Populations and Home Range Relationships of the
Box Turtle
Populations and Home Range Relationships of the
Box Turtle
Emily MarquardtFebruary 15, 2007
Emily MarquardtFebruary 15, 2007
Box Turtle Life HistoryBox Turtle Life History
Live in mixed habitatwoods (thick leaf litter), open fields, streams
Omnivorous (mushrooms, berries, snails)
Long-lived (human lifespan)
Active April to October
Live in mixed habitatwoods (thick leaf litter), open fields, streams
Omnivorous (mushrooms, berries, snails)
Long-lived (human lifespan)
Active April to October
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AmericanNaturalist
1886
AmericanNaturalist
1886
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Lucille Stickel’s 1950 paper Populations and Home Range Relationships of the Box Turtle
Lucille Stickel’s 1950 paper Populations and Home Range Relationships of the Box Turtle
Goals:1) To understand the home range relationships
2) To determine the size of thepopulation
Goals:1) To understand the home range relationships
2) To determine the size of thepopulation
Home RangeHome Range
Definition
An area over which an animal normally travels in the course of its daily activities
Definition
An area over which an animal normally travels in the course of its daily activities
“E. T. Go Home”
MethodsMethodsCagle (1939)notching technique (mark-recapture)
Cagle (1939)notching technique (mark-recapture)
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MethodsMethods
Breder (1929)
Trailing Device with spindle of thread to track turtles
Breder (1929)
Trailing Device with spindle of thread to track turtles
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Travels of adult male during 8 days in 1945.
Ranges of 15 turtles occupying parts of a 5 acre plot.
Top: males, Bottom: females.
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MethodsMethods
Population Size estimated 2 ways:
1) By collections in one season2) Census trips, standardized for
time and procedure
Population Size estimated 2 ways:
1) By collections in one season2) Census trips, standardized for
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ResultsResults
2109 turtle collections in 3 years Adults occupy specific home
rangesaverage male: 330 ft, female: 370 feet
Some turtles have 2 home ranges Population size: 4.6 turtles/acre
2109 turtle collections in 3 years Adults occupy specific home
rangesaverage male: 330 ft, female: 370 feet
Some turtles have 2 home ranges Population size: 4.6 turtles/acre
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Box Turtle Population Research
1950 to present
Box Turtle Population Research
1950 to present Long term studies Genetics Herbivory Conservation
Long term studies Genetics Herbivory Conservation
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Population Tracking Techniques
Population Tracking Techniques
Mark-Recapturefiling notches on marginal scutes
Trailing devices Radio tagging GPS X-ray (eggs)
Mark-Recapturefiling notches on marginal scutes
Trailing devices Radio tagging GPS X-ray (eggs)
Long Term StudiesWildlife Research Center, MD
Long Term StudiesWildlife Research Center, MD
Changes in Population (Stickel 1978)
pronounced decline in population size -1965 to 1975 reduced by half
Home Range Behavior (Stickel 1989)
-size of home range did not differ significantly over 40 years
Fifty year trends in Population (Hall 1999)- greater than 75% decline in population-found individuals greater than 70 years old
Changes in Population (Stickel 1978)
pronounced decline in population size -1965 to 1975 reduced by half
Home Range Behavior (Stickel 1989)
-size of home range did not differ significantly over 40 years
Fifty year trends in Population (Hall 1999)- greater than 75% decline in population-found individuals greater than 70 years old
GeneticsGenetics
Promotion of Gene Flow by TransientsKiester et al. (1981)
Transient: turtle that moves through the environment without recrossing areas passed previously
Study documents true transients.- suggests their importance in maintaining
genetic similarity between populations and in aiding spread of advantageous genes
Promotion of Gene Flow by TransientsKiester et al. (1981)
Transient: turtle that moves through the environment without recrossing areas passed previously
Study documents true transients.- suggests their importance in maintaining
genetic similarity between populations and in aiding spread of advantageous genes
Genetic Effects of Persistent Bottleneck
Genetic Effects of Persistent Bottleneck
Kuo & Janzen (2004)
Loss of genetic diversity due to decrease in population size
Bottleneck effects are different for long-lived vs. short-lived species
Kuo & Janzen (2004)
Loss of genetic diversity due to decrease in population size
Bottleneck effects are different for long-lived vs. short-lived species
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Kuo & Janzen 2004 cont.Kuo & Janzen 2004 cont.
Used microsatellite markers asses genetic diversity of small disturbed vs. large undisturbed population
Computer simulations:effective population size for small pop. (to maintain 90% alleles) is:
300 over 200 yrs Long-live species could mask accelerated rate of genetic drift!
Used microsatellite markers asses genetic diversity of small disturbed vs. large undisturbed population
Computer simulations:effective population size for small pop. (to maintain 90% alleles) is:
300 over 200 yrs Long-live species could mask accelerated rate of genetic drift!
HerbivoryHerbivorySeed Dispersal by Florida Box
TurtleLiu et al. (2004)What plant species are dispersed? Does passage through turtle affect germination
rate and percentage?
Current Study by Chris SwarthMeasuring stable isotopes of C and N in toenails and comparing to wetland food items to determine habitats
Seed Dispersal by Florida Box Turtle
Liu et al. (2004)What plant species are dispersed? Does passage through turtle affect germination
rate and percentage?
Current Study by Chris SwarthMeasuring stable isotopes of C and N in toenails and comparing to wetland food items to determine habitats
ConservationConservation
Box Turtle Population Decline
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Pets Road Kill
Box Turtle Population Decline
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Pets Road Kill
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ConservationConservation
Natural History of Box Turtle in Urbanized Landscape
Budischak et al. (2006)
Turtles persist and grow more quickly in urbanized areas, but suffer higher mortality rates compared to forested landscapes
Natural History of Box Turtle in Urbanized Landscape
Budischak et al. (2006)
Turtles persist and grow more quickly in urbanized areas, but suffer higher mortality rates compared to forested landscapes
Estimating the Effects of Road Mortality on Turtle PopulationsEstimating the Effects of Road Mortality on Turtle PopulationsGibbs and Shriver 2002
Modeling study:integrated road maps & traffic-volume data
with movements of1)small-bodied pond turtles2) large-bodied pond turtles3) terrestrial & semi-terrestrial “land” turtles
Roads networks of Eastern and Central US will limit (3) and (2) but not (1).
Gibbs and Shriver 2002
Modeling study:integrated road maps & traffic-volume data
with movements of1)small-bodied pond turtles2) large-bodied pond turtles3) terrestrial & semi-terrestrial “land” turtles
Roads networks of Eastern and Central US will limit (3) and (2) but not (1).
Translocated Box TurtlesCook (2004)
Translocated Box TurtlesCook (2004)
Site: abandoned airport in NY, 500 ha335 turtles from Long Island
Dispersal, home range establishment, initial survival monitored (radio tracked)
Half developed home ranges28% died and 24% left site
Translocation potentially valuable but long term viability is uncertain
Site: abandoned airport in NY, 500 ha335 turtles from Long Island
Dispersal, home range establishment, initial survival monitored (radio tracked)
Half developed home ranges28% died and 24% left site
Translocation potentially valuable but long term viability is uncertain
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