Reproductive Phenology and Output in Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene bauri) in Southwestern Florida

Donini, Jordan; Speer, Rebecca B.; Morton, J. R.

doi:10.2744/ccb-1539.1

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…At a location near the study sites, average monthly climate was similar throughout the study period with the exception of July for temperature, one August for precipitation, and one July and one September for dew point. Although we did not record body temperature of turtles or microclimates, several studies have found that box turtle movement can be influenced by temperature, precipitation, and humidity (Reagan, 1974; Adams et al, 1989; Dodd et al, 1994; Nieuwolt, 1996; Claussen et al, 1997; Dodd, 2001; Converse and Savidge, 2003; Plummer, 2003; Tucker et al, 2015, Suriyamongkol et al, 2021). Both hatchling and adult Ornate Box Turtles in Wisconsin exhibited thermal plasticity (Ellner and Karasov, 1993; Curtin, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Home Range, Movement Patterns, and Habitat Use of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) Differ Among Age Classes?

Bernstein

Fendrich

McCollum

2023

Journal of Herpetology

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Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) exist in few large, reproductive populations in Iowa. Little is known about the home range, movements, and habitat use of neonates and young turtles or how movements change during maturation. We tracked four age classes of turtles from 2011 to 2016 and calculated weekly minimum convex polygon home range, every-other-day linear distance moved, habitat, microhabitat, and vegetation cover. We divided the active season into three blocks of time based on established patterns of behavior in Ornate Box Turtles. Age was the only significant factor explaining larger home ranges in older turtles during May and June–July, but there were no significant differences during August–September. However, linear distance moved significantly increased with age during all time periods. Turtles were mainly found in prairie or shrub–prairie habitats, but older turtles were more likely to move farther away from the nesting/breeding/overwintering area. While often on the surface, all age groups were found primarily under vegetation, shrubs, or trees that provided >95% vegetation cover. We suggest that habitat management for this state-threatened species consider the diverse habitats and area needed by all age classes.

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