Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Holm, J. A. (2003). Microhabitat properties, usage, spatial movements, and home ranges of the ornate box turtle, terrapene ornata, in the monahans sandhills of west texas. Unpublished thesis MS, Angelo State University, St. Angelo, Texas.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:37:16 UTC) Last edited by: Beate Pfau (13 Dec 2010 10:39:27 UTC) |
| Resource type: Thesis/Dissertation BibTeX citation key: Holm2003 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Terrapene, Terrapene ornata Creators: Holm Publisher: Angelo State University (St. Angelo, Texas) |
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| Abstract |
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This study examined microhabitat properties, spatial use patterns, and home range data of a Texas population of the ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata, located in the zone of intergradation between the two recognized subspecies, T. ornata ornata and T. ornata luteola. The study site consists of 146-hectares in Monahans Sandhills State Park. A total of 124 turtles were captured 369 times during the spring, summer, and fall of 2002, of which 21 captures provided thread trail data. Thread trail data showed they are capable of moving at least 290 meters a day. Home ranges were calculated from seven turtles that were captured at least eight times each. Home ranges, calculated as minimum convex polygons, (MCP), ranged from 0.73 to 3.28 ha, with an average of 2.27 ha, and as greatest linear measure, 173 to 368 meters, with an average of 278.6 meters. These home range estimates are comparable with estimates from Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico populations. Box turtles are non-randomly distributed in MSSP with respect to percent cover of vegetation types. They exhibited uni-modal and bi-modal daily activity patterns. Results showed that turtles restrict their active periods due to the available thermal environment across their eight-month active season.
Added by: Admin Last edited by: Beate Pfau |