An Analysis of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) on Age, Sex and Habitat Population Sizes

The Eastern Box Turtle (terrapene carolina carolina) is a rapidly declining species in many urban areas of North America. However, there are less research on rural box turtle populations. In this project, an analysis on turtle populations of habitat type, age and sex were discovered. After six weeks of fieldwork research, 105 turtles were discovered on 408 acres of The Clifton Institute’s property. Out of 105 turtles, five turtles had radio transmitters to discover the average home range of the turtles. To gather analysis, radio telemetry was used for the radio-tracked turtles, and the surveyed turtles were observed through a marked-recapture technique. Once discovering the average home range of the turtles on QGIS, the turtles on average do not move far distances, as the property has adequate vegetation, shade, and water on the preserve. Although, the females traveled farther than males in this experiment. During analysis, the Schumacher-Eschmeyer method was used to determine population estimates. There are an estimated 435 turtles on site, with 203 projected males and 245 projected females. This research contradicts many studies focusing on urbanized turtle populations, with the premier cause of turtle mortality stemming from females making vehicular contacts on roads. In addition, the most precise populated habitat was the mature forest over the wetlands. The discovery contradicted the original hypothesis that turtles preferred to live closer to water than the forest.

The Eastern Box Turtle (terrapene carolina carolina) is a rapidly declining species in many urban areas of North America. However, there are less research on rural box turtle populations. In this project, an analysis on turtle populations of habitat type, age and sex were discovered. After six weeks of fieldwork research, 105 turtles were discovered on 408 acres of The Clifton Institute’s property. Out of 105 turtles, five turtles had radio transmitters to discover the average home range of the turtles. To gather analysis, radio telemetry was used for the radio-tracked turtles, and the surveyed turtles were observed through a marked-recapture technique. Once discovering the average home range of the turtles on QGIS, the turtles on average do not move far distances, as the property has adequate vegetation, shade, and water on the preserve. Although, the females traveled farther than males in this experiment. During analysis, the Schumacher-Eschmeyer method was used to determine population estimates. There are an estimated 435 turtles on site, with 203 projected males and 245 projected females. This research contradicts many studies focusing on urbanized turtle populations, with the premier cause of turtle mortality stemming from females making vehicular contacts on roads. In addition, the most precise populated habitat was the mature forest over the wetlands. The discovery contradicted the original hypothesis that turtles preferred to live closer to water than the forest.