NATURAL HISTORY OF DEKAY’S BROWNSNAKE, STORERIA DEKAYI (HOLBROOK, 1836), AT A SITE IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Abstract

A population of Dekay’s Brownsnake, Storeria dekayi was studied using mark-recapture techniques in Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA during the spring, summer and autumn of 2012. Morphometric data were similar to that reported for the species, with adult females averaging larger and more massive than adult males. However, sexual dimorphism in snout-vent length (SVL) and total length (TL) was not significantly different (P>0.05) in juveniles, although relative tail length (tl/TL) was dimorphic. Relative tail length in both juveniles and adults was greater in males (tl/TL = 0.22-0.27) than females (tl/TL = 0.18-0.23). Storeria dekayi were active from 21 March through 22 October, and displayed a bimodal activity pattern, with peaks in April and August. Using the Schnabel and the Schumacher-Eschmeyer methods, population size was estimated to be 122 ± 19 and 130 ± 35 individuals, respectively. Density was estimated to be 244 and 260 snakes/ha, and biomass 1.60 and 1.71 kg/ha. Additional data regarding population structure, mortality, diet, reproduction, body temperature, movements and site fidelity are also presented.