Behavior Due to their rarity and secretive behavior, the LPS is possibly one of the least understood species of large snakes in North America (Rudolph et al. 1997), however, there have been a few studies published that describe the burrowing behavior and movement patterns of the snake. Recently, it has been published that the snake exhibits diurnal activity patterns in its primary habitat of open pine forests on sandy soils with an abundance of herbaceous vegetation (J.B. Pierce et al. 2014). Activity patterns have shown that LPS are generally most active during the months of March through May and have a second peak in activity around September through November (J.B. Pierce et al 2014). It is believed that they are most active during these
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Although the lack of a fire regime has had a large impact on the decline of this ecosystem, there are still many other factors which have caused its decline, and the decline of the LPS along with it. A major contribution to the decimation of the longleaf pine ecosystem has been land conversion. Much of the historical of the LPS, which consists of the longleaf pine ecosystem, has been converted to agricultural land (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Also, urbanization has had an impact on the ecosystem as well (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Although agricultural land use is expected to decline within the next few decades, it is expected that the prevalence of intensively managed tree plantations in the South will increase by 67% by the year 2040 (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Altered land uses, which are enticed by rapidly growing human populations in the South, have led to fragmentation of existing habitats (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). These factors have major implications for delicate species such as the LPS (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Increasing rates of land use conversion and fragmentation indicate that the LPS are likely to continue to experience habitat loss and or stagnation of habitat …show more content…
Under this section, a species can be considered to be endangered or threatened if any of the following factors are applicable: a) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of it s habitat or range; b) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; c) disease or predation; d) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or e) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence (Endangered Species Act, Section 4.(a) 1973). The primary factor that would warrant listing of this species is the destruction and degenerate modification of its native habitat (UNEP-WCMC 2009). Secondly, it is stated that the commercial collection of the LPS for the pet trade industry as well as the deliberate killing of the species is also a cause for the concern of the decline of the species (UNEP-WCMC 2009). This is a problem because the total population of the species is predicted to be less than 10,000 adults (UNEP-WCMC 2009). As with any terrestrial species road mortality is also a considerable threat to the LPS (UNEP-WCMC 2009). In addition to collection for the pet trade as well as deliberate killing, road mortality is a fairly sizable issued due to the population size of the LPS as well as the areas of LPS habitat and population concentration. Road mortality would fall under category
Although the lack of a fire regime has had a large impact on the decline of this ecosystem, there are still many other factors which have caused its decline, and the decline of the LPS along with it. A major contribution to the decimation of the longleaf pine ecosystem has been land conversion. Much of the historical of the LPS, which consists of the longleaf pine ecosystem, has been converted to agricultural land (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Also, urbanization has had an impact on the ecosystem as well (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Although agricultural land use is expected to decline within the next few decades, it is expected that the prevalence of intensively managed tree plantations in the South will increase by 67% by the year 2040 (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Altered land uses, which are enticed by rapidly growing human populations in the South, have led to fragmentation of existing habitats (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). These factors have major implications for delicate species such as the LPS (Van Lear, Carroll 2005). Increasing rates of land use conversion and fragmentation indicate that the LPS are likely to continue to experience habitat loss and or stagnation of habitat …show more content…
Under this section, a species can be considered to be endangered or threatened if any of the following factors are applicable: a) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of it s habitat or range; b) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; c) disease or predation; d) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or e) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence (Endangered Species Act, Section 4.(a) 1973). The primary factor that would warrant listing of this species is the destruction and degenerate modification of its native habitat (UNEP-WCMC 2009). Secondly, it is stated that the commercial collection of the LPS for the pet trade industry as well as the deliberate killing of the species is also a cause for the concern of the decline of the species (UNEP-WCMC 2009). This is a problem because the total population of the species is predicted to be less than 10,000 adults (UNEP-WCMC 2009). As with any terrestrial species road mortality is also a considerable threat to the LPS (UNEP-WCMC 2009). In addition to collection for the pet trade as well as deliberate killing, road mortality is a fairly sizable issued due to the population size of the LPS as well as the areas of LPS habitat and population concentration. Road mortality would fall under category