Exploring the Role of Prey Availability as a Driver of Seasonal Shifts in Local Distribution of Vipers (Trimeresurus spp)
Issued Date
2026-07-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20457758
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105043846937
Journal Title
Ecology and Evolution
Volume
16
Issue
7
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Ecology and Evolution Vol.16 No.7 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Murray A.H., Pandelis G.G., Page M.A., Sumpanpa T., Charunrochana P.T., Meik J.M. Exploring the Role of Prey Availability as a Driver of Seasonal Shifts in Local Distribution of Vipers (Trimeresurus spp). Ecology and Evolution Vol.16 No.7 (2026). doi:10.1002/ece3.73791 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/117926
Title
Exploring the Role of Prey Availability as a Driver of Seasonal Shifts in Local Distribution of Vipers (Trimeresurus spp)
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Predator–prey interactions play a central role in shaping ecological communities, yet how these dynamics shift seasonally in tropical systems remains poorly understood. In this study, we examine how seasonal variation in precipitation and prey availability influence the distribution and abundance of arboreal pitvipers (Trimeresurus spp.) in northern Thailand. Using repeated transect surveys across wet and dry seasons, we found that Trimeresurus were restricted to streamside habitats during the dry season but expanded their local distribution to include adjacent hillsides during the wet season. Amphibians, a primary prey group for Trimeresurus, showed a similar seasonal pattern—highly concentrated near streams during the dry season but dispersed during the wet season. However, snake abundance did not track overall amphibian abundance. Instead, Trimeresurus spp. were more closely associated with the presence of rhacophorid tree frogs only, exhibiting significantly higher abundance in areas where these frogs occurred. These findings highlight the importance of prey identity, not just abundance, in shaping predator distribution, and demonstrate how seasonal shifts in prey availability can structure predator spatial ecology in tropical forests.