Nest site selection by diamond-backed terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) on a Mid-Atlantic Barrier Island
November 1, 2013
We scored 48 Malaclemys terrapin nests destroyed by raccoons on Fisherman Island, Virginia, for the presence or absence of tree canopy, shrub canopy, no canopy, bare sand, grass cover, and herbaceous cover. Significantly more nests than expected were found in the open with no vegetation cover and observed distances of predator-destroyed nests from the edge of the nearest habitat island of woody vegetation were significantly different from a normal distribution; most were placed near the island margin. Our results underscore the need to understand the influence of predator search behavior on terrapin nest survival in different habitat types.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Title | Nest site selection by diamond-backed terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) on a Mid-Atlantic Barrier Island |
| DOI | 10.2744/CCB-1041.1 |
| Authors | Joseph C. Mitchell, Susan C. Walls |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Chelonian Conservation and Biology |
| Index ID | 70095540 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Southeast Ecological Science Center |