Literaturdatenbank
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Hoss, D. E., Hoss, C. R., & Gorgone, A. M. , Photography as a means of identification of individual eastern box turtles, terrapene carolina carolina (poster). Unpublished paper presented at 2013 Box Turtle Conservation Workshop.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:24:35 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: Hoss2013 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat - habitat, Jura - law, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Terrapene carolina Creators: Gorgone, Hoss, Hoss Collection: 2013 Box Turtle Conservation Workshop |
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| Abstract |
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Photographic techniques to identify individuals from their natural markings have been well established for many species, including turtles. The ability to identify individuals over long periods can be used for mark-recapture techniques which can provide information on movement, distribution and population size. Our objective was to determine if the patterns on the carapace of individual Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) could be a method to identify individuals and if this method could be used over period of years. Box turtles were captured opportunistically over a 12 year period on a 3.4 ha mostly wooded site in the eastern portion of Carteret County, North Carolina. All turtles were photographed, measured and weighed. During the study period, we captured and photographed 40 turtles that ranged from 2.8 to 15.2 cm straight plastron length. Sixteen turtles were captured more than once. The longest period between capture and subsequent recapture was nine years. The smallest turtles captured (less than 7 cm in plastron length) had not developed the adult markings on the carapace. Turtles greater than 7 cm in plastron length, at time of capture, had developed the adult pattern and showed no change in shell pattern when recaptured. This method of “marking” turtles may be a valuable tool for citizen scientist projects in that it is inexpensive, easy to accomplish and is non-invasive to the turtle. We conclude that photography can be used as a non-invasive method for identifying individual eastern box turtles.
Added by: Admin |