Lower Wilson Creek NC Reptiles 23 



data at the two sites were compared with paired /-tests. Statistical sour- 

 ces were Sokal and Rohlf (1969) and Rohlf and Sokal (1969). Signifi- 

 cance levels of P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 are indicated throughout this 

 paper by one (*) and two (**) asterisks, respectively. 



RESULTS 



Fourteen species of reptiles were found at the study site (Table 1). 

 Local residents also reported that rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus Lin- 

 naeus, were occasionally seen in the area. A medium-sized black snake 

 seen but not captured was probably a black rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta 

 (Say). Most species found along Wilson Creek are those to be expected 

 in the mountains, but four species represent significant range extensions 

 into this part of North Carolina of forms that are usually in lower, 

 warmer areas. These species are the anole; the ground skink, Scincella 

 laterale (Say); the southeastern five-lined skink, Eumeces inexpectatus 

 Taylor; and the southeastern crowned snake, Tantilla coronata Baird 

 and Girard. 



Lower Wilson Creek is apparently an unusual microclimate in the 

 mountains. It is wetter and warmer than the Lenoir area, where the 

 unusual species do not occur. Annual precipitation averaged 136.9 cm 

 (53.9 in) at Wilson Creek and 125.3 cm (49.3 in) at Lenoir. In matched 

 data for 15 years prior to 1980, annual and monthly averages were 

 higher at Wilson Creek (**), with differences of 0.23 to 1.7 cm (0.09- 

 0.67 in). 



Figure 1 shows the relationship between daily minimum tempera- 

 tures at Wilson Creek and Lenoir. The regression is highly significant 

 (**) and indicates not only that Wilson Creek is warmer but also that 

 the magnitude of the difference is greatest when the temperature is low- 

 est. At 0°C in Lenoir, Wilson Creek should be about 3.8° C. Wilson 

 Creek was cooler than Lenoir on only six of the 186 days (**, sign test). 

 Daily maximum temperatures at the sites are presented in figure 2. The 

 regression is highly significant (**), and the two sites are rather differ- 

 ent. Wilson Creek had lower maximum temperatures 169 of 178 days 

 (**, sign test). There is about 2°C difference between the sites at 0°C in 

 Lenoir, but this difference gets larger as do maximum temperatures. 

 Daily temperature ranges are narrower at Wilson Creek than at Lenoir. 

 Monthly means of minimum daily temperature at Lenoir (49 years) and 

 estimates for Wilson Creek are presented in figure 3. Wilson Creek is 

 generally warmer and does not have a month with a mean low tempera- 

 ture below freezing; even in winter there are numerous warmer days. 

 Coldest temperatures recorded during the study were -12°C (10° F) at 

 Wilson Creek and -15° C (5° F) at Lenoir. 



