Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Gangloff, E., Nash, A.-E., & Scupin, J. (2007). A preliminary report on the status of the ornate box turtle (terrapene ornata) in the sandhills of eastern colorado Colorado Reptile Humane Society.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:24:26 UTC) |
| Resource type: Report/Documentation BibTeX citation key: Gangloff2007a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Terrapene ornata Creators: Gangloff, Nash, Scupin Publisher: Colorado Reptile Humane Society |
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| Abstract |
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Future Directions This has been a successful first year in what will be a long-term study of ornate box turtles. In the summer of 2008, we hope to receive funding to attach iButtons and radiotransmitters to turtles, which will provide valuable data about temperature preferences, thermoregulation, micro- and macrohabitat use, home range size, and water sources. Additionally, observation of day-to-day box turtle activities, including thread trailing and direct observation, will provide data about water and food sources, locomotion, travel preferences, and reproduction. These data will be collected by intensive observations over short periods of time (e.g., watching one turtle for a 24- hour period) and by long-term tracking. These data will be invaluable in assessing the box turtle’s status on the eastern plains and sandhills of Colorado and in developing conservation measures, should any be necessary. This is especially prescient given that the eastern plains of Colorado are under enormous pressure from human development and all signs indicate that this will increase in the years to come. The proposed Prairie Falcon Parkway Express (the “Super-Slab” toll road) would have an enormous impact on Terrapene ornata and other plains-dwelling fauna and flora, essentially extending the suburban development of the Front Range several hundred miles east. Beginning in the summer of 2009, we hope to add an additional element to the study: blood and DNA sampling. With a veterinarian or university partnership, these data could be used to establish population migrations over time, genetic drift in isolated populations, displacement of individuals from human intervention, level of genetic diversity and hence extinction probability in fragmented populations, and other information necessary to understand how a population remains viable over time. Establishing blood level norms, like the size to mass ratio discussed above, has useful applications for those of us who care for these animals in captivity; current knowledge and methods often indicate an illness only after it is beyond treatment. These field observations are labor intensive. This year, we successfully arranged a partnership with P.S. 1 Charter School, a small urban middle and high school in Denver. A group of 21 students spent two days in the field, locating turtles and recording observations. Such a large number of eyes conducting visual surveys increased efficiency greatly. Additionally, such partnerships promote environmental awareness and instill responsible stewardship attitudes in young people. We intend for this partnership to expand in the coming years, thus allowing the project to serve the double purposes of the collection of scientific data and educational outreach. The current status of Terrapene ornata is unknown in Colorado; anecdotal evidence and trends in other locations indicate a dire need to conduct studies so that its status, and protection if needed, can be established. The Colorado Box Turtle Project intends to provide some of these data as well as spearhead conservation efforts.
Added by: Admin |