| Abstract: | The extirpation of Guam‘s forest avifauna has been attributed to the accidental introduction and subsequent irruption of the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis. However, recent dietary studies of this nocturnal arboreal snake indicate that it now preys primarily on lizards, not birds. We evaluated the effect the snake has had on Guam‘s lizards by contrasting lizard communities on Guam with those on adjacent snake-free islands and by comparing the extant lizard communities on Guam with those that were present before the snake arrived. Both comparisons revealed radical reductions in abundance of Guam‘s native nocturnal lizards and the extirpation of several species. The effect of the snake on diurnal lizards (skinks) is more equivocal. Skinks are still common on Guam, but several species no longer exist on the island. Identification of causes of these extirpations is complicated by the snake‘s elimination of an important avian skink predator, the concurrent irruption of a shrew, and the effects of predation and competition between the native skinks and an introduced skink. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5223736 |
| Citation Author: | Rodda, G.H.; Fritts, T.H. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 174 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Herpetology |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 9 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 166-174 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | The impact of the introduction of the colubrid snake, Boiga irregularis, on Guam‘s lizards; 1992; Article; Journal; Journal of Herpetology; Rodda, G.H.; Fritts, T.H. |
| Citation Start Page: | 166 |
| Citation Volume: | 26 |
| Citation Year: | 1992 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | The impact of the introduction of the colubrid snake, Boiga irregularis, on Guam‘s lizards; 1992; Article; Journal; Journal of Herpetology; Rodda, G.H.; Fritts, T.H. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www.jstor.org/stable/1564858 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
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