Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
|
 |
|
Paterson, J. E., Steinberg, B. D., & Litzgus, J. D. (2012). Generally specialized or especially general? habitat selection by snapping turtles (chelydra serpentina) in central ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 90(2), 139–149.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (30 Jun 2012 22:01:42 UTC) Last edited by: Beate Pfau (01 Jul 2012 06:48:46 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: 10.1139/Z11-118 BibTeX citation key: Paterson2012b View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Chelydra serpentina, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Litzgus, Paterson, Steinberg Collection: Canadian Journal of Zoology |
Views: 4/446
Views index: 10% Popularity index: 2.5% |
| Abstract |
|
Habitat selection is the disproportionate use of habitat compared with availability. Many studies have focused on specialists, but few have considered habitat selection in populations that are generalists, which can be composed of generalist individuals or individuals that specialize on different habitats. We tested habitat selection and individual specialization in a northern population of a supposed generalist, the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina (L., 1758)), during the active season and winter using telemetry. Habitat selection was tested at two spatial scales by comparing random points to home ranges and turtle locations using Euclidean distances. Turtles selected home ranges from the habitats available in the population range. However, at the population level, all aquatic habitats were equally preferred, and the population behaved as a generalist owing to individuals specialized on different habitats. Over half of the individuals showed evidence of individual specialization on different habitat types. Turtles did not select habitat within home ranges during the active season, but overwintering turtles chose locations that were colder than haphazard stations in the same habitats, likely to reduce metabolic costs and the risk of acidosis. These findings have implications for the management of this species at risk and for understanding the evolution of resource generalization.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich Last edited by: Beate Pfau |