1 Bibliographic Review of Sources Relevant to Development of Draft ...

Savannah River Annotated Bibliography: January 2003
duck production in the southeastern Atlantic coastal plain." Wildlife society
Bulletin 29: 1193-1205.
Wetland hydrologic conditions were positively associated with wood duck productivity. Wet
years provided a longer breeding season and reduced predation.
Straney, D., L. Briese and M. Smith (1974). "Bird diversity and thermal stress in a
cypress swamp." Thermal Ecology: 572-578.
Birds respond to the structural changes bought on by aquatic stress. Formation of canopy gaps,
presence or absence of underbrush, or standing deadwood influence the bird species diversity and
abundance. Burke, V. J., J. E. Lovich and J. W. Gibbons. 2000. Conservation of
freshwater turtles. Turtle Conservation. M. Klemens. Washington, DC,
Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 156-179.
This chapter in the book Freshwater Turtles discusses conservation of turtles in regards to life
cycle, describes the status of freshwater turtles, and provides recommendations for future
conservation efforts. Preservation of habitat is a critical factor in maintaining a population.
Freshwater turtles frequently require upland habitat for nesting, overwintering, and foraging so
protection of land adjacent to the wetland is essential. Juvenile turtles have different prey items
and change habitat as they grow in size. As a result, a spatially heterogeneous freshwater
environment is needed to provide the various requirements for the maturing turtles.
Recommendations include ending human exploitation (recreational shooting and wild capture for
the pet trade,) preservation of lentic waters, and educational programs for the public.
Gibbons, J., V. Burke, J. Lovich, R. Semlitsch, T. Tuberville, J. Bodie, J. Greene, P.
Niewiarowski, H. Whiteman, D. Scott, J. Pechmann, C. Harrison, S. Bennett, J.
Krenz, M. Mills, K. Buhlmann, J. Lee, R. Seigel, A. Tucker, T. Mills, T. Lamb,
M. Dorcas, J. Congdon, M. Smith, D. Nelson, M. Dietsch, H. Hanlin, J. Ott and
D. Karapatakis (1997). "Perceptions of species abundance, distribution, and
diversity: lessons from four decades of sampling on a government-managed
reserve." Environmental Management 21(2): 259-268.
This article reviews data compiled on over one million captures or observations of 98 species over
a 44-year study period on the SRS. Perceptions of species diversity are dependent on level of
effort during data collection. Short-term databases used for management decisions could result in
serious error. Recommendations include training data collectors in field recognition of more than
one taxonomic species. Efforts should be made to measure the status of populations quantitatively
using consistent and reliable methodologies.
Lee, J., V. Burke and J. Gibbons (1997). "Behavior of hatchling Alligator
mississippiensis exposed to ice." Copeia 1997(1): 224-226.
This study on the SRS indicates that alligators are able to survive temporary icing by maintaining
a breathing hole and taking advantage of water temperature gradients. Water depth must be
sufficient for the animals to submerge in an inclined position with only their snouts above the
water.
Mills, M., C. Hudson and H. Berna (1995). "Spatial ecology and movements of the
brown water snake (Nerodia taxispilota)." Herpetologica 51: 412-423.
This article reveals movement patterns and habitat preferences for the brown water snake. A
preference was identified for the steep, outside bends of the river. A majority (70%) of recaptures
were found within 250 m of their previous capture site and only the largest snakes actually crossed
the river. These results are significant to the Savannah River ecological flow study because
portions of the river have been straightened and the preferred habitat of these snakes destroyed.
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