Distribution & Habitat Preferences of the scorpion, Centruroides hentzi in central Florida State Parks

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1 Distribution & Habitat Preferences of the scorpion, Centruroides hentzi in central Florida State Parks Abraham Miller PhD & Jennifer Fernandes University of Tampa St. Petersburg College, Tarpon Springs

2 Scorpion Background Approx species worldwide All are nocturnal predators Glow green under UV light Give birth to live young Long lived (5+ years) All are venomous Paruroctonus boreus under blacklight Photo by Ryan Stork

3 Scorpion Background Major constituent of desert Biomass (Polis 1990) With exception of ants and termites, they have the greatest arthropod biomass Their biomass is higher than most vertebrates in the desert Paruroctonus boreus under blacklight Photo by Ryan Stork

4 Importance in Florida Scorpions are major invertebrate predators May represent healthy environment Don t disperse well Require other invertebrates May be a source for biological control Centruroides hentzi from Highlands Hammock State Park

5 Why C. hentzi in State parks? Photo: Guy E. Crauwels (C)

6 Lack of Information

7 Public Information in the Western US

8 Corey & Stout 1990

9 Corey & Stout 1990 Sampled 12 sites 6 arachnid orders; 14 species Scorpion: C. hentzi 4 th most abundant of all taxa 86% collected between July-September Juveniles in September No correlation with ground cover

10 Shelley & Sissom 1995

11 Questions What Florida State Parks have scorpions? How common are scorpions in Florida? What habitats do they occupy? What do they prey on?

Methods Blacklight collecting at night between Feb - Nov Used GPS to mark location Scorpion locations were recorded Amount of Moonlight Vegetation Type Vertical height Distance to nearest Pine Tree

12 Methods Blacklight collecting at night between Feb - Nov Used GPS to mark location Scorpion locations were recorded Amount of Moonlight Vegetation Type Vertical height Distance to nearest Pine Tree Distance to nearest Oak Tree Distance to nearest saw palmetto Laboratory Trial of Tree Preference Scorpions were placed in a large plastic container filled with sand Oak Log & Pine Log were placed vertically in the sand Scorpion location was recorded

13 What Florida State Parks have scorpions? 5 parks sampled in Central region

14 What Florida State Parks have scorpions? 7 parks sampled in Southwest region

15 Highlands Hammock S.P.

16 Highlands Hammock S.P.

17 Highlands Hammock S.P.

18 Highlands Hammock S.P.

19 Highlands Hammock S.P.

20 Habitat Preference 24% found on Saw Palmetto 1% found on Cabbage Palm % found on Pine Trees 1% found on Oak % found elsewhere (i.e. ground, pine needles, logs, etc.) 0 Pine Oak Cabbage Palm Saw Palm Other

21 Habitat Preference 24% found on Saw Palmetto 1% found on Cabbage Palm % found on Pine Trees 1% found on Oak % found elsewhere (i.e. ground, pine needles, logs, etc.) 0 Pine Oak Cabbage Palm Saw Palm Other

22 Experiment: Habitat Preference

23 Experiment: Habitat Preference Experimental set-up needs to be revised Scorpions disappeared for days at a time, which heavily skewed data Scorpions were seen (active) every 3-14 days Scorpions came out to feed 3-5% of Scorpions are active on any night (Polis 1990)

24 Experiment: Habitat Preference

shadow of the moon 160 140 120 100 143 80

25 Results: Negative Phototaxis 85% of scorpions collected were located in the shadow of the moon shadow partial shadow moonlight

26 Other Results Temporal Variation Full Moon at St. Sebastian 3/7-3/8/12 7 scorpions clear conditions 3 scorpions after rain Waning Moon at St. Sebastian 5/21/11 15 captured Moon had not risen yet Prey Spiders Caterpillars Solpugids Moths Crickets Lacewings Unaffected by fire

27 Other Results Vertical Stratification Do not burrow Have been seen at 5 meters up a pine tree Gravid Females Found in all areas Females carrying young All found associated with rotting logs on the ground Most (if not all) have termites Possible Food Source

28 Discussion Pine Trees & Saw Palmettos like offer the best refugia Poorly drained areas decrease dispersal capabilities There appears to be seasonality Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors Abundance Observed 30+/hr along 100m trail

29 Why not C. hentzi Walk?

30 CETL Funding Used to set up a lab at the TS campus to get SPC AA and BS students involved in scientific research Need to purchase Black lights Housing containers Building materials for behavioral studies and other experimental supplies Crickets and a terrarium to breed them Light timers Sand Dissecting microscope

31 Acknowledgements St Petersburg College Florida Biology Class for field help CETL Florida Department of Environmental Protection Collecting Permit

32 Thanks & Questions

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