Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Giovanetto, L. A. (1992). Population ecology and relative abundance of sympatric freshwater turtles in the headwaters of two spring–fed rivers in western peninsular florida. Unpublished thesis , Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:24:29 UTC) |
| Resource type: Thesis/Dissertation BibTeX citation key: anon1992a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Apalone ferox, Chelydra serpentina, Chelydridae, Emydidae, Habitat - habitat, Kinosternidae, Nordamerika - North America, Pseudemys concinna, Pseudemys nelsoni, Pseudemys peninsularis, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Sternotherus minor, Trionychidae Creators: Giovanetto Publisher: Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, Florida) |
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| Abstract |
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Study sites were established in the headwaters of the Homosassa and Rainbow Rivers, both freshwater springs of first magnitude. Species richness of turtles and aquatic plants and % total cover of aquatic plants were higher in Rainbow River. Turtle captures in the Homosassa River ranging from the most to least abundant were the peninsula cooter (Pseudemys floridana peninsularis), Florida red-bellied turtle (~ nelsoni), Florida cooter (~~ floridana), and Suwannee cooter (~ concinna suwanniensis). In Rainbow River they were the Suwannee cooter, loggerhead musk turtle (Kinosternon minor minor), peninsula cooter, stinkpot turtle (K. odoratum), Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox), Florida red-bellied turtle, and the Florida snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina osceola). The Suwannee cooter (a species of special concern) had a much higher density in Rainbow River (40.41/ha) than in the Homosassa River (1.45/ha). Significant deviations in sex ratios from 1:1 were seen in Florida red-bel lied turtles (males > females) in the Homosassa River and in loggerhead musk turtles (males> females), peninsula cooters (males> females), stinkpot turtles (males > females) and Florida softshell turtles (males < females) in Rainbow River. The emydid turtles of Rainbow River were significantly smaller than the emydid turtles of the Homosassa River. A high proportion of the Suwannee cooters in Rainbow River (46.3%) were immature. The turtles of the Homosassa River and the peninsula cooters and Florida softshell turtles of Rainbow River exhibited at least moderate residency. Floating mats of vegetation, submergents < 50% water depth, and bare mud appeared equally important in habitat use overall in the Homosassa River, but a preference for floating mats was seen in the Florida red-bellied turtle. In Rainbow River emergent vegetation appeared to be most important and submergents ~ 50% water depth seemed least important overall. Here the only turtles exhibiting a preference were the Suwannee cooters (emergents) and the Florida softshell turtles (submergents < 50% water depth). The range of the Florida cooter appears to be extending southward in western peninsular Florida. The overall intergradation coefficient (I) of the peninsula and Florida cooters was higher in the Homosassa River (Ih = 2.25) than in Rainbow River (Ir = 0.93). Sternotherus Trionychidae
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