Microhabitat use of Red Diamond Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ruber) in southern California coastal sage scrub
Horvath, Ella
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
San Diego State University
San Diego, California USA
McAndrews, Emma
Department of Biology
San Diego State University
San Diego, California USA
Lemm, Jeff de la Rosa, Carlos
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego, California USA
Clark, Rulon W.
Department of Biology
San Diego State University
San Diego, California USA
Coastal sage scrub is one of California’s most threatened native vegetation communities, but continues to support a diversity of wildlife. Increased human activity has led to the degradation of coastal sage scrub through urban and agricultural development, habitat fragmentation, and the increased prevalence of invasive species. In terms of future implications, climate change will likely compound the impacts associated with human activity. This degradation can have detrimental impacts on many species, including the Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber). This species is an important predator of small mammal species in coastal sage scrub communities that was historically widespread and abundant within southwestern California and upper Baja California, but has since been extirpated from much of its historical range. A more detailed analysis of its microhabitat preferences may help us understand why C. ruber persists in some areas but not others. Conducting a microhabitat study presents the opportunity to quantify the extent to which C. ruber is associated with particular vegetation or other features, which can help to fill in gaps of knowledge surrounding the species as a means of preventing further extirpation. The results of this study will facilitate the development of suitable conservation strategies for species that rely on intact patches of coastal sage scrub.