Home range and movement of the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) in East Central Illinois

Baker, Jeanne M.

Home range and movement of the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) in East Central Illinois

Baker, Jeanne M.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14728

Description

Title

Home range and movement of the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) in East Central Illinois

Author(s)

Baker, Jeanne M.

Issue Date

2010-01-06T16:42:00Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Phillips, Christopher A.

Department of Study

School of Integrative Biology

Discipline

Biology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

Terrapene carolina
Eastern Box Turtle
Home range
Nesting

Abstract

Studying the ecology of terrestrial turtle species provides understanding of their spatial needs. Radio-telemetry was used to study the home range size, movement, habitat use, and nesting of Terrapene carolina. Minimum Convex Polygons (MCP) and Kernel Density Estimates at 95, 75, and 50% were used to measure home range size. Mean home range size was 7.4 ha (MCP) and 5.3 ha (95% Kernel). On average 76% of MCPs were overlapped by other radioed individuals. The home ranges were randomly distributed across the study site (p= 0.12, α= 0.05). Mean daily straight-line distance traveled was 31.5 meters. Most turtles traveled to locations that displayed clustered patterns. Turtles were most frequently radio-located to upland forests. In 2008, twelve Terrapene carolina were observed nesting. Nesting conditions and incubation temperatures were measured. Ten T. carolina nests were caged to protect from depredation and the mean hatching success for these nests was 85%.

Graduation Semester