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

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%.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Baker, Jeanne M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Phillips, Christopher A.

• Terrapene carolina
• Eastern Box Turtle
• Home range
• Nesting

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 Jeanne M. Baker

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

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

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/14728