Reptile Conservation

I. Threatened Species

II. Conservation Concerns

III. What can I do?

I. Threatened species

• Biodiversity Crisis – reptiles affected too!

• http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/tables/table3a.html

• http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search-basic.php

• http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/pdfs/TEAnimals.pdf

Reasons for species decline

Habitat destruction:#1 cause for the decline in species diversity

1) Habitat destruction

a) Deforestation of tropical forests

b) Destruction of coral reef ecosystems

c) Wetland alteration for development

d) Temperate regions altered for agriculture

e) Habitat fragmentation

Anthropogenic eutrophication

• Nutrients released, triggering chain of events

• Increase in primary producers

• Reduction of light

• Reduction of oxygen

• Fish kill of some species

Directly Impacts aquatic turtle, alligator, snake populations

Habitat Fragmentation

2) Traffic Mortality – Roadkill!

Matthew Aresco, a 4th year PhD student in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University built a temporary fence to divert turtles (and other wildlife, > 41 species) away from the road and into a culvert that joined the two lakes. Over the past 2.5 years he has monitored the temporary fence at least twice per day and maintained it at his personal expense (at least $2000 out-of-pocket).

On November 15, 2004, the CRTPA (includes County and City Commissioners) voted unanimously to approve the Lake Jackson Ecopassage Feasibility Study: Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum http://www.lakejacksonturtles.org/#specieslist

3) Over-harvesting

The by-catch problem:•

4) Exotic species

• Argentine ants – linked to decline in coastal Horned lizards

5) Pollution • Biomagnification

• There is abundant evidence that some carnivores at the ends of longer food chains (crocodiles, alligators, snakes) suffered serious declines in fecundity and hence in population size because of this phenomenon

6) Pet trade

http://www.rattlesnakeroundup.com/index.html

7) Persecution

III. What can I do?

1) Adopt a conservation ethic

2) Work

3) Educate

4) Educate yourself, family & friends about the importance of having better “green” life choices