The Thermal Ecology of Snakes in Bertoua Municipality, Eastern Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Climate generally and temperature in particular have long been recognized as important determinants of the distribution, abundance, and activity of animals. Thus, the maintenance of appropriate body temperatures affects both the fitness of individual snakes and the viability of their populations. Thermoregulation is probably the most important factor affecting habitat selection in snakes. Hence, this study is aimed at exploring the role of weather condition to the ecological niche of snakes in Bertoua forest area. The research data collection was done by the use of check-sheets for a period of one month from 7:30am-5:30pm each day in the forest area of Bertoua. A random spot observation of 444 snakes was made on 6 species, black cobras (Naja melanoleuca), green mambas (Dendroaspis viridis), vipers (Bitis gabonica), green-tree snakes (Dendrelaphis punctulatus), small brown snakes (Dendrelaphis shokan), and python (Python regius). Ecological factors such as weather condition, vegetation, landscape, location, and photo-period were also taken into account. The survey revealed an ecological relationship between weather condition and various species of snakes in the study area, χ2 = 11.244 df=10, P<0.05. Besides, the results revealed an association between landscape and snake species χ 2 = 21.142 df=15 P<0.05. Moreso, photo-period significantly associated with weather condition, χ 2 = 8.907 df=4, P<0.05. The location of snakes significantly associated with the species, χ 2 = 191.344 df=5, P=0.00. Furthermore, snake location and weather condition revealed a significant link, χ 2 = 5.546 df=2, P<0.05. Finally, weather condition and landscape showed a significant dependency, χ 2 = 41.316 df=6, P=0.00. Reptiles are found in a range of diverse environments from the arctic to the equator. Their success and dispersion is dependent on access to external heat sources for their internal processes to operate sufficiently such as homeostasis.