MICROHABITAT USE, HOME RANGE, AND MOVEMENTS OF THE ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE, MACROCHELYS TEMMINCKII, IN OKLAHOMA

Abstract

Abstract Little is known about the ecology of the alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii, particularly demography and behavior. To learn more about the species in Oklahoma, we conducted a telemetry project on 2 small streams at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, an 8,417.5-ha refuge located in east-central Oklahoma. Between June 1999 and August 2000, we fitted 19 M. temminckii with ultrasonic telemetry tags and studied turtle movements and microhabitat use. Turtles were checked 2 to 3 times weekly in summer and sporadically in winter. Several microhabitat variables were measured at each turtle location and a random location to help quantify microhabitat use vs. availability. We recorded 147 turtle locations. Turtles were always associated with submerged cover with a high percentage of overhead canopy cover. Turtles used deeper depths in late summer (but not deeper depths than random locations) and deeper depths in midwinter (and deeper depths than random locations) than in early summer. They us...