The use of time by sympatric water snakes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Daily and seasonal activity of four sympatric species of Natricine water snakes was studied in southern Louisiana. Daily patterns were monitored nearly continuously from May to October 1975, under natural conditions. Nerodia (Natrix) cyclopion and N. fasciata were mostly diurnally active but N. fasciata became nocturnal in September. Nerodia rhombifera was consistently nocturnal as was Regina grahamii for the months of July, August, and September. Concurrent field studies indicated Regina grahamii was at peak abundance in the study area in March, long before the other species reached their maximum. Nerodia fasciata was the only species to shift its activity from a diurnal to nocturnal pattern and the only species to have a slightly bimodal seasonal abundance. Partitioning of the time resource appears to be an important factor in the coexistence of Nerodia cyclopion and N. rhombifera. They are both piscivorous predators, both are abundant during the warm summer months, and both share similar micro-habitat preferences. Their asynchronous periods of peak activity would serve to reduce competitive interactions.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: