Date of Award

12-11-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Department

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

William Sutton

Abstract

The combination of habitat loss and disease has dramatically reduced wildlife populations globally. Given this, widespread habitat restoration and monitoring is needed to conserve vulnerable populations. In recent decades, there have been efforts to restore longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests across its historic range. Simultaneously, a fungal pathogen known to infect snakes, Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), has been detected throughout the eastern United States. In this study, I investigated how herpetofauna in the William B. Bankhead National Forest responded to longleaf pine restoration while monitoring for the presence of Oo across a gradient of habitat types, species, and individual characteristics. From 2021-2024 I used drift-fence trap arrays across a chronosequence of longleaf pine restoration to detect 52 species of herpetofauna. Reptile communities, in particular snake assemblages, demonstrated a significant response to restoration. For rare species like Pituophis melanoleucus, restoration practices such as prescribed burning were positively associated with predicted abundance. From 2023-2024 I detected Oo among all habitat types and among most snake species sampled using skin swabs. The prevalence of Oo differed between species and was positively correlated with body size. Furthermore, I uncovered a significant positive association between the average maximum humidity of a sampling stand and the prevalence of Oo, suggesting that humid environments may provide a conducive setting for Oo to persist. This work provides practical insight into the effects of longleaf pine restoration on herpetofaunal communities. It also revealed connections between Oo and environmental conditions. Used in conjunction, these findings may help conserve threatened herpetofaunal populations.

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