Dispersal of neonate Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingi) in Nova Scotia
LE3 .A278 2004
2004
Herman, Tom
Acadia University
Master of Science
Masters
Biology
The Blanding's turtle population in southwestern Nova Scotia is at the northeastern limit of the turtle's range and climatic tolerance; the population is small, disjunct and appears to have low recruitment. This study was conducted in 2000 and 2001 at two locations in southwestern Nova Scotia: Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (KNPNHS) and McGowan Lake (ML). A total of 160 neonate turtles from 34 nests were tracked using non-toxic fluorescent powder; twenty-eight were also tracked using passive transponders and harmonic radar. Tracking time ranged from 1 to 23 days. Movement data were analyzed using circular statistics, fractal analysis, a straight-line index and an S-PLUS model to determine what factors may influence movement. Data indicate that neonates do not move in a correlated random walk. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3083
