Literaturdatenbank
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Kornilev, Y. V. (2008). Behavioral ecology and effects of disturbance on the suwannee cooter (pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) in a blackwater spring-fed river. Unpublished thesis , University of Florida.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (27 Mar 2011 16:16:40 UTC) |
| Resource type: Thesis/Dissertation BibTeX citation key: Kornilev2008 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Pseudemys, Pseudemys concinna, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Kornilev Publisher: University of Florida |
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| Abstract |
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Riverine turtles in blackwater streams are generally understudied, but their populations are declining due to numerous anthropogenic factors. In 2007, I studied a population of the Suwannee Cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), a turtle endemic to Florida, in the springfed tannic Santa Fe River. I found an abundant and healthy population of 32 individuals / ha, including all size classes. I obtained thermal profiles of 10 free-ranging individuals using miniature dataloggers. I failed to detect differences in thermal preference based on sex, but gathered support for the hypothesis that even in thermally stable and warm aquatic environments, aerial basking has thermoregulatory significance for the Cooters. Pronounced individual variation was evident in movement patterns: some individuals covered long distances quickly (more than 5 km in 7 days) while others maintained limited home ranges of less than 200 m. Limited paddle boating had no detected effects on the population. Continued and long-term research and monitoring will provide more needed biological information to be used in better conservation management. Not exceeding the existing levels of river use and banning the take of freshwater turtles should provide protection to the population.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |