DODD & FRANZ: UPLAND SNAKES


factors that might influence sampling results. Throughout this paper, we use the
term community as defined by Begon et al. (1986), i.e. "an assemblage of species
populations which occur together in space and time."


 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


 We thank Bert Charest, Shelley Franz, and Lora Smith for checking traps, handling snakes, recording
data, and general dedication to the project. Robert Reynolds, Gordon Rodda, and Norm Scott provided
helpful comments on the manuscript


 STUDY AREA


 The Katharine Ordway Preserve-Swisher Memorial Sanctuary (hereinafter
referred to as the Ordway Preserve) is a 3750 ha tract located approximately 5 km
SE of Melrose, Putnam County, Florida. This upland sandhill region lies within
the Interlachen Karstic Highland at the southern flank of Trail Ridge. The area
represents a portion of a dune complex that probably formed in association with
active beach development during periods of higher sea levels. The dunes have been
secondarily modified by solutioning activities in the underlying limestones to form
sinkholes and karst basins. Many of these solution features hold water to form the
ponds, lakes, and wetlands of the Ordway Preserve. Two types of aquatic systems
occur on the Ordway Preserve, a series of isolated clear water ponds and lakes and
Mill Creek. Mill Creek is an extensive creek system that drains the eastern parts of
Trail Ridge and the Interlachen Karstic Highlands. It flows through Etonia and
Rice creeks into the St. Johns River. On the Ordway Preserve, the basin includes
an extensive swamp forest, eight tannin-stained lakes, and four freshwater
marshes. Franz and Hall (1991) provided a detailed discussion of the physical
setting of the Ordway Preserve.


 HABITATS


 General information and references on Florida communities are in Myers and
Ewel (1990). Franz and Hall (1991) identified eight vegetative communities on the
Ordway Preserve, five of which were sampled during this study. Approximately
66% of the property is composed of upland and ruderal vegetation types, while the
rest consists of open water pond and lakes or wetlands. More than 70 water bodies
existed on the property prior to a severe drought that began in 1985. This number
was reduced to seven at the height of the drought in 1990.