Home Range of the Texas River Cooters (Pseudemys texana) at Spring Lake, Hays County, Texas

Date

2006-08

Authors

Franklin, Stephanie D.

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Abstract

Nineteen Texas river coaters, Pseudemys texana, were studied at Spring Lake, Aquarena Center, Hays County, Texas, from May 2003 to February 2005. Radio I telemetry was used to locate individual turtles to determine home range size and seasonal shifts within the lake. Yearly home ranges were significantly larger for females (3.77 ha) than in males (2.06 ha) and home ranges overlapped considerably between the sexes. Seasonal home ranges were calculated but not tested statistically due to small sample size. Mean distance traveled during each season was calculated for each sex. Females moved significantly longer distances between seasons than males, and there were seasonal shifts in the areas of the lake used by each sex. The mean distance from a fixed anchor point to seasonal locations was 289.42 m for spring females, and only 163.14 m for males in the spring. These seasonal shifts follow the nesting habits of this species, as females move to areas of Spring Lake adjacent to nesting sites in the spring and summer.

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Pseudemys, Aquatic habitats

Citation

Franklin, S. D. (2006). <i>Home range of the Texas river cooters (Pseudemys texana) at Spring Lake, Hays County, Texas</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.

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