BULLETIN FLORIDA MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY VOL. 38 PT. 1(2)


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 Temperature (C) Rainfall (cm)

Figure 13. Average monthly temperature and total rainfall amounts on the Katharine Ordway Preserve-
Swisher Memorial Sanctuary during the 1989 and 1990 sampling period.



comparable sized habitats at the same latitude (Vitt 1987). However, sampling in
other habitat types, particularly the wetlands, may increase the number of species
known to occur on the Preserve.
 The black racer was trapped in substantial numbers in all habitat types.
Relatively more black racers were found in mesic hammocks than in xeric habitats,
especially considering differences in sampling effort, but whether this reflects
habitat selection by different size classes or a response to different prey abundance
(Toft 1985; Vitt 1987) is unknown. In xeric habitats, racers were nearly equally
abundant in both high pine and in closed xeric hammock. In all habitats, capture
frequency was proportional to sampling effort. The ubiquitous distribution and
general abundance of Coluber suggests that it is an upland habitat generalist.
 The next four most commonly trapped species (Cemophora coccinea,
Masticophis flagellum, Micrurus fulvius, Sistrurus miliarius) were found both in
xeric and mesic habitats, but the numbers trapped seemed to indicate a preference
for the dryer habitats. A narrowing in habitat preference from that shown by C.
constrictor is reflected by the lower niche breadth values for these species. With
the exception ofS. miliarius, considerable niche overlap occurs. In upland habitats,
the pygmy rattlesnake was the most xerophilic of the common snakes trapped


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