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Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hibernacula Site Selection Of The Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene C. Carolina, In A West Virginia Population, Benjamin Owen Koester
Hibernacula Site Selection Of The Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene C. Carolina, In A West Virginia Population, Benjamin Owen Koester
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene c. carolina) are a terrestrially hibernating reptile found throughout the eastern United States. Despite their prevalence, little, outside of anecdotal observations, is known about their hibernacula selection. This study examines if they preferentially select hibernacula locations, and if so, what characteristics they select in a West Virginia population. Over the course of two years, radio-tagged turtles (n=12) were followed into hibernation in Wayne County, WV. Upon entering hibernation, ~36 data point were collected in a grid-like fashion around the hibernacula, with an additional point collected at the hibernacula. At each point, seven variables were recorded: soil …
Effectiveness Of Manual Palpation In The Northern Water Snake, Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon, As A Method To Extract Gut Contents For Dietary Studies, Marcella Ann Cruz
Effectiveness Of Manual Palpation In The Northern Water Snake, Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon, As A Method To Extract Gut Contents For Dietary Studies, Marcella Ann Cruz
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Common Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon sipedon, is one of six subspecies, and the only species of Nerodia to inhabit West Virginia. Because it is abundant and information on the species is lacking within the state, it was used as my study organism. The effectiveness of manual palpation, the most commonly used method in snake diet related studies, was tested against museum dissection by comparing presence and absence of gut contents. Nineteen individuals of 76 manually palpated collected snakes were compared to 6 individuals of 37 dissected snakes using a Pearson chi-square analysis. Results suggested manual palpation is an effective …
Dietary Preference Of The Queensnake (Regina Septemvittata), Timothy J. Brust
Dietary Preference Of The Queensnake (Regina Septemvittata), Timothy J. Brust
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) is a small secretive water snake found throughout the eastern United States. Once common, their numbers have declined to the extent that they are now threatened throughout most of their range, largely the result of pollutant-based reduction in prey species. These snakes are assumed to eat molted crayfish exclusively. For some common crayfish species, molting happens only twice a summer during a two- week period. It has not been documented if Queensnakes eat anything besides crayfish on a regular basis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prey preference of Queensnakes with particular focus …