Small nature preserves do not adequately support large-ranging snakes: Movement ecology and site fidelity in a fragmented rural landscape

Habitat fragmentation and loss are two of the leading causes of species declines world-wide. To mitigate these effects, land managers have engaged two major pathways to conserve biodiversity: land-sparing (set aside for wildlife and conservation) or land-sharing (land is managed to provide benefits for multiple land uses). We examined the movement ecology of a wide-ranging snake in a fragmented landscape as a case study to examine the efficacy of small nature preserves to protect threatened biodiversity. We monitored the movement patterns and habitat use of 25 timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) over the course of four years in a small nature preserve and fragmented agricultural landscape in central Tennessee, USA. Rattlesnakes showed a positive association with rocky cedar barrens and glades, habitat edges, and sites with dense ground cover and relatively open canopy cover. In addition, 49% of all rattlesnake locations fell outside the nature preserve boundary. Most rattlesnakes travelled through the nature preserve and into patchy agricultural areas and rural housing properties while foraging for food and searching for mates. The conservation of species, especially those that have large movement patterns or migratory behaviors, are difficult to protect in a land-sparing or protected area scenario. We highlight that while the nature preserve does not adequately contain timber rattlesnakes throughout the year, it does support the conservation of key habitat for overwintering, which is essential for the survival of this species. A combination of land-sparing and land-sharing are required for the protection and management of this and many other species.