GVMagazineSpring2016 - (Page 32)
RESEARCH
Rattlesnake refuge
T
here are almost 20 species of snakes
that are native to Michigan, but the
eastern massasauga rattlesnake is the
only venomous native. Grand Valley
researchers have been actively trying to
keep this species, currently threatened
by snake fungal disease, from slithering
its way onto the U.S. endangered
species list.
Snake fungal disease was first
detected in Michigan massasaugas in
2013. Jennifer Moore, assistant professor
of biology, said the eastern massasauga
is threatened or endangered in every
state where the species resides, except
for Michigan where it is listed as a
"species of special concern."
Moore and a team of students have
been conducting research for two
years in an effort to keep the snake off
the endangered list, but the species
was proposed for federal listing by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
in September. Moore said the team
anticipates the results of the proposal
will be announced this fall.
"We currently don't know what impact
this disease will have on wild snake
populations, but all rattlesnakes that
have been brought into captivity for
potential treatment have died, so the
potential for serious declines exists,"
Moore said.
Conducting research is only half
the battle when it comes to saving
eastern massasaugas. Public education
32
Spring '16
by Matthew Makowski
Bradke said along with the disease,
about the species has been a central
eastern massasaugas have also suffered
focus of the team's efforts through
large population declines due to road
media appearances and conference
mortality and persecution by people
presentations.
who are afraid of snakes or don't
"If the public has a better
like them.
understanding of the importance of
"Like other animals, these snakes have
these snakes for healthy, functioning
an important role in the ecosystem,"
wetland ecosystems, people might be
Bradke said. "They help control rodent
more inclined to support rattlesnake,
populations and act as food for other
wetland and species conservation, as
species. Additionally, protecting this
well as environmental stewardship more
species means protecting their
generally," Moore said.
wetland habitats, which is very
Moore added that the general public
valuable because they
can help in these preservation efforts
control flooding, help
by supporting policies, institutions and
maintain good water
groups geared toward threatened and
quality, and
endangered wildlife conservation.
provide suitable
"The main reason these snakes are
habitats for
threatened is loss of their natural
many other
habitat," Moore said. "Supporting groups
animals
that protect land, and the critical habitat
and plants."
that these species need will go
a long way."
Since the proposal in
September, Moore's team has
been concentrating on long-term
monitoring of a population near
Left, Jennifer
Moore, in front, and
Hastings. Last summer, the team
student researchers
conducted fungal disease testing at
examine an eastern
four sites in Michigan, one of which
massasauga
was Bois Blanc Island, which Moore
rattlesnake at Pierce
said is a haven for rattlesnakes.
Cedar Creek Institute.
In addition to field research, the
Right, The eastern
team has monitored the species at
massasauga
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry
rattlesnake species
has been proposed
County to assess its long-term
for inclusion on the
viability. Danielle Bradke, a graduate
U.S. endangered
student majoring in biology, said the
species list as of
institute is interested in collecting
September 2015.
data on this population so officials
can make land management
decisions that will help conserve
these reptiles.
Along with studying
population demography and
how habitat management
activities may affect the
presence of the disease,
Moore's team is aiming to
better understand the ecology
of the fungus, Ophidiomyces,
which causes snake
fungal disease.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GVMagazineSpring2016
Campus News
Athletics
Donor Impact
Q&A Faite Mack
Arts
Saddle up: professor leads research on speech therapy technique
Sustainability
Cultural competency in health care
Hot ideas and inventions
Focal Point
Research
Life before Louie: making a mascot
Alumni News
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