Literaturdatenbank
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Atkinson, B. K. , The ecology, demography, home range and microhabitat utilization of the alligator snapping turtle, macrochelys temminckii in the santa fe river. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 16:50:04 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Atkinson2006 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Chelydridae, Habitat = habitat, Macrochelys, Macrochelys temminckii, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Atkinson Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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Our team is studying an assumed un-harvested population of Macrochelys temminckii in a relatively pristine habitat within historic O’Leno State Park near High Springs, Florida. The Santa Fe River population comprises the southeastern-most limit of the range of the species. In addition, previously published studies have determined that the Suwannee River drainage system hosts a genetically distinctive and evolutionarily divergent population, and that this lineage deserves special conservation attention. Our trapping efforts have begun with encouraging success. All turtles captured are subject to routine data collection including standard morphometrics, then marked, photographed, and released. The Santa Fe and its surrounding karst topography are dynamic, and the habitats (and microhabitats) are highly variable. Sink lakes abound and the river itself “sinks” underground for approximately three miles before resurfacing in the adjacent River Rise State Preserve. Food items are abundant and the river is home to healthy populations of fishes and a variety of mollusks. We hope to expand our trapping and observational experiments by incorporating sonic telemetry, which has not been used with Florida Macrochelys. The Santa Fe River will allow a window into the mysterious habits of the alligator snapping turtle. We anticipate an important and well-informed study of the regional and cryptic ecology of North America’s largest freshwater turtle.
Added by: Admin |