Abundance of juvenile eastern box turtles relative to canopy cover in managed forest stands in Alabama
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Published source details
Felix Z., Wang Y., Czech H. & Schweitzer C.J. (2008) Abundance of juvenile eastern box turtles relative to canopy cover in managed forest stands in Alabama. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 7, 128-130.
Published source details Felix Z., Wang Y., Czech H. & Schweitzer C.J. (2008) Abundance of juvenile eastern box turtles relative to canopy cover in managed forest stands in Alabama. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 7, 128-130.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use shelterwood harvesting Action Link |
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Use shelterwood harvesting
A replicated, randomized study in 2001–2005 in three sites of secondary broadleaf forest in Alabama, USA (Felix et al. 2008) found that using shelterwood harvesting resulted in lower abundance of juvenile eastern box turtles Terrapene carolina Carolina compared to areas that were clearcut. Abundance was lower in shelterwood plots (0.001 turtles/trap night) compared to clearcut plots (0.002 turtles/trap night). In autumn 2001, three sites were split in to three plots (4 ha plots), and plots were randomly selected for shelterwood harvesting (25–50% tree retention; 2 plots/site) or clearcutting (0 % retention, 1 plot/site). Trees were felled with a chainsaw and dragged out (using a grapple skidder). In July–August 2002 and March–September 2003–2005, three drift fences (15 m long) and three artificial pools for capturing reptiles (91 x 61 x 46 cm, buried in centre of each plot) were installed in each plot. Drift fences were opened intermittently for periods of five days and checked daily for a total of 1,455–1,575 trap nights/patch.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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