"Home Range and Nocturnal Activity of the Ozark Hellbender" by Charles E. Coatney

Home Range and Nocturnal Activity of the Ozark Hellbender

Date of Graduation

Spring 1982

Degree

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Robert Wilkinson

Abstract

Radio-telemetric methods were used to determine home ranges and nocturnal activity of seven Ozark hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishipi, in the North Fork of the White River, Ozark County, Missouri, during a 14 day period in August, 1979. The mean elliptical home range for combined sexes was 90.01 m² (82.92 m² for males, 99.43 m² for females). The nocturnal activity rhythms were monophasic with a mean peak of 1.8 m of movement during the 2 hour time interval shortly after the onset of darkness. The mean direction of nocturnal movement was 296.63° which closely corresponds to the upstream direction of 295°. At dawn they returned to their "home rock" and remained in that area until dusk.

Subject Categories

Biology

Copyright

© Charles E Coatney

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Dissertation/Thesis

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