Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Swarth, C. W., & Quinlan, M. M. , Differences in the home range of male and female eastern box turtles. Paper presented at Third Box Turtle Conservation Workshop.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:33:47 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Swarth2007 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Quinlan, Swarth Collection: Third Box Turtle Conservation Workshop |
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| Abstract |
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From 2000 through 2005, we used radio telemetry to study the home range characteristics of 50 box turtles (28 females, 15 males, and 7 juveniles) inhabiting a deciduous forest adjacent to a freshwater wetland. Our 53 ha study site within the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (76.7o Long; 38.8o Lat) includes forests, managed meadows, wetlands and streams along the Patuxent River in central Maryland. This site is also a component of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Mean female box turtle home range size was 6.2 ha (sd =7.0), whereas the mean size of male home ranges was only 1.2 ha (sd=0.61). Sixteen of 31 female home ranges exceeded 4 ha, and seven female home ranges exceeded 10 ha in size. By tracking the same five females over several seasons we obtained a more accurate home range estimate because individual size can vary considerably from one year to the next. Most females made extensive use of tidal wetlands and managed meadows, however males restricted their activities primarily to forests. Meadows were used in June for nesting. Females used wetlands for feeding, thermoregulation and probably for restoring moisture lost during nesting forays in dry, exposed habitats. The differences in home range size is related mostly to female’s need to travel to meadows for nesting and to wetlands where they rehydrate and foraging. An appreciation of gender-based differences in home range can aid conservation efforts aimed at protecting all the various habitats that are required.
Added by: Admin |