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摘要
To gain potential insights into energy acquisition of the ectothermic Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata), we studied influences of weather patterns, habitat structure, sex, and body size on activity patterns. Shell temperature (T-s) cycled on a diel basis and movement was relatively low during the 0000-0400 h time period, possibly indicating thermal or daylight limitations on activity. Mean daily T-s and daily distance moved were lower on cloudy days relative to sunny days and did not vary among intra-specific classes (juveniles with 2-5 completed activity seasons and adult males and females). Juveniles and adult males and females moved similar mean daily distances, occupied similarsized home range areas, and established single or multiple core areas of activity. Variations in weather patterns, and therefore, available thermal energy, apparently affect activity similarly across a range of body sizes. Core area use in both juveniles and adults presumably reflects familiarity with resource distributions that is established early in life. Males and females apparently expended similar energy on movements, even during the nesting season when movements of females might exceed those of males, or during other times when males searched for sexually receptive females. Despite the potentially greater mobility of large relative to small turtles, adults and juveniles showed similar spatial ecologies, perhaps because of small marsh size restrictions on movements, or because of compensatory locomotor capacities of juveniles (e. g., greater rate of limb movement). Therefore, when scaled to body size, juveniles probably invested more energy to movements than did adults.
- 出版日期2010-12
