UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN

ANNOUNCEMENT

Florida International University

University Graduate School

Master’s Thesis Proposal Seminar

Abstract

Habitat Use and Seasonal Activity Patterns of the Florida Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri)

in the Florida Keys and Implications for Conservation and Management.

By

Emilie Verdon

This study will focus on the Florida box turtle, Terrapene carolina bauri, in the sub-tropical Florida Keys at the southernmost limit of its range. This turtle’s primary habitat in southern Florida is the pine rocklands, a globally endangered and fire dependent ecosystem. The strong rainfall-driven seasonality in this area resembles that of the tropics and not the temperate climate found in the northern parts of its range. These two important components of box turtle ecology, habitat and season, have not been thoroughly studied in this species in the southern part of Florida. Therefore, this study will offer a unique opportunity to expand our knowledge of this wide-ranging species. The main objectives of this project include determining population structure, habitat requirements, activity patterns, and fire ecology of the Florida box turtle. Three methods (mark-recapture, thread-trailing, and radio telemetry) will be used to estimate habitat use and activity patterns. I expect that the population in the Florida Keys will have activity patterns that resemble those of the tropical Mexican box turtles (T. c. mexicana and T. c. yucatana) more than T. c. bauri in central and northern Florida. Once this information is gathered, management and conservation plans can be made for this species. With box turtle populations declining and crucial habitat being destroyed, it is imperative to ascertain the status and habitat requirements of this species in southern Florida.

Date: May 1, 2002 Department: Biological Sciences

Time: 1:30 p.m. Major Professor: Dr. Maureen Donnelly

Place: Wertheim Conservatory