Date of Award
Spring 5-1-2023
Document Type
Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Program
Biology
Degree Name
Master of Science
Thesis Advisor
Kiyoshi Sasaki, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jennifer Schafer, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Lauren Brasington
Keywords
Nonnative Plants, Space Use, Eastern Box Turtle, Movement Patterns, Density of Nonnative Plants
Committee Member
Salvatore Blair, Ph.D.
Abstract
Introduction of nonnative plants outside their natural range has caused widespread reduction in the abundance and diversity of native plant species. Nonnative plants typically form dense, often monotypic, thickets that affect the ability of animals to find food, reproduce, avoid predation risk, and thermoregulate. By doing so, nonnative plants have the potential to displace resident animals from areas otherwise suitable as animal habitat. However, limited studies have investigated whether resident animals avoid areas dominated by nonnative plants. This study investigated impacts of nonnative plants on eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), a species that has been declining throughout their range. To determine if eastern box turtles avoid nonnative plants, I estimated habitat selection based on GPS fixes recorded for 16 individuals (6 males and 10 females) in an urban forest. Specifically, I determined if nonnative plants are avoided when turtles establish their home range (i.e., second order selection) and when they use their home ranges (i.e., third order selection). For females, the density of four of the six most common nonnative plant species was lower in turtle locations than available locations across the study area (i.e., second order selection) and those within home ranges (i.e., third order selection). For males, the density of only one nonnative plant species was lower in turtle locations than available locations across the study area (i.e., second order selection), and none of the species were different between turtle locations and available locations within their home ranges (i.e., third order selection). These results suggests that eastern box turtles avoid some (but not all) species of nonnative plants and that females are more sensitive to nonnative plants than males. The displacement of animals from highly invaded areas represents a functional loss of habitat. The reduction in available habitat area may lead to reduction in carrying capacity of invaded areas, and therefore, may have long-term impacts on population persistence.
Recommended Citation
Crago, Emily Ilene, "Effects of Nonnative Plants on Space-Use in Eastern Box Turtles" (2023). Graduate Theses. 148.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/graduatetheses/148
Crago, Emily Ilene Signed Copyright Agreement
Included in
Botany Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Zoology Commons
