Post-natal Movement, Habitat Use, and Hibernacula Selection of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in Southern New England
Barbara J. Nicholson1,*, Dennis P. Quinn2, and Marc A. Rivadeneyra3
1Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 06053. 2CTHerpConsultant, LLC, Plantsville, CT 06479. 327 Crows Nest Lane, Unit 4B, Danbury, CT 06810. *Corresponding author.
Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 27, Issue 2 (2020): 358–380
Abstract
Understanding movement patterns of hatchling Terrapene carolina carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) may be critical to guide conservation and management efforts since little is known about this early life-history stage. We used radio-telemetry to track 10 hatchling Eastern Box Turtles from 28 August 2012 to 21 August 2013 in Hamden, CT, to investigate postnatal movement patterns, habitat use, and hibernacula selection. We also report nest characteristics, clutch size, incubation length, hatching success, hibernation length, and overwintering mortality rates. The mean number of eggs laid in each of 5 nests was 5 (min–max = 1–6 eggs). Incubation varied from 83 to 97 days (mean = 90 days), and the overall hatching success rate was 63%. Hatchling movement (n = 6) was directional towards the north-northeast prior to hibernation. The mean distance hatchlings moved per day was 3.8 m. Mean total distance traveled was 131 m and mean straight-line distance from nest to hibernacula was 95 m. Average total distance turtles moved between observations in 2013 was significantly less than 2012 (P = 0.0001). The post-natal period averaged 35 days, with hibernation occurring before 12 October 2012. Hibernacula locations varied between partially canopied sites within the open fields and closed-canopy conditions on the forest/open-field interface. Hibernation duration averaged 177 days, with all juveniles emerging from hibernation before 6 April 2013. Movement patterns ceased to be directional after hibernation, suggesting the initiation of a home range. While dispersing from their nests, hatchlings selected microsites higher in shrub cover, and just before hibernation, microsites with higher sapling and tree cover. Following hibernation, juveniles did not return to pre-hibernation microhabitats, either in the woods or in fields. Following hibernation, juveniles continued to occupy open fields, but occupied microhabitats with partial canopy cover. A strong preference for microhabitats higher in shrub cover did not persist into the second year.
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