Fijian sea krait behavior relates to fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity in old‐growth coastal forest: The importance of integrated land–sea management for protecting amphibious animals. Issue 4 (21st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lowe, Christopher; Keppel, Gunnar; Waqa, Kalisi; Peters, Stefan; Fisher, Robert N.; Scanlon, Annette; Osborne‐Naikatini, Tamara; Thomas‐Moko, Nunia
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 12:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-04-21
• Subjects: atoll islands -- coastal forests -- fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity -- microclimate -- microhabitats -- sea krait conservation; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8817
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: The importance of terrestrial coastal ecosystems for maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems remains understudied. Sea kraits are amphibious snakes that require healthy coral reefs for foraging, but little is known about their requirements of terrestrial habitats, where they slough their skin, digest prey, and breed. Using concurrent microclimate measurements and behavior surveys, we show that a small, topographically flat atoll in Fiji with coastal forest provides many microhabitats that relate to the behaviors of Yellow Lipped Sea Kraits, Laticauda colubrina . Microclimates were significantly related to canopy cover, leaf litter depth, and distance from the high‐water mark (HWM). Sea kraits were almost exclusively observed in coastal forest within 30 m of the HWM. Sloughing of skins only occurred within crevices of mature or dying trees. Resting L. colubrina were significantly more likely to occur at locations with higher mean diurnal temperatures, lower leaf litter depths, and shorter distances from the HWM. On Leleuvia, behavior of L. colubrina therefore relates to environmental heterogeneity created by old‐growth coastal forests, particularly canopy cover and crevices in mature and dead tree trunks. The importance of healthy coastal habitats, both terrestrial and marine, for L. colubrina suggests it could be a good flagship species for advocating integrated land‐sea management. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of coastal forests and topographically flat atolls for biodiversity conservation. Effective conservation management of amphibious species that utilize land‐ and seascapes is therefore likely to require a holistic approach that incorporates connectivity among ecosystems and environmental heterogeneity at all relevant scales. Abstract : We show that sea kraits are dependent on microhabitats in old‐growth coastal forest of a topographically flat Fijian atoll for terrestrial activities. Therefore, environmental heterogeneity and high‐quality terrestrial habitats, as well as healthy coral reefs, are essential for sea kraits, making them good flagship species for advocating integrated land–sea management. Therefore, a holistic approach to the conservation management of amphibious species and land‐ and seascapes is required that incorporates connectivity among ecosystems and environmental heterogeneity at all relevant scales.