Master's Theses

Department

Biology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) is listed as threatened in the state of Kansas and protected under that Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1975. It is also listed as a Tier I species in the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) for Kansas. To be protected under the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1975, a Recovery Plan must be approved by the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism. An important part of the Recovery Plan requires defining critical habitat for the Broad-headed Skink. During the summers of 2015-2017, I performed standardized surveys across the known range of the Broad-headed Skink in eastern Kansas. I used drift fence arrays with funnel traps and performed visual encounter surveys (VES) to collect occurrence data on the Broad- headed Skink. I also performed a habitat assessment at each site. A Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to determine which habitat variables explained the variation observed in the squamate assemblage in eastern Kansas. The position of the Broad-headed Skink was explained by average log-length and overstory tree size. A secondary analysis implies that the Broad-headed Skink is also associated with presence of the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). A logistic regression was used to determine which habitat variables were significant in predicting presence of the Broad-headed Skink. The variables from the most successful model included average log length, overstory tree size, understory tree dispersion, and overstory tree dispersion. These habitat attributes suggest that the Broad-headed Skink prefers more mature patches of the forest and that habitat structure rather than presence of any tree species is more important in predicting the presence of the Broad-headed Skink, though the presence of some tree species may provide additional insight.

Keywords

critical habitat, plestiodon laticeps, threatened, recovery plan, conservation

Advisor

Dr. William Stark

Date of Award

Spring 2018

Document Type

Thesis

Rights

© The Author(s)

Comments

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