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Box Turtle Connection: Building a Legacy

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Box Turtle Connection: Building a Legacy THEa BOX TURTLE CONNECTION a THE BOX TURTLE CONNECTION Building a Legacy Building a Legacy Ann Berry Somers, Catherine E. Matthews, and Ashley A. LaVere Ann Berry Somers, Catherine E. Matthews, and Ashley A. LaVere Published 2017 Cover image by J.D. Willson, male Terrapene carolina carolina from Aiken County, South Carolina. 2006. Our work on this second edition of the book has been partially funded by an informal science education National Science Foundation grant (DRL-1114558), Herpetology Education in Rural Places & Spaces (The HERP Project) Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The Box Turtle Connection Building a Legacy We dedicate this book to The Box Turtle Connection Project Leaders. They are the foundation on which this project is built. Their hard work and passion act as the frame that shapes and supports this long-term study. With their help, we will continue to further our knowledge about box turtles and strive to protect them and their habitats. Mike Vaughan https://boxturtle.uncg.edu/ “To the amateur, I say learn about nature, but do it carefully and with commitment . Amateur naturalists have much to offer the scientific community in understanding the ways of box turtles. To the professional, I say get outdoors and observe nature . Natural history should be celebrated. After all, we are dealing with life in all its complexity. A study of box turtles is the perfect place to begin.” Ken Dodd (2001) Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................... v The Turtle Connection ................................................................................................................... vii Preface .......................................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ ix “Ancient Chelonians” by Anders G. J. Rhodin ............................................................................... xi 1. The Box Turtle Connection: A Hundred Year Study ................................................................ 1 The Box Turtle Collaborative .............................................................................................. 1 The Box Turtle Connection: A 100-Year Study .................................................................. 1 Assuring Data Quality ......................................................................................................... 2 Strengths and Limitations of The Box Turtle Connection: Ready for the Next Decades? ... 2 2. Range and Habitat ..................................................................................................................... 4 Habitat Problems for Eastern Box Turtles ........................................................................... 7 3. Box Turtles in Decline ............................................................................................................... 8 Researcher Spotlight: Dr. José Castañeda Gamaliel Gaytán ............................................. 10 4. Starting A Box Turtle Study .................................................................................................... 11 Planning Field Research ..................................................................................................... 11 Participant Safety ................................................................................................................ 12 Guidelines for use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field Research ............................ 13 Handling Turtles ................................................................................................................. 14 Field Equipment Checklist .................................................................................................. 15 To Treat or Not to Treat Sick Turtles in Your Project with John Groves ........................... 16 Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Matt Allender ............................................................................ 19 5. Finding Box Turtles ................................................................................................................. 20 Before You Pick Up a Turtle .............................................................................................. 20 Visual Surveys .................................................................................................................... 20 How to Conduct a Box Turtle Census by Mike Quinlan and Chris Swarth ....................... 21 Using Your Smartphone to Acquire GPS Data by Jim Greenway ...................................... 23 Radiotelemetry .................................................................................................................... 23 Developments in Telemetry by Andrew Durso ................................................................... 25 Finding Turtles Using Specially Trained Dogs .................................................................. 26 6. Data Collection ........................................................................................................................ 28 Marking System for Box Turtles ....................................................................................... 29 Sex Determination in Eastern Box Turtles ........................................................................ 31 The Mystery of Aging Turtles: Don’t Count on Annuli .................................................... 34 Mature Turtles ................................................................................................................... 36 Young Turtles .................................................................................................................... 37 Annuli Counts .................................................................................................................... 37 How to do an Annuli Count ............................................................................................... 37 Determining Life Stage, Not as Easy as It Seems! ............................................................ 37 Measuring Turtles .............................................................................................................. 39 Mass Measurements .......................................................................................................... 39 v Quality Control of Box Turtle Mass Measurements by Mike Vaughn .............................. 40 Length, Width, and Height Measurements ........................................................................ 41 Photo Documentation ........................................................................................................ 46 What You Need ................................................................................................................. 46 Organizing Photos on the Computer by Gabrielle Graeter .............................................. 48 7. Box Turtles in Your Community ............................................................................................ 49 Field Etiquette and Landowner Relations ......................................................................... 49 Involve Landowners .......................................................................................................... 50 Surprise Encounters with Box Turtles: How to Guide the Public Response .................... 51 Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Aceng Ruyani .......................................................................... 53 8. Eastern Box Turtle Habitat Management and Creation (includes Mowing Guidelines) ........ 54 A Backyard for Box Turtles .............................................................................................. 54 Just A Little Encouragement ............................................................................................. 55 Creating a Safe Haven ....................................................................................................... 55 Yard Mowing .................................................................................................................... 56 Build It and They Will Come: Miracle Brush Piles with Mike Vaughan .......................... 56 Build A Magnificent Five Foot Square Brush Pile ........................................................... 57 Don’t Forget Coverboards ................................................................................................. 58 Burning Brush Piles or Not ............................................................................................... 59 Mowing Guidelines for Conservation of Box Turtles and Other Wildlife ...................... 60 Unwanted Vegetation Control ........................................................................................... 63 Creating Nesting Habitat on Managed Properties ............................................................. 63 Our Futures: Inextricably Linked .................................................................................................. 65 Appendices A. Sample Turtle Data Sheet and Completed Sample ..................................................... 66 B. Sample Turtle Data Sheet Instructions ........................................................................ 70
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