Space over vegetation type: snake assemblage structure in flooded savannas

Résumé fourni par la source

Flooded savannas have undergone significant hydrological shifts, driven by land use and climate change. However, our understanding of habitat use and species abundance within snake assemblages in the Pantanal ecoregion remains limited. We investigated the influence of vegetation type (grassy-woody savanna vs. forest) and spatial structure on snake assemblages in the southern Pantanal. Between 2004 and 2008, we sampled snakes using pitfall traps with drift fences in three areas spanning regions with distinct flood regimes and soils during the rainy season. We captured 139 individuals from 26 species. Rarefaction curves did not reach asymptotes, and estimated richness overlapped between savanna and forest habitats. Redundancy analysis revealed that spatial predictors were the dominant driver of the variation (explaining nearly 20%), whereas vegetation type had a much smaller influence (6%). This study provides one of the few standardized inventories of snakes in the Pantanal and establishes a valuable reference point for monitoring future snake assemblages and informing management strategies under a scenario of intensified droughts and wildfires in the region.