SREL Reprint #3309

Using thermal biology to investigate habitat use and activity of mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) on a golf course

Leigh Anne Harden and Michael E. Dorcas

Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina 28035, USA

Introduction: In heavily urbanized areas, ponds and wetlands on golf courses may provide the only available habitat for semi-aquatic herpetofauna and other wetland-dependent species (Scott et al. 2002; Montieth and Paton 2006). Many semi-aquatic herpetofauna rely not only on the aquatic habitat but surrounding terrestrial habitat for nesting, foraging, or overwintering (Buhlmann and Gibbons 2001). The Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) is known for its terrestrial habits and has been documented overwintering in natural forested areas (Skorepa and Ozment 1968; Bennett 1972; Scott 1976; Buhlmann and Gibbons 2001). Knowledge of terrestrial activity and habitat use in anthropogenically altered habitats, such as golf courses, is lacking. . . .

SREL Reprint #3309

Harden, L. A. and M. E. Dorcas. 2008. Using thermal biology to investigate habitat use and activity of mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) on a golf course. pp. 321-323 In: J. C. Mitchell, R. E. Jung Brown, and B. Bartholomew (Eds.). Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation Vol. 3. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Salt Lake City, Utah.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).