Reproduction and Diet of Kinosternon Odoratum Inhabiting a Cold Water Reservoir in Southwest Missouri

Kinosternon odoratum were collected from two habitats on Lake Taneycomo, a hypothermic cove (Rockaway Slough) and a normothermic cove (Bull Creek), from April 1993 through August 1994. Dietary analysis showed a significant difference between sites in the frequency of food items taken. There were no significant differences in the volume of food items taken between sites or between sexes at each site. Mean annual reproductive potential was 9.75 for Bull Creek and 8.21 for Rockaway Slough (P=0.0083) as a result of the significantly higher clutch frequency at Bull Creek (3.00 clutches/year) compared to Rockaway Slough (2.70 clutches/year) (P=0.0468). No significant differences were found in the mean clutch size (P=0.3193). Plastron length-annual reproductive potential regression analysis indicated a positive significant regression analysis (P=0.007), however; there were no significant differences between the slopes (P=0.495) or the intercepts (P=0.439) of the regression lines. Regression analyses of plastron length verses relative clutch mass and egg mass index showed no significant regression (r²=0.0). Sex ratios of males to females were 1.2:1.0 for Bull Creek and 1.0:1.3 for Rockaway Slough. These were not significantly different from each other or from a 1.0:1.0 (x²=3.84).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year

1996

Author dc:creator

• Davis, Stacey D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Don Moll

• Biology

Statement dc:rights

• © Stacey D Davis

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/130

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1131