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1 April 2009 Relationship between Cheatgrass Coverage and the Relative Abundance of Snakes on Antelope Island, Utah
Lucas K. Hall, John F. Mull, John F. Cavitt
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Abstract

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive annual known to negatively impact many shrub-dependent organisms; however, relatively little research has examined how it affects snake communities. Bromus tectorum is abundant at Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah, and could be a possible threat to snake populations. Study sites representing different B. tectorum coverage percentages were established to measure relative abundance of snakes. Snakes were captured from June to September 2005 primarily by using funnel traps attached to drift-fence arrays. Linear regression revealed a negative relationship between B. tectontm coverage (%) and the relative abundance of the Great Basin gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) and the western racer (Coluber mormon). These results (1) suggest that B. tectorum invasions result in reduced snake abundance in shrubsteppe habitat on Antelope Island and (2) add to our understanding of the relationships between B. tectorum and native fauna.

© 2009
Lucas K. Hall, John F. Mull, and John F. Cavitt "Relationship between Cheatgrass Coverage and the Relative Abundance of Snakes on Antelope Island, Utah," Western North American Naturalist 69(1), 88-95, (1 April 2009). https://doi.org/10.3398/064.069.0119
Received: 15 January 2008; Accepted: 1 September 2008; Published: 1 April 2009
KEYWORDS
Bromus tectorum
cheatgrass
Coluber mormon
Great Basin gopher snake
invasive annual
Pituophis catenifer deserticola
relative abundance
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