University of Kent

Previous PhD students: Dr Stephen Green

CV

PhD research entitled "Ecology, conservation and commercial exploitation of the 'Hog Island' Boa constrictor in the Cayos Cochinos, Honduras".

The Cayos Cochinos Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)exists solely on two small islands in the Cayos Cochinos, approximately 17km north of the Honduran coast. These two populations of insular Boa constrictor differ from mainland populations in that they are dwarfed in size, have a lighter, pinker colouration and are typically more docile in nature.  Known in the pet trade as “Hog Island Boas” these two populations were subjected to a period of intense collection during the 1980’s to satisfy European and US markets.

By the early 1990’s it was reported within the trade community that Hog Island boas had gone extinct in the wild. In 1993 the area was declared a Biological Reserve and measures were taken to prevent further removal of boas from the area, however, no active population management was implemented. In 2004 the Honduran Coral Reef Fund (HCRF) requested that the current population and conservation status of the Cayos Cochinos Boa constrictor be investigated.

This research aims to address the following issues surrounding the conservation of this insular Boa constrictor.

• Population Estimate, Detectability and Survivorship – Using mark-recapture data gathered over a number of years the first assessment of current population levels, detectability and survivorship will be achieved for the Cayos Cochinos.
  
  
• Spatial Ecology, Movement and Habitat Use – Boas will be radio-tracked to monitor their habitat preferences and home range size.
  
  
• Conservation Value – Using a combination of mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite loci the level of genetic distinctiveness of the Cayos Cochinos boa will be determined.
  
  
• Origin of Animals in the Pet Trade - Data from this study will help to better identify the origin of animals within the captive population that are being traded under the name of “Hog Island” boas. It is widely suspected that such animals are often of mixed descent.
  
  
• Population Bottleneck – It is suspected that boas in the Cayos Cochinos fell to extremely low numbers as a result of over exploitation. I shall look for evidence of a genetic bottleneck and possible associated conservation issues.

Funding
DICE, University of Kent
Operation Wallacea

Further funding is needed to cover genetic research costs and maintain field equipment.

Publications
Reed, R.N., S.M. Boback, C.E. Montgomery, S. Green, Z. Stephens, and D. Watson.
Ecology and conservation of an exploited insular-endemic population of Boa
constrictor (Squamata: Boidae) in the Cayos Cochinos, Honduras. In: Biology of
the Boas and Pythons. R.W. Henderson, R. Powell, G.W. Schuett, and M.E.
Douglas eds., Eagle Mountain Publishing. In Press.

Reed, R.N., S. Green, S.M. Boback, and C.E. Montgomery. In press. Ctenosaura
melanosterna (Black-chested Ctenosaur). Attempted predation. Herpetologcial
Review.

Boback, S.M., C.E. Montgomery, R.N. Reed, and S. Green. In Press. Kinosternon
leucostomum (Mud Turtle). Herpetological Review.

Boback, S.M., C.E. Montgomery, R.N. Reed, and S. Green. In Press. Oxybelis aeneus
(Brown Vinesnake). Herpetological Review.