{"id":{"repo_id":"soton","oai_identifier":"oai:eprints.soton.ac.uk:72641"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/soton/oai:eprints.soton.ac.uk:72641","repository":{"repo_id":"soton","name":"University of Southampton","base_url":"https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2"},"display":{"title":"Population ecology and conservation genetics of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in a fragmented heath landscape","abstract":"Coronella austriaca is the United Kingdom’s rarest snake, being confined to the lowland heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. As a result, it remains the least understood; despite being listed as a key biodiversity action plan species. Substantial loss and fragmentation of its primary UK habitat - lowland heathland - has occurred in recent times, and yet research examining the population ecology and conservation genetics of this species remains limited. As a result, this PhD research was developed to fill this need. Based on three years of data collection, a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, mathematical modelling and genetic analyses, were employed in an attempt to answer questions of relevance to the future conservation management of this species.<br/>Modelling smooth snake occupancy of remnant heathland patches using an information-theoretic approach showed patch size and the percentage of grassland in surrounding matrix habitats to be the primary determinants of smooth snake presence. Field-based studies based on 27 arrays of artificial refugia showed the size of trees and prey abundance to be important in determining mean smooth snake capture rates at occupied sites.<br/>Eight previously described microsatellite markers were used to complete the first assessments of the genetic population structure of C. austriaca at two spatial scales. Initial fine-scale analysis of structuring based on 11 sampling localities within a heathland/coniferous forest mosaic found significant population structuring as a result of isolation-by-distance effects, in addition to evidence of male-biased dispersal. At the wider scale, analysis of seven distinct populations across Dorset also found small but significant differences in genetic diversity. The observed patterns were not consistent with isolation-by-distance effects, nor was there any evidence of them being a result of habitat patch size or isolation. Phylogenetic analysis of the coarse-scale microsatellite data showed some evidence of population clustering based on their geographic locality in relation to the historical extent of Dorset’s heathland, suggesting they represent distinct management units.<br/>The reproductive ecology of C. austriaca was also examined using a combination of field data and microsatellite analysis. In contrast to continental populations, there was no relationship between female body size and litter size. However, there was a negative relationship between relative clutch mass and female body size, suggesting that there may be a trade-off between female survival and reproductive output. Microsatellite based genotyping of neonates from 16 litters born in the laboratory provides the first evidence of multiple paternity occurring in C. austriaca.","abstract_html":"Coronella austriaca is the United Kingdom’s rarest snake, being confined to the lowland heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. As a result, it remains the least understood; despite being listed as a key biodiversity action plan species. Substantial loss and fragmentation of its primary UK habitat - lowland heathland - has occurred in recent times, and yet research examining the population ecology and conservation genetics of this species remains limited. As a result, this PhD research was developed to fill this need. Based on three years of data collection, a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, mathematical modelling and genetic analyses, were employed in an attempt to answer questions of relevance to the future conservation management of this species.&lt;br/&gt;Modelling smooth snake occupancy of remnant heathland patches using an information-theoretic approach showed patch size and the percentage of grassland in surrounding matrix habitats to be the primary determinants of smooth snake presence. Field-based studies based on 27 arrays of artificial refugia showed the size of trees and prey abundance to be important in determining mean smooth snake capture rates at occupied sites.&lt;br/&gt;Eight previously described microsatellite markers were used to complete the first assessments of the genetic population structure of C. austriaca at two spatial scales. Initial fine-scale analysis of structuring based on 11 sampling localities within a heathland/coniferous forest mosaic found significant population structuring as a result of isolation-by-distance effects, in addition to evidence of male-biased dispersal. At the wider scale, analysis of seven distinct populations across Dorset also found small but significant differences in genetic diversity. The observed patterns were not consistent with isolation-by-distance effects, nor was there any evidence of them being a result of habitat patch size or isolation. Phylogenetic analysis of the coarse-scale microsatellite data showed some evidence of population clustering based on their geographic locality in relation to the historical extent of Dorset’s heathland, suggesting they represent distinct management units.&lt;br/&gt;The reproductive ecology of C. austriaca was also examined using a combination of field data and microsatellite analysis. In contrast to continental populations, there was no relationship between female body size and litter size. However, there was a negative relationship between relative clutch mass and female body size, suggesting that there may be a trade-off between female survival and reproductive output. Microsatellite based genotyping of neonates from 16 litters born in the laboratory provides the first evidence of multiple paternity occurring in C. austriaca.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Pernetta, Angelo P."],"institution":"University of Southampton","degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Allen, J.A."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-09","date_published":"2009-09","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:36:10Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Allen, J.A."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Pernetta, Angelo P."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2009-09"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2009-09"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Biological Sciences (pre 2011 reorg)","School of Biological Sciences"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Southampton"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/72641/"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Ph.D."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/72641/1/09Pernetta_PhD.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Coronella austriaca is the United Kingdom’s rarest snake, being confined to the lowland heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. As a result, it remains the least understood; despite being listed as a key biodiversity action plan species. Substantial loss and fragmentation of its primary UK habitat - lowland heathland - has occurred in recent times, and yet research examining the population ecology and conservation genetics of this species remains limited. As a result, this PhD research was developed to fill this need. Based on three years of data collection, a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, mathematical modelling and genetic analyses, were employed in an attempt to answer questions of relevance to the future conservation management of this species.<br/>Modelling smooth snake occupancy of remnant heathland patches using an information-theoretic approach showed patch size and the percentage of grassland in surrounding matrix habitats to be the primary determinants of smooth snake presence. Field-based studies based on 27 arrays of artificial refugia showed the size of trees and prey abundance to be important in determining mean smooth snake capture rates at occupied sites.<br/>Eight previously described microsatellite markers were used to complete the first assessments of the genetic population structure of C. austriaca at two spatial scales. Initial fine-scale analysis of structuring based on 11 sampling localities within a heathland/coniferous forest mosaic found significant population structuring as a result of isolation-by-distance effects, in addition to evidence of male-biased dispersal. At the wider scale, analysis of seven distinct populations across Dorset also found small but significant differences in genetic diversity. The observed patterns were not consistent with isolation-by-distance effects, nor was there any evidence of them being a result of habitat patch size or isolation. Phylogenetic analysis of the coarse-scale microsatellite data showed some evidence of population clustering based on their geographic locality in relation to the historical extent of Dorset’s heathland, suggesting they represent distinct management units.<br/>The reproductive ecology of C. austriaca was also examined using a combination of field data and microsatellite analysis. In contrast to continental populations, there was no relationship between female body size and litter size. However, there was a negative relationship between relative clutch mass and female body size, suggesting that there may be a trade-off between female survival and reproductive output. Microsatellite based genotyping of neonates from 16 litters born in the laboratory provides the first evidence of multiple paternity occurring in C. austriaca."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["text"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Population ecology and conservation genetics of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in a fragmented heath landscape"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Allen, J.A."],"dc:creator":["Pernetta, Angelo P."],"dc:date":["2009-09"],"dc:date.issued":["2009-09"],"dc:description.abstract":["Coronella austriaca is the United Kingdom’s rarest snake, being confined to the lowland heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. As a result, it remains the least understood; despite being listed as a key biodiversity action plan species. Substantial loss and fragmentation of its primary UK habitat - lowland heathland - has occurred in recent times, and yet research examining the population ecology and conservation genetics of this species remains limited. As a result, this PhD research was developed to fill this need. Based on three years of data collection, a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, mathematical modelling and genetic analyses, were employed in an attempt to answer questions of relevance to the future conservation management of this species.<br/>Modelling smooth snake occupancy of remnant heathland patches using an information-theoretic approach showed patch size and the percentage of grassland in surrounding matrix habitats to be the primary determinants of smooth snake presence. Field-based studies based on 27 arrays of artificial refugia showed the size of trees and prey abundance to be important in determining mean smooth snake capture rates at occupied sites.<br/>Eight previously described microsatellite markers were used to complete the first assessments of the genetic population structure of C. austriaca at two spatial scales. Initial fine-scale analysis of structuring based on 11 sampling localities within a heathland/coniferous forest mosaic found significant population structuring as a result of isolation-by-distance effects, in addition to evidence of male-biased dispersal. At the wider scale, analysis of seven distinct populations across Dorset also found small but significant differences in genetic diversity. The observed patterns were not consistent with isolation-by-distance effects, nor was there any evidence of them being a result of habitat patch size or isolation. Phylogenetic analysis of the coarse-scale microsatellite data showed some evidence of population clustering based on their geographic locality in relation to the historical extent of Dorset’s heathland, suggesting they represent distinct management units.<br/>The reproductive ecology of C. austriaca was also examined using a combination of field data and microsatellite analysis. In contrast to continental populations, there was no relationship between female body size and litter size. However, there was a negative relationship between relative clutch mass and female body size, suggesting that there may be a trade-off between female survival and reproductive output. Microsatellite based genotyping of neonates from 16 litters born in the laboratory provides the first evidence of multiple paternity occurring in C. austriaca."],"dc:format":["text"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/72641/1/09Pernetta_PhD.pdf"],"dc:publisher.department":["Biological Sciences (pre 2011 reorg)","School of Biological Sciences"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Southampton"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/72641/"],"dc:title":["Population ecology and conservation genetics of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in a fragmented heath landscape"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["doctoral"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:36:10Z"}