Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Davis, C. , Reducing box turtle mortality during landscape rehabilitation at gettysburg national military park. Paper presented at Third Box Turtle Conservation Workshop.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:33:42 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Davis2007a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Terrapene, Terrapene carolina Creators: Davis Collection: Third Box Turtle Conservation Workshop |
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| Abstract |
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Gettysburg National Military Park, located in south central Pennsylvania, is actively managing its landscape to recreate its 1863 Civil War appearance. Part of this management includes the conversion of a 10 acre oak hickory forest into 6 acres of shrub thicket and the remaining acreage into native grassland. Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) are present within the forested project area and the methods used to remove the trees (clear cutting and dragging out trees on skid trails) can result in box turtle mortality. In an effort to reduce mortality, box turtles are being temporarily relocated until the cutting is completed. Throughout late summer and fall of 2006 over 50 box turtles were removed from the project area and placed in a temporary turtle holding pen measuring ¼ acre in size located in a woodlot adjacent to the cutting. However, due to an unseasonably warm and wet winter the cutting of the project area was delayed and the turtles were released the following spring. Of the 50 turtles released from the turtle holding pen many were later recaptured and had traveled up to 400 meters back to their original locations, demonstrating the turtles’ homing ability. In late-summer of 2007 the cutting of the project area finally began. Once again, an effort is being made to remove turtles and place them in the turtle holding pen. Cutting in this area is expected to be completed by late August or early September 2007. At that time turtles will be released from the pen. Long term mark recapture monitoring will continue in the area to determine the success of the initiative.
Added by: Admin |