Habitat Use and Spatial Ecology of Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea Blandingii, on Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Mound City, Missouri
Date of Graduation
Spring 2004
Degree
Master of Science in Biology
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Brian Greene
Abstract
Information on movements and home range size of endangered vertebrates is essential to conservation planning. I studied the habitat use and spatial ecology of Blanding's turtle Emydoidea blandingii at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri at the southwestern limit of the species range. In Missouri, E. blandingii is known to occur in only three counties and is recognized as endangered. My capture efforts yielded only nine adult turtles and no juveniles, suggesting a small population size. I radio-tracked eight turtles (4 males, 4 females) during 2001-2003, including four individuals tracked in successive seasons. Mean movement rates were higher for males (mean = 107 m/d) than females (mean = 58 m/d). Home range sizes, estimated by 95% fixed kernel and minimum convex polygon methods, were considerably larger for males (890 ha) than for females (94.9 ha) and for other populations of this species. Overland movements were minimal compared to previous studies and were mainly limited to nesting forays. All monitored individuals exhibited a preference for wetlands dominated by cattail (Typha spp.), arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) and lotus (Nelumbo lutea). Turtles became dormant in October and hibernated within their summer activity areas.
Keywords
Blanding's turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, habitat use, spatial ecology, home range, fixed kernal, minimum convex polygon, conservation
Subject Categories
Biology
Copyright
© Lisa Lehnhoff
Recommended Citation
Lehnhoff, Lisa, "Habitat Use and Spatial Ecology of Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea Blandingii, on Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Mound City, Missouri" (2004). MSU Graduate Theses. 1224.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1224
Dissertation/Thesis
