Change in the Guild Structure of a Snake Community in Japan over 30 Years

Long-term field studies have provided evidence of worldwide declines in vertebrate populations, including amphibians and reptiles. However, investigating the decline snake populations are scarce. As obligate predators, snakes play important roles local ecosystems turn affected by their food resources. In present study we investigated seasonal abundance habits a rice paddy compared results with those previous that was conducted at same site approximately 30 years ago. Our showed Elaphe quadrivirgata, dietary generalist had been one dominant species site, has drastically declined Rhabdophis tigrinus Gloydius blomhoffii remained as species. Furthermore, study, most stomach contents R. consisted Japanese tree frog, Dryophytes japonicus, whereas three frog species, D. Rana japonica, Pelophylax porosus porosus, main prey addition, fewer individuals G. contained stomachs than findings imply change availability may guild structure this although further investigation is necessary to verify reasons for generalist, E. quadrivirgata.