Literaturdatenbank
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Haag, H., & Walton, E. M. , Spatial analysis of microhabitat resource preferences of eastern box turtles - abstract. Unpublished paper presented at Program and Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:22:51 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: Haag2012 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Terrapene carolina Creators: Haag, Walton Collection: Program and Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles |
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| Abstract |
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the association of box turtle captures with habitat resource selection within a 22- acre research site on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) campus. Previous analyses determined that box turtle captures were strongly correlated with downed logs and the existing deer trail. However, turtle capture locations from the 2010-2011 seasons may have been biased because turtle traps were placed in locations that were easily accessible to humans, most notably in this case, clustered in close proximity to deer trails. The purpose of this study was to use spatial analysis to identify microhabitat resource preferences of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), such as downed logs and depressions, within the research area. The entire research site was surveyed and locations of downed logs and depressions were recorded. A combination of geospatial techniques were utilized to map these resources in relation to turtle capture locations including density grid analysis and spatial regression analysis. Density analysis of log count by grid block indicated that the highest densities of downed logs, depressions, and streams were located in the grid blocks covering forest and partial forest microhabitats. There was a stronger correlation (r = 0.51) between depressions and turtle captures than the weaker correlation (r = 0.27) between downed logs and turtle captures. While correlation values were weak, this may be the result of trap placement along a path of least resistance for humans, creating biased density results. Future trap placement will utilize these findings by placing traps within map grids that have the greatest densities of logs and depressions to determine whether previous studies were biased due to selection of trap placement. Areas of turtle densities and captures may change when trap placement is more evenly distributed within the research site and closer to downed logs, depressions and aquatic resources.
Added by: Admin |