Home Range, Habitat Use, and Behaviors of Florida Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina bauri, at an Enclosed Site in Southwestern Florida

Abstract

Abstract.- Until recently, little was documented on the movement patterns and habitat preference of Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina baurii). We investigated the home range (HR), and habitat preference, and general behaviors of ten Florida Box Turtles (five of each sex) within an enclosed preserve site in Southwestern Florida across a calendar year. HR estimates using 100% Minimum Convex Polygons (MCPs) and 95% Kernel Density Estimates (KDEs) averaged 1.76 ± 0.48 ha and 2.80 ± 0.87 ha, respectively. HRs were larger in the wet season for KDEs, while MCPs showed no seasonal difference. Males and females exhibited no significant differences in HR. Landscape-level selection differed significantly from habitat availability, with Oak-Rosemary Scrub (ORS) having ranked highest in use relative to availability, followed by Pine Flatwoods (PFW), Grassy Meadow (GM), and Former Wetland (FW). Only ORS and FW usage differed significantly. Activity-level selection also differed significantly from availability, with FW ranked highest, followed by PFW, ORS, and GM, with all habitats differing significantly in selection. Turtles were observed hiding under cover on most relocations. Florida Box Turtles were also documented using Gopher Tortoise burrows on eight separate occasions. These data provide new insights into home range dynamics, seasonal movement patterns, and habitat selection in Florida Box Turtles. These findings will become more relevant as habitat fragmentation and additional anthropogenic barriers continue to encroach on the limited remaining wild spaces in peninsular Florida.