Date of Graduation
12-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biological Sciences
Advisor/Mentor
Willson, J.D.
Committee Member/Reader
Douglas, Michael
Committee Member/Second Reader
Coridan, Robert
Committee Member/Third Reader
Chapman, Kate
Abstract
Urbanization of landscapes, resulting in habitat degradation, loss, and fragmentation, is a significant contributor to the global decline of reptile biodiversity. Although translocation is a common management strategy for wildlife populations subject to urbanization, the efficacy of reptile translocation studies, including those of box turtles (Terrapene spp.), is highly variable. Hard-release translocation of box turtles has often proven ineffective due to homing attempts and rapid post-translocation movements. Some studies have presented soft-release as a possible method for mitigation of the negative effects of hard-release, yet those studies have also produced mixed results. Therefore, I radiotracked 18 translocated Terrapene carolina triunguis in an urbanizing area of Northwest Arkansas to determine whether long-term (> 1 year) holding at an off-site location prior to translocation could be an effective alternative to soft- and hard-release translocations. I found that turtles held long-term before a short-distance translocation moved significantly shorter distances each day post-release than hard-released turtles. Turtles held long-term also moved in nondirectional, random orientations, whereas hard-released turtles exhibited consistent directionality in movements back towards their initial capture (home) locations. These results suggest that long-term holding of box turtles prior to translocation could significantly reduce homing responses and wandering, thus increasing the efficacy of translocation efforts.
Keywords
Terrapene carolina triunguis, urbanization, translocation, Northwest Arkansas
Citation
Hays, E. D. (2022). Evaluating Translocation Strategies for Box Turtles in Urbanizing Landscapes. Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/biscuht/70