegel: Taylor reported that he has updated the projects section of the web site to include updated information on the C.H. Lowe Fund, Jarchow Conservation Award, and Mexican Tortoise Project. Conservation – Caldwell: Dennis reported that he has not yet drafted letters of support to the Friends of the Desert and the Multiple Species Conservation Plan, but that there is still time to do so; he also reported that he will try to set up a meeting with BLM officials and others as to how the THS can contribute to the development and operation of Ironwood Forest National Monument. Speaker’s Bureau – Moll: 7 February – Tara, Ed, and Jeff tended a THS table at the Tucson Botanical Garden’s Butterfly Magic program. They provided THS publications, demonstrated live reptiles, and talked to visitors about herps. Official attendance was 299, and most stopped by the THS table.
The Board ofSociety establishedTucson Directors of the Herpetological the Jarchow
Conservation Award (JCA) in July 1992 to honor individuals or organizations for their service to the conservation of the amphibians and reptiles of the deserts of North America. THS is currently soliciting nominations for the ninth presentation of the award from members of the society. Most desirable as candidates are individuals and organizations that have received little recognition and whose conservation work would benefit from the award. A letter or email as to why the candidate should receive the award should be sent to the JCA Selection Committee Chair, accompanied by any supporting documents. The deadline for receipt of nominations is 20 July 2009. The THS Board of Directors must approve the final selection of any candidate chosen by the committee. The award is named for James L. Jarchow, D.V.M, of Tucson, and consists of an engraved plaque, a written citation, Honorary Life Membership in the society, and $500. Because of his dedication contributions to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles for more than 20 years, the first Jarchow Conservation Award (JCA) was given to Dr. Jarchow on 15 September 1992. The second JCA was awarded to Roger Repp in 1994 followed by Dr. Cecil Schwalbe in 1997, Dave Hardy, Sr., in 1999, Dennis Caldwell in 2001, Dr. Phillip Rosen in 2003, Jim Rorabaugh in 2005, and Erika M. Nowak in 2007. The ninth JCA ceremony is scheduled for September 2009, provided a suitable candidate is nominated to the selection committee. The committee consists of a quorum of the previous awardees plus a Chairperson (Taylor Edwards). The Jarchow Conservation Award is supported entirely by donations made to the society. Those wishing to support the conservation of our region’s herpetofauna through the continuation of this important award should send their contributions to the JCA Fund in care of the Tucson Herpetological Society. Nominations for the 9th JCA or requests for further information can be emailed (taylore@email. arizona.edu) or mailed to Taylor Edwards, Jarchow Conservation Award Chair: c/o Tucson Herpetological Society P.O. Box 709 Tucson, AZ 85702-0709
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
57
3 March – Ed presented a two-hour class entitled “Beginning Herpetology” to 10 seniors in the OASIS educational program. The class used a PowerPoint program, skeletal materials and live reptiles including a Gila Monster. 11 March – Ed talked to the La Cholla Hills Home Owner’s Association about problem herps using a PowerPoint program entitled “Being Neighbors with Monsters, Vipers, and Toad” and various live reptiles including the Gila Monster. 13 March – Ed presented a class in “Beginning Herpetology” to Angela Urbon-Bonine’s class of high school students at AmeriSchools College Prep Academy. The class comprised 30 students and two teachers. 28 March – Dennis, Ed, Emma, and Bill Savary respresented the THS at the annual Cienega Celebration held from 10 to 3 at Colossal Cave Mountain Park. The group talked with visitors, demonstrated live reptiles, and gave out THS literature. Sonoran Herpetologist – Edwards for Roy Averill-Murray: Taylor reported that we are exchanging newsletters with the Texas Herpetological Society; Roger Repp will be the recipient of the actual newsletter from Texas. Adrian asked about possible peer review for the SH; it was determined that it would not be feasible or desirable for the monthly SH, but that it would be possible for a special publication, such as a CRHSD proceedings volume. Program – Repp: The following programs are scheduled: 21 April - Program and auction for the Mexican Tortoise Project. 19 May - Erica Nowak, program TBA C.H. Lowe Research Fund – Edwards: Taylor reported that five requests for funding had been received, and the committee determined that all were worthy of funding. It was moved (Llewellyn), seconded (Caldwell), and passed to approve these projects. Student Chapter of the THS – Mujica: Emma reported that there will be a new president to be elected at the end of April; she also said that recruiting is going well and there are several new members. Mexican Tortoise Project – Edwards for Phil Rosen: Taylor reported that he and Phil will present information on the Mexican Tortoise Project at the April general meeting, which will also be a fundraiser for the project with silent auction and live raffle. Many books and other items will be available. It was moved (Repp), seconded (Cage), and passed to allow up to $150 to be spent on refreshments for the meeting. Old Business Mexican Outreach – Quijada-Mascareñas: Adrian is looking into the possibility of the next CRHSD being held in Hermosillo, Sonora, to be sponsored by UniSon (University of Sonora) and THS. He and Robert will continue to explore ways that the THS and Mexican colleagues can interact. Video Archive – Luckau: Tara reported that she is still looking into purchasing server space for the project. Café Press Promotional Items – Caldwell for Flugstad: Dennis reported that nothing else has been done with Café Press at this time, but warned that purchasers
may find extra email coming from the company in their inboxes. Membership Form – Llewellyn: Robin is continuing work on revising the society’s membership form. AZ Counties Venomous Reptile Fact Sheets – Edwards for Villa: Several reports are still needed from some of the committee members. Black Mountain Tortoise Population Listing – Edwards: No report. New Business Taylor Absent from 22 May – 2 July: Taylor reported that he will be in Namibia and will miss one general meeting and two BOD meetings. Vice President Cage will preside at these. It was moved (Cage), seconded (Caldwell), and passed to adjourn at 8:25 p.m.
m E m B E r S h i P u P dat E
Membership Information
Individual $20 Sustaining $30 Family $25 Contributing $50 Student $14 Life $500 To receive a membership form and recent issue of Sonoran Herpetologist call (520) 624-8879 or write: Tucson Herpetological Society, P. O. Box 709, Tucson AZ 85702-0709.
Time to Renew Your THS Membership?
I hope this is a helpful reminder to those of you whose membership renewal is due this month. Please call or email with corrections and errors. 624-8879 or dhardysr@theriver.com Dave Hardy Sr., Membership Secretary
Due in May
Bob Applegate, John Craig, Terry Johnson, Donald Kucera, Pat Lopez, Brent Martin, John Porter, Erik, Lisa and Noah Rakestraw, Lirain Urreiztieta, Christopher & Elizabeth Warren, Brian & Minerva Wooldridge
Membership Update - 28 April 2009
Contributing Bayard Brattstrom Wikiup, AZ Kent Jacobs & Cyndy Wicker Tucson Sustaining Members Bill Savary & Jillian Cowles Tucson Chris Scott Tucson Jefferson Stensrud Tucson Jarchow Conservation Award Jerrold & Martin Feldner Tempe, AZ Lee Oler Tucson Jefferson Stensrud Tucson Speakers Bureau Heidi Flugstad Tucson Charles H. Lowe Herpetological Research Fund Jerrold & Martin Feldner Tempe, AZ Jefferson Stensrud Tucson
58
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
Sonoran Herpetologist is the newsletter-journal of the Tucson Herpetological Society, and is Copyright 2008. The contents of Sonoran Herpetologist may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies provided the material is reproduced without change and with appropriate credit, and a copy of the publication is sent to the Tucson Herpetological Society. Occasional exceptions to this policy will be noted. Contents are indexed in Zoological Record. A complete set of back issues are available in the Special Collections area of the University of Arizona library. They are accompanied by a copy of The Collected Papers of the Tucson Herpetological Society, 1988-1991. Editor Roy Averill-Murray, averill-murray@sbcglobal.net Associate Editors Robert Bezy, bezy@comcast.net Don Swann, donswann@dakotacom.net Dale Turner, dturner@theriver.com Art Editor Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Book Review Editor Eric Stitt, stitt@cox.net Distribution Fred Wilson, fredtj@comcast.net Trevor Hare, trevor@skyislandalliance.org Membership Dave Hardy Sr., dhardysr@theriver.com
Officers
President Taylor Edwards, taylore@u.arizona.edu Vice President Young Cage, ydcage@mac.com Secretary Philip Brown, philipandbarbara@earthlink.net Treasurer Heidi Flugstad, heidi_flugstad@hotmail.com
The Tucson Herpetological Society is dedicated to conservation, education, and research concerning the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona and Mexico.
Tucson Herpetological Society is a registered non-profit organization.
Directors: Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Paul Condon, ptcondon@comcast.net Robin Llewellyn, robinia2@msn.com Tara Luckau, tkluckau@email.arizona.edu Jeff Stensrud, jeffstensrud@gmail.com Robert Villa, herpsandviolin@aol.com Past President Roger Repp, repp@noao.edu
Society Activities
Monthly Members Meeting Roger Repp, Program Chair 3rd Tuesday, 7:15 PM Board of Directors Meeting Last Tuesday of each month (except December), 7:00 PM University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street Speakers Bureau (scheduled presentations) Robert Villa, Director Ed Moll, Director Conservation Committee Dennis Caldwell, Director Herpetological Information Hotline Bob Brandner 760-0574 Jarchow Conservation Award Taylor Edwards, Chairperson Publications: Sonoran Herpetologist, Backyard Ponds brochure, Living with Venomous Reptiles brochure, THS Herp Coloring Book, THS Collected Papers, 1988-1991 THS Internet World Wide Webpage http://tucsonherpsociety.org Marty Tuegel, Webmaster, mtuegel@cox.net
Information for Contributors
Authors should submit original articles, notes, book reviews to the Editor, either via email using an attached word processed manuscript or by mail to the Society’s address. The manuscript style should follow that of Journal of Herpetology and other publications of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. For further information, please contact the editor.
Deadline for Sonoran Herpetologist 22(7): June 8
For more information about the THS and the reptiles and amphibians of the Tucson area visit
tucsonherpsociety.org
59
SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 22 (5) 2009
Newsletter-Journal of the Tucson Herpetological Society May 2009, Volume 22, Number 5 ShOrt artiCLE 50 Why Does the Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard Have a Blunt Nose? n at u r a L h i S tO ry n Ot E S 52 Trap Hazard Posed by “Pop-top” Beverage Cans to Desert Snakes CurrEnt rESEarCh SummariES 52 Thermal Costs of Refuge Use in Striped Plateau Lizards 53 Phylogeography of the Rosy Boa 53 Desert Tortoise Habitat Use nEwS and nOtES 54 Information for Contributors 55 Upcoming Meetings 56 2009 C.H. Lowe Research Fund Award Recipients 57 Ninth Jarchow Conservation Award: Request for Nominations
Your membership has expired. This is your only reminder. Please renew!
tucsonherpsociety.org