Meeting Abstract

P2-53  Monday, Jan. 5 15:30  Linking physiology to habitat use: a turtle’s perspective PARLIN, A.F.*; SCHAEFFER, P.J.; DO AMARAL, J.P.; DOUGHERTY, J.K.; NARDONE, J.A; Miami University, Oxford, OH; Miami University, Oxford, OH; University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia, OH; Miami University, Oxford, OH; The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ parlinaf@miamioh.edu

Monitoring organisms in the field offers novel insight into the interaction between a free-living organism and their environment under natural conditions. Recent advances in biologging technology have allowed for fine-scale, detailed data collection of behavior, movement, and physiology on individual organisms. Additionally, biologging can provide indirect information regarding the relationship between an organism and their available versus used habitat. We monitored movement, body temperature, and heart rate of eastern Box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) during the spring, summer, and fall of 2014 in southwest Ohio. Operant models were placed in the field at randomly generated coordinates in different habitat types. Home-range was calculated for each turtle using a minimal convex polygon (MCP) and varied from 0.14 ha to 6.5 ha for two-weeks of monitoring. Turtles remained primarily in closed, forested habitats during the duration of the study while exploiting various thermal niches similar to temperatures recorded in open, grassy habitats. Average body temperature of the turtles was 20.5°C with an interquartile heart rate range of 11 to 20 beats per minute.