Home Range and Habitat use of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the Northern Georgia Piedmont
Primary Faculty Mentor’s Name
Dr. N.L. Hyslop
Proposal Track
Student
Session Format
Poster
Abstract
Home Range and Habitat use of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the Northern Georgia Piedmont
Hannah Smith, Krista Valetutto, Dr. N.L. Hyslop, Dr. J.L. Mook
The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a terrestrial turtle species found throughout the Eastern United States. Although this species is considered vulnerable according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, data regarding habitat use and home range is limited, especially in the northern Piedmont region of Georgia. In addition, little research has been done on the effects of an invasive plant species on habitat use by Terrapene carolina. Turtles were hand captured at Tumbling Creek Nature Preserve located on the Gainesville campus of The University of North Georgia in Oakwood, GA. Turtles were located on foot using radiotelemetry 1-2 times per week. Microhabitat data collected at radiolocations included type of understory and overstory vegetation cover, environmental temperatures, turtle temperatures and forest stand basal area. We used 100% minimum complex polygons to estimate individual home range area used during foraging, mating, resting, traveling, and overwintering. We also used Kernel Density Estimation to see approximate duration spend in each macrohabitat. To date, we have collected 5-134 radiolocations per individual. Home ranges varied from 0.16 to 6.10 ha. Turtles primarily used upland habitats dominated by native vegetation (37%), with use of uplands dominated by Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense; 50%), clear cut land (9%), and wetland habitats (4%). Assessment of home ranges and habitat use will continue through 2016 as we maintain tracking efforts and include additional sites in our study. We will also assess potential changes in microhabitat use by turtles as efforts are implemented to remove much of the existing Chinese Privet located on our study site.
Keywords
Terrapene carolina, radiotelemetry, home range, habitat use, Ligustrum sinense
Award Consideration
1
Location
Concourse and Atrium
Presentation Year
2015
Start Date
11-7-2015 2:10 PM
End Date
11-7-2015 3:20 PM
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Smith, Hannah P.; Valetutto, Krista M.; and Gedeon, Bianca, "Home Range and Habitat use of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the Northern Georgia Piedmont" (2015). Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (2014-2015). 25.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gurc/2015/2015/25
Home Range and Habitat use of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the Northern Georgia Piedmont
Concourse and Atrium
Home Range and Habitat use of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the Northern Georgia Piedmont
Hannah Smith, Krista Valetutto, Dr. N.L. Hyslop, Dr. J.L. Mook
The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a terrestrial turtle species found throughout the Eastern United States. Although this species is considered vulnerable according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, data regarding habitat use and home range is limited, especially in the northern Piedmont region of Georgia. In addition, little research has been done on the effects of an invasive plant species on habitat use by Terrapene carolina. Turtles were hand captured at Tumbling Creek Nature Preserve located on the Gainesville campus of The University of North Georgia in Oakwood, GA. Turtles were located on foot using radiotelemetry 1-2 times per week. Microhabitat data collected at radiolocations included type of understory and overstory vegetation cover, environmental temperatures, turtle temperatures and forest stand basal area. We used 100% minimum complex polygons to estimate individual home range area used during foraging, mating, resting, traveling, and overwintering. We also used Kernel Density Estimation to see approximate duration spend in each macrohabitat. To date, we have collected 5-134 radiolocations per individual. Home ranges varied from 0.16 to 6.10 ha. Turtles primarily used upland habitats dominated by native vegetation (37%), with use of uplands dominated by Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense; 50%), clear cut land (9%), and wetland habitats (4%). Assessment of home ranges and habitat use will continue through 2016 as we maintain tracking efforts and include additional sites in our study. We will also assess potential changes in microhabitat use by turtles as efforts are implemented to remove much of the existing Chinese Privet located on our study site.
