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James Lowry*, Cheryl NushardtSusan Reigler and Omar Attum**
Dept. of Biology, Indiana University Southeast, 4201 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, IN 47150
* [email protected]** FACULTY ADVISOR
OutlineIntroduction•Conservation of Urban Nature Preserves•Invasive Species – Bush Honeysuckle (BHS)•Box Turtle useful model species
Methods•Site Study•Radiotelemetry•Data Collection
Results•Relationship of Bush Honeysuckle Density and Turtle Location•Box Turtle use of Artificial Canopy Gaps
Management Implications
Conservation value: Last remaining undeveloped habitat in urban area Species of concern People develop appreciation of nature Environmental education
Challenges: Habitat Island Vulnerable to invasive species and disturbance
Hiking trails Artificial Canopy Gap Avenue for invasive Species to Spread
Bush Honeysuckle ‐Most common invasive plant species of concern
Reduce overall biodiversity of native plant species• Longer growing seasons • Sunlight reduction• Changes soil chemistry
Invasive Species
Why Box Turtles?
Great model species•Diet •Thermoregulation
Species of concern•Hard edge mortality•Habitat Loss•Pet trade
Study Site – Blackacre State Nature Preserve (Louisville, KY)•Urban forest – secondary growth•Study site size 44 hectacres•Estimated 100, 000 bush honeysuckle•Surrounded by suburban neighborhoods
Methods :
Radiotelemetry• 10 box turtles affixed with transmitters
Methods :
Turtle data collection
Environmental: • Humidity, Air temperature,
and ground temperature
Microhabitat: • Bush Honeysuckle Density • Leaf litter depth• Distance to nearest tree (DBH
= 20cm)• Distance to nearest fallen
branch (DBH = 20cm)• Canopy Cover – densitometer
Methods :
Do box turtles avoid areas with high bush honeysuckle density?
Compared bush honeysuckle density of turtle locations vs. random points (Population level)
• 110 randomly selected points • Map – GIS: ArcGIS‐ Spatial Analysis•Logistic regression: Dependent variable (turtle location/random )
Are box turtles more likely to occur in the vicinity of hiking trails
Compared distance of turtles to nearest hiking trails vs. randomly selected points• Turtle locations: GIS • Random points : MCP around combined turtle locations, 261 random points within MCP• Logistic regression
Results –Do box turtles avoid areas with high bush honeysuckle density?
Figure 1. A comparison of Bush Honeysuckle density (1 L. maackii?/m2) between turtle locations and random points.
• Non‐significant trend, χ² = 2.65, df =1, P = 0.104
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
Turtle Location Random
Den
sity (L. m
aack
ii/m
2)
Figure 2. A comparison of distance to hiking trail between turtle locations and 261 random points.
Significant trend, χ² = 19.30, df =1, P > 0.001
Results : Are box turtles more likely to occur in the vicinity of hiking trails
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Turtle Location Random
Distanc
e to Trail (m
)
Box turtles avoid high density of Bush Honeysuckle
• Thermoregulation
• Lacks nutritional food source
• Little to no leaf litter
Artificial Canopy Openings • Thermoregulation
Box turtles are found near hiking trails
Suggest BHS affects habitat use of the eastern box turtle
Management suggestions•BHS free zones• Maintain natural canopy gaps• Create artificial gaps
Management of Urban Nature Preserves
Continued Data Collection
•Microhabitat
•Season Effects
Future Analysis
SummaryIntroduction•Urban Nature Preserve•Bush Honeysuckle•Box Turtle
Methods•Site Study•Radiotelemetry•Data Collection
Results•Relationship of Bush Honeysuckle Density and Turtle Location•Proximity to Hiking Trails
Management Implications
ReferencesAllan, B.H., Dutra, H.P., et al. Invasive honeysuckle eradication reduces tick‐borne disease risk by altering host
dynamics. PNAS October 26, 2010,vol. 107, no. 43Attum, .O; Otoum , M. et al. Movement patterns and habitat use of soft‐released
translocated spur‐thighed tortoises, Testudo graeca. European Journal of Wildlife Research August 2010Bernstein, N., Richtsmeier, R.J. Home Range and Philopatry in the Ornate BoxTurtle, Terrapene ornata ornata,
in Iowa The American Midland Naturalist, 157(1):162‐174. 2007.Boyce, R.L. Invasive Shrubs in Kentucky. Humboldt Field Research Institute Northeastern Naturalist,
17(mo7):1‐32. 2010.Collier,M.H.; Vankat,J.L.; Hughes, M.R.Diminished Plant Richness and Abundance below Lonicera Maackii, an
Invasive Shrub. Source: American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 147, No. 1 (Jan., 2002), pp. 60‐71Currylow, A.F.; Zollner, P.A. et al.A Survival Estimate of Midwestern Adult Eastern Box Turtles Using
Radiotelemetry. The American Midland Naturalist 165(1):143‐149. 2011 Flory S.L, and Keith Clay, K.Invasive shrub distribution varies with distance to roads and stand age in eastern
deciduous forests in Indiana, USA. Plant Ecology (2006) 184:131 –141Iglay, R. B., J. L. Bowman, and N. H. Nazdrowicz. 2007. Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
movements in a fragmented landscape. J. Herpetol 41:102–106. IUCN 2009. 2009 IUCN Red List of threatened species International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources. Jennings, A.H. Use of Habitats and Microenvironments by Juvenile Florida Box Turtles Terrepene Carolina
Bauri, on Egmont Key. Herpetologica, 63(1):1‐10. 2007.Luken J.O. and Goessling N. 1995. Seedling distribution and potential persistence of the exotic shrub Lonicera
maackii in fragmented forests. Am. Midland Nat. 133: 124 –130.Miller K.E. and Gorchov D.L. 2004. The invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii, reduces growth and fecundity of
perennial forest herbs. Oecologia 139: 359 –375.Nazdrowicz, N. H., J. L. Bowman, and R. R. Roth. 2008. Population ecology of the eastern box turtle in a
fragmented landscape. J. Wildl. Manage 72:745–753.Watling, J.I.: Hickman,C.R., et al. Extracts of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii increase mortality and alter
behavior of amphibian larvae. Oecologia (2011) 165:153–159
Acknowledgements
IUS
Kentucky State Nature Preserves
BlackAcre State Nature Preserve
Evin Carter IPFW
Bruce Kingsbury IPFW