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Research Article
Chris Jolly
Charles Sturt University
Corresponding Author
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Global wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry and a significant driver of vertebrate extinction risk. Yet, few studies have quantified the impact of wild harvesting for the illicit pet trade on populations. Long-lived species, by virtue of their slow life history characteristics, may be unable to sustain even low levels of harvesting. Here, we assessed the impact of illegal poaching on a metapopulation of endangered broad-headed snakes (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) at gated (protected) and ungated (unprotected) populations. Because broad-headed snakes are long-lived, grow slowly and reproduce infrequently, populations are likely vulnerable to increases in adult mortality. Long-term data revealed that annual survival rates of snakes were significantly lower in the ungated population than the gated population, consistent with the hypothesis of human removal of snakes for the pet trade. Population viability analysis showed that the ungated population has a strongly negative population growth rate and is only prevented from ultimate extinction by dispersal of small numbers of individuals from the gated population. Sensitivity analyses showed that the removal of a small number of adult females was sufficient to impose negative population growth and suggests that threatened species with slow life histories are likely to be especially vulnerable to illegal poaching.
Keywords
Population viability analysis, reptile, pet trade, mark-recapture, Australia
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Scientific Reports.
Version 1
Posted 25 Nov, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Jan, 2021
Reviews received
Received 15 Jan, 2021
Reviewers agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 28 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Nov, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Nov, 2020
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at Scientific Reports.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Chris Jolly
Charles Sturt University
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Scientific Reports.
Version 1
Posted 25 Nov, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Jan, 2021
Reviews received
Received 15 Jan, 2021
Reviewers agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 28 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Nov, 2020
First submitted
On 20 Nov, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Scientific Reports.
Global wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry and a significant driver of vertebrate extinction risk. Yet, few studies have quantified the impact of wild harvesting for the illicit pet trade on populations. Long-lived species, by virtue of their slow life history characteristics, may be unable to sustain even low levels of harvesting. Here, we assessed the impact of illegal poaching on a metapopulation of endangered broad-headed snakes (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) at gated (protected) and ungated (unprotected) populations. Because broad-headed snakes are long-lived, grow slowly and reproduce infrequently, populations are likely vulnerable to increases in adult mortality. Long-term data revealed that annual survival rates of snakes were significantly lower in the ungated population than the gated population, consistent with the hypothesis of human removal of snakes for the pet trade. Population viability analysis showed that the ungated population has a strongly negative population growth rate and is only prevented from ultimate extinction by dispersal of small numbers of individuals from the gated population. Sensitivity analyses showed that the removal of a small number of adult females was sufficient to impose negative population growth and suggests that threatened species with slow life histories are likely to be especially vulnerable to illegal poaching.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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