Title: The Population, Sexual Dimorphism, Home Range, and Recapture Analysis for Box

Turtles on the Lovett Campus in the Past 11 Years

Abstract:
A. What are the objectives of the study?
Since 1960, Lovetts box turtle population has been declining due to the construction and
building of five buildings, five athletic fields, and two athletic complexes as well. The objectives
of our study focused on the valleys on The Lovett School campus are to research box turtles,
examine their home ranges on campus, record baseline data including the turtles size, home
range location, behavioral habits, and identify the effects of habitat fragmentation on box turtles
on campus.
B. How was the study done?
Throughout one semester, using parallel telemetry, eastern box turtles were tracked and
then located once a week. Before this, we recorded the turtles sex, length, width, and depth.
When a turtle was first found, the date and location were recorded and put into a database. This
data was then used to find the turtles home range. This data, pertaining to the turtles that were
studied each semester, was added to data from previous years and contributed to an ongoing
12 year study
C. What results were obtained?
The results from the study show that the turtles habitat on the Lovett Campus is currently
sustaining the population. This is shown by the steady growth in the population over the years
and the low death rate. The low death rate also indicates that even when there is severe habitat
fragmentation, such as the construction of the baseball fields, the turtle population is able to
adapt in order to sustain itself.
D. What is the significance of the results?
The results are significant because they show that over a 12 year study, the forest
environment on The Lovett School Campus is able to support and sustain a healthy turtle
population. The fact that the turtles were able to sustain themselves after the construction of the
baseball fields which reduced the size of their habitat, is an important point to consider when
thinking about future development and conservation strategies. Although the construction has
not made an impact on the population, it is unclear
whether or not it will impact the lifespan of a turtle, of which the average is 50 years (Budischak
192). The results from the long term study at The Lovett School can help indicate how to keep
turtle population healthy on campus and in other places.

Introduction:
Throughout the eastern side of America, the Eastern Box Turtle population has been on
a steady decline because of fragmentation and habitat loss. With the urbanization occurring
along the east coast, the Box Turtle is more vulnerable to roadkill and construction. Studies
have shown that there has been over a 50% decline in the Box Turtle population and that this
percentage will stay on the rise. The Eastern Box turtle is a species that likes to stay in their
own fragmented home range. The reasons for their movement come from the need to find
food and water, along with mates and nesting areas to have their eggs. As of 2017, the biggest
reason for their disappearance is that fact that their home ranges are being destroyed and the
box turtles are unable to adapt to a new location. During our study, we used telemetry where we
were able to track our box turtle as it lived in normal conditions for 12 weeks. We started out by
taking down some baseline data of the dimensions of the shell along with the sex of the turtle.
Every week we went out and tracked down the turtle and take down general information about
its location. Our study is one that adds on to a previous ones that look at the same fragmented
home ranges and movement of box turtles. Our study adds to the current study and allows for
more accurate home ranges and understanding of the current decrease in population. The study
of the Eastern Box Turtle allows for us to look at the fragmented home range and to determine
and help reintroduce box turtles that have lost their home ranges.

Materials & Methods:

During the Box Turtle Study, 7 box turtles were captured on The Lovett School Campus
and taken into a classroom. From there we took the baseline data and determined the sexes of
each turtle. We could match their sex based on the fact that the male turtles have longer tails
and a more concave plastrons than females. The markings on their shells were matched to
pictures of shells of previously captured turtles on the Lovett Campus to determine if the turtle
had been captured before and if so, its name. The turtles weight was measured with a Carolina
Scale. The length, width and height of their shells were measured with a caliber in order to
record the turtles growth since the first capture. Using strips of velcro, the transmitters were
attached to the turtles carapaces and centered more towards the middle so that the transmitters
dont interrupt mating. Camouflage duct tape was placed on top of the velcro transmitter in order
to keep it in place and avoid attracting attention from predators. The turtles were then taken
back out and released to the place where they were originally captured.
From then on, the turtles were racked and found one or twice a week by means of
telemetry. When the turtles were found, brightly colored tape was wrapped around the nearest
tree with the date and capture number written on it. The data was recorded in a binder which
included the area, weather, and location relating to a landmark of which the turtle was found.
Over the course of four months, the information on the location of where the turtles were found
each week helped to roughly establish their home ranges.

Results
I. Population Statistics
1.1-Total Number of Male and Total Number of Female Turtles Captured in the Study
The graph Total Number of Male and Total Number of Female Turtles Captured in the Study
shows 46 males and 38 females that have been captured during this whole study. This that 55%
of the turtled found have been male and 45% have been female.

1.2-Total Number of Box Turtles Captured in Study

As shown in the graph, Total Number of Box Turtles Captured in Study, 80 Box Turtles in total
have been captured throughout this entire study.

1.3- Number of New Captures Per Year

This graph shows the amount of turtles that were newly captured for each year between 2005-
2016 for males, females, and totals. The total number of new captures generally decreased for
the first four years, but have remained about constant since then. The least amount of new
captures was 2014 with zero, and the greatest was 2005 with 15.

1.4- Number of Recaptures Per Year

This graph shows the amount of captured turtles each that had previously been
captured. It begins at zero and began to slowly increases until 2014, when it hit a 6 year low.
Generally, less females were captured. The greatest amount of recaptures is 14 in 2013.

1.5- Individual Turtles and Their Number of Times Recaptured

This graph shows the amount of times each box turtle was recaptured, so the first capture is not
included. Many box turtles have never been recaptured, but the two turtles that have been
recaptured the most are Oaky and Jewel with 6 recaptures each.

Population Estimates:
II. Sexual Dimorphism
2.1- Male vs Female Average Weight
This graph compares the average weight of the captured box turtles by sex. Females are
generally heavier, and have an average weight of 375 grams as opposed to males average
weight of 367 grams.

2.2- Male vs Female Average Length

This graph compares the average length of the captured box turtles by sex. Males are generally
longer, and have an average length of 12.3 cm as opposed to females average length of 11.5
cm.

2.3- Male vs Female Average Width

This graph shows the average weight of male box turtles compared to the average weight of
female box turtles. Males are generally heavier with an average width of 9.7 cm, while females
have an average width of about 9.2 cm.

2.4- Male vs Female Average Depth

The graph Average Depth of Box Turtle Shell in cm shows the average depth of the shell of
females compared to the average depth of shell in males. The females are generally larger, with
an average of 6.15 cm, while the males have an average of 5.75 cm in depth.

III. Home Range and Distribution

3.1- Number of Turtles Captured in Each Valley

The graph The Number of Turtles Captured in Each Valley shows the number of males and
females that were caught in each valley. From the graph, it can be inferred that there are the
most males in Hidden Valley and the most females in Intermittent Valley.

3.2- Average Home Range Sizes

The graph Average Home Range Sizes in Acres shows the average home range for females
and the average home range for males, demonstrating how females have had a larger home
range than males.

3.3- Average Home Range in Different Valleys

The graph Average Home Range Size in Different Valleys in Acres gives the average home
range size for males and females in each individual valley.

IV. Rescue and Repatriation

4.1- Home range size
The graph Average Home Range Size of Box Turtles Rescued from 2009 shows the difference
between the home range of turtles that were rescued from the 2009 construction and the home
range of turtles that were not. It also shows the difference between the males and females in
these two categories.

4.2- Recaptured rescues

Number of Times a Rescued Turtle From the 2009 Construction was Recaptured shows the
number of times in each year after 2009 that these rescued turtles were found. It shows the
number of males, females, and the total.

V. Tyrones BT Map
Discussion:

1. Population Statistics
Figure 1.1 indicates there have been about 10 more male box turtles than female box turtles
captured, with a total of about 80. That may be because there are more male than female box
turtles in the area, so there is a higher likelihood of finding male box turtles. Also, it may be due
to the difference in physical characteristics of male box turtles as opposed to female turtles.
Male box turtles have more colorful shells, so are easier to find in the wild, while females have
longer nails, so are able to dig deeper holes and hide more effectively, although that skill is used
mainly for digging holes for eggs. Also, more males may be required for a box turtle population
to sustain itself. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, even though female
box turtles can lay fertile eggs four years after fertilization, the proportion of infertile eggs
increases as years go by without male contact. When mating, males also have to approach the
female and the female has to choose to open the rear end of their shell to mate.
According to Figure 1.3, the number of new captures per year began at its highest point of 15 in
the first year. However, in general, it decreased for about four years and has been about
constant since then. That may be because most of the turtles in Lovetts area have already
been found and the development of Lovett and the roads around it limit immigration to the area.
So, the new box turtles captured may be those reaching maturity. Young box turtles are
notoriously difficult to find, but when they reach maturity they must move around more to
reproduce, thereby making it easier to find them.

2. Sexual Dimorphism
As shown in figure 2.1, on average, female box turtles are almost 10g heavier than male box
turtles. This is because some of the female box turtles were weighed while they were pregnant
with eggs. In figure 2.2, on average, male box turtles are about .7 cm longer than females. This
is most likely because the males tail size is generally larger than the females (Determining the
Sex of Your Box Turtle). In figure 2.3, the male box turtles are, on average, .5 cm wider than the
female box turtle. There is not a general explanation for why this difference in width occurs, but
it is not a very big difference. As shown in figure 2.4, females have a higher depth than males,
about .4 cm higher. This difference in width occurs because the females need the extra room to
carry their eggs when pregnant. So, the differences in sexual dimorphism, particularly the
differences in weight and depth, are because of the way the female has adapted for
reproduction and pregnancies.

3. Home Range and Distribution

Figure 3.1 Number of Turtles Captured in Each Named Valley shows the amount of males
and females in each homerange (valley) location from 2005 to 2017. The largest amount male
box turtles were captured in hidden valley, while the largest amount of female box turtles were
captured in intermittent valley, but overall the majority of turtles were captured in hidden valley.
Hidden valley is far away from construction and most infrastructure on campus. There is little
human activity that occurs at Hidden Valley which makes it an ideal home range for many
turtles. Intermittent, Rainy Day Valley, and Denny Valley are the three next most popular home
ranges for turtles. Both intermittent and Rainy Day Valley border Hidden Valley and the baseball
fields. Many of the turtles who used to live where the baseball fields now are were relocated to
Internment and Rainy Day Valley. In Raymond B Iglays study, scientists discovered that box
turtles move because of a change in habitat, food and water, and mating. Lovetts data is
related to the change in habitat because of the baseball fields. The data also shows a larger
home range size for female box turtles, supporting the other scientists data that box turtles
move for mating. Figure 3.2 shows that the average home range size for males was 0.724, and
the average home range size for females was 0.786. Females have a larger home range
because of a need for nesting and space. In Home Range Behavior among Box Turtles of a
Bottomland Forest in Maryland by Lucille F. Stickel, scientists discovered that box turtles
season-specific movements relating to sex. Females increase their movements in the early
summer months and move long ways for nesting. In Figure 3.3, the largest home range for
males is Rainy Day valley, which is .84 acres. The largest home range for females is also Rainy
Day Valley, which is 1.19 acres. This supports the previous statement that females have larger
home ranges on account of their tendency to wander for mating purposes.

4.Rescue and Repatriation

 Figure 4.1- 4.2, concerning rescue and repatriation, show data on box turtles from the
2009 baseball field rescue. In 2009 the Lovett School wiped out an abundance of forestland in
order to construct a baseball stadium. This forestland was home to many box turtles therefore in
an effort to conserve their population, as many as possible were rescued and placed in a new
valley. However, box turtles tend to like to live in their home ranges their entire lives. Figure 4.1
Average Home Range Sizes of Box Turtles Rescued in 2009 compares the average home
range size of males and females who were rescued to those who were not rescued. This graph
displays that both the male and the female box turtles who were rescued from the construction
in 2009, had larger home range sizes. This supports Joy Hesters study on the Effects of
Relocation on Movements and Home Ranges of Eastern Box Turtles which found that The
home ranges of relocated turtles were approximately 3-7.5 times larger than those of resident
turtles (Hester 1). This might indicate that the rescued turtles are moving around more trying to
return to their old home range therefore their new home range becomes larger. Figure 4.3
shows that 16 turtles were rescued in 2009 but the maximum number of rescued turtles that
were recaptured in one year was 5 total (male and female) as seen in figure 4.2. The low
number of rescued turtles that were recaptured is most likely due to the turtles either moving off
Lovett campus, likely to the surrounding private homes, or death. This is concurrent with the fact
that turtles are more likely to die after being rescued and relocated as seen in Hesters study
which states that 5 turtles experienced death or disappearance compared to no mortality or
disappearance of resident turtles (Hester 1).

Literature Cited:

Hester, Joy M., Steven J. Price, and Michael E. Dorcas. "Effects of Relocation on
Movements and Home Ranges of Eastern Box Turtles." Journal of Wildlife
Management 72.3 (2008): 772-77. JSTOR. Web. 4 Dec. 2017.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/25097607 .>.

"Determining the Sex of Your Box Turtle." Box Turtle Site, Tess Cook,
boxturtlesite.info/malefemale.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.

Eastern Box Turtle. Indiana Department of Natural Resources,

https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3378.htm. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Lucille F. Stickel. "Home Range Behavior among Box Turtles (Terrapene c.

carolina) of a Bottomland Forest in Maryland." Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 23,
No. 1 (Mar., 1989), pp. 40-44. JSTOR. Web. 4 Dec. 2017.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1564314

Raymond B. Iglay. Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Movements

in a Fragmented Landscape. Vol. 41, No. 1 (Mar., 2007), pp. 102-106. JSTOR.
Web. 4 Dec. 2017.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4498557

Budischak, Sarah A. "Natural History of Box Turtles in an Urbanized Landscape." Southeastern

Naturalist, vol. 5, no. 2, 2 Nov. 2006, p. 192. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3878201.pdf.

Accessed 4 Dec. 2017.