Innovative Methods for Studies of Snake Ecology and Conservation
Michael E. Dorcas1 and John D. Willson2
1Department
of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina 28035-7118 USA
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia,
Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29802 USA
Abstract:
Snakes are fascinating to many laypeople and scientists alike, and
numerous studies of snake ecology and natural history have been conducted.
For nearly all snake species, however, a comprehensive understanding of
their ecology, and especially population biology, is lacking. Such gaps
in our knowledge limit our ability to develop effective conservation and
management strategies or, more often, prohibit arguments that conservation
is needed at all. We argue that snakes, although often challenging to
study, offer many opportunities for ecological study unparalleled by other
taxa.
SREL Reprint #3107
Dorcas, M.
E. and J. D. Willson. 2009. Innovative Methods for Studies of Snake Ecology
and Conservation. pp. 5-37 In: Snakes: Ecology and Conservation.
S. J. Mullin and R. A. Seigel (Eds.). Cornell University Press, Ithaca,
NY.
