Spatial Heterogeneity of Surface Topography in Peatlands: Assessing Overwintering Habitat Availability for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) relies on small-scale differences in peatland surface elevation to survive harsh overwintering conditions at the northern limit of its range. We characterized the spatial heterogeneity of surface topography in peatlands within the eastern Georgian Bay rock barrens landscape of Ontario, Canada, to assess available snake overwintering habitat. At six peatlands, we used a differential global positioning system to collect surface-elevation data. We created spatially-explicit surface models to map peatland surface topography, quantify habitat that was likely to remain unflooded during the overwintering period, and identify key characteristics associated with greater habitat availability. While surface elevations were spatially heterogeneous within and among sites, larger peatlands were associated with greater surface spatial variability relative to the lowest elevation measured within each site. However, even peatlands with very little spatial heterogeneity (average of 0.24 m above lowest elevation), provided unflooded overwintering habitat. Inter-annual weather conditions and peatland and watershed characteristics likely control the availability and distribution of unflooded overwintering habitat. We found that trees, specifically white pine (Pinus strobus) and maple (Acer spp.), were spatially associated with higher surface elevations and could be used to identify areas of unflooded winter habitat. Our findings are useful for landscape-scale assessments of available overwintering habitat to prioritize conservation and management efforts.