02514nas a2200265   4500008004100000245019200041210006900233300001300302490000700315520163700322653002001959653001701979653001401996653001802010653001402028653001402042653002602056653002302082653002002105653001002125100001502135700001702150700001502167856006602182       2011                        eng d00aPopulation genetic structure and landscape connectivity of the Eastern Yellowbelly Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) in the contiguous tallgrass prairie of northeastern Kansas, USA0 aPopulation genetic structure and landscape connectivity of the E  a281 -2940 v263 a<p>The tallgrass prairie of North America has undergone widespread habitat loss and fragmentation (&lt;4% remains). The Flint Hills region of Kansas and Oklahoma is the largest tallgrass prairie remaining and therefore provides an opportunity to study the population genetic structure of grassland species in a relatively contiguous landscape and set a baseline for evaluating changes when the habitat is fragmented. We adopted a landscape genetics approach to identify how landscape structure affected dispersal, population genetic structure, and landscape connectivity of the Eastern Yellowbelly Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) across a 13,500-km2 landscape in northeastern Kansas, USA. The racer population had high allelic diversity, high heterozygosity, and was maintaining migration-drift equilibrium. Autocorrelation between genetic and geographic distance revealed that racers exhibited restricted dispersal within 3 km, and isolation-by-distance. Significant isolation-by-distance occurred at broad regional scales (&gt;100 km), but because of sufficient gene flow between locations, we were unable to define discrete subpopulations using Bayesian clustering analyses. Resistance distance, which considers the permeability of habitats, did not explain significant variation in genetic distance beyond Euclidean distance alone, suggesting that racers are not currently influenced by landscape composition. In northeastern Kansas, racers appear to be an abundant and continuously distributed snake that perceives the landscape as well connected with no cover type currently impeding snake dispersal or gene flow.</p>10aAutocorrelation10aconservation10adispersal10aFragmentation10aGene flow10agrassland10aIsolation-by-distance10aLandscape genetics10aMicrosatellites10aSnake1 aKlug, P.E.1 aWisely, S.M.1 aWith, K.A.  uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10980-010-9554-202633nas a2200205   4500008004100000245010000041210006900141300001300210490000800223520193800231653000902169653001202178653001702190653003402207653002202241100001502263700001802278700001502296856011602311       2010                        eng d00aLinking snake habitat use to nest predation risk in grassland birds: the dangers of shrub cover0 aLinking snake habitat use to nest predation risk in grassland bi  a803 -8130 v1623 aExtremes in rangeland management, varying from too-frequent fire and intensive grazing to the suppression of both, threaten rangeland ecosystems worldwide. Intensive fire and grazing denude and homogenize vegetation whereas their suppression increases woody cover. Although habitat loss is implicated in grassland bird declines, degradation through intensive management or neglect also decreases breeding habitat and may reduce nesting success through increased rates of nest predation. Snakes are important nest predators, but little is known about how habitat use in snakes relates to predation risk for grassland birds nesting within tallgrass prairie subjected to different grazing and fire frequencies. We evaluated nest survival in the context of habitat used by nesting songbirds and two bird-eating snakes, the eastern yellowbelly racer Coluber constrictor flaviventris and Great Plains ratsnake Pantherophis emoryi. Daily nest survival rates decreased with increasing shrub cover and decreasing vegetation height, which characterize grasslands that have been neglected or intensively managed, respectively. Discriminant function analysis revealed that snake habitats were characterized by higher shrub cover, whereas successful nests were more likely to occur in areas with tall grass and forbs but reduced shrub cover. Because snakes often use shrub habitat, birds nesting in areas with increased shrub cover may be at higher risk of nest predation by snakes in addition to other predators known to use shrub habitat (e.g., mid-sized carnivores and avian predators). Depredated nests also occurred outside the discriminant space of the snakes, indicating that other predators (e.g., ground squirrels Spermophilus spp. and bullsnakes Pituophis catenifer) may be important in areas with denuded cover. Targeted removal of shrubs may increase nest success by minimizing the activity of nest predators attracted to shrub cover.10afire10aGrazing10aNest success10aPredator–prey relationships10atallgrass prairie1 aKlug, P.E.1 aJackrel, S.L.1 aWith, K.A.  uhttp://129.130.186.12/content/linking-snake-habitat-use-nest-predation-risk-grassland-birds-dangers-shrub-cover03168nas a2200205   4500008004100000245013400041210006900175260004300244300001100287490002100298520244900319653002402768653002002792653001902812653002402831653003202855653002202887100001502909856003802924       2009                        eng d00aInteractions between grassland birds and their snake predators: the potential for conservation conflicts in the tallgrass prairie0 aInteractions between grassland birds and their snake predators t  aManhattan, KSbKansas State University  a1 -1260 vPhD dissertation3 a<p>The loss, fragmentation, and degradation of grasslands have resulted in widespread declines in grassland birds. Nest predation is the leading cause of avian reproductive failure; therefore minimizing nest predation can lessen the severity of bird declines. Snakes are important predators of bird nests, but little is known about how snakes may enhance predation risk. To address this issue, I studied the habitat use, movement behavior, population genetic structure, and connectivity of snakes in the grasslands of northeastern Kansas. I addressed the connectivity of eastern yellowbelly racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) populations by using a landscape genetics approach at a broad scale (13,500 km2). I also radio-tracked the yellowbelly racer and Great Plains ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi) at Konza Prairie Biological Station to understand their spatial ecology while simultaneously evaluating nest survival in grassland birds. Individual racers had limited dispersal (&lt;3 km), but substantial admixture occurred within 30 km and populations were in migration-drift equilibrium and had high allelic diversity; therefore, racers must be abundant and continuously distributed for gene flow to be fluid throughout the region. Racers may be more likely to encounter bird nests, as they had more frequent movements and traversed greater distances on average than ratsnakes, which exhibited long periods of inactivity between directed movements. As for grassland birds, nest survival rates decreased with increasing shrubs and decreasing vegetation height. Discriminant function analysis revealed that successful nests were likely to occur in tall vegetation but reduced shrub cover, whereas higher shrub cover characterized snake habitats. Because snakes often use shrubs, nests in areas of increased shrubs may be at higher risk of predation by snakes. Targeted removal of shrubs may increase nest success by minimizing the activity of predators attracted to shrubs. Although predator removal is often a strategy for protecting bird populations, it may not be feasible in this instance, especially since snakes are a native component of the grassland community. Efforts to reduce snake predation on grassland bird nests should therefore focus on managing habitat within grasslands (i.e., shrubs) that influence snake activity, as no natural or anthropogenic habitat barriers currently limit snake movement across the landscape.</p>10aColuber constrictor10aGrassland birds10aNest predation10aPantherophis emoryi10aPredator-prey relationships10atallgrass prairie1 aKlug, P.E.  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/2184  