BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER (Michigan) 07 January 07 Hot on the tracks of box turtles
Soft, regular "pip!" sounds emanate from her GPS unit as graduate student Joanna Gibson slowly sweeps the hand-held antenna overhead in a 90 degree arc. The sounds indicate that one of the box turtles she had previously outfitted with a tiny battery powered transmitter is within 10 meters of the tracking antenna.
As she moves forward in the dense underbrush, the "pips" become noticeably louder and more narrowly focused within the arc, finally allowing her to pinpoint her quarry's hiding spot.
A master of science degree candidate at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Gibson's research project will determine the travel patterns and habitat preferences of the box turtles that live in the Fort Custer Training Center's (FCTC) natural areas.
A native of Queensland, Australia, her research is being supported by a grant from the FCTC Environmental Office.
"We're concerned about the impact controlled burning we use in native prairie restoration may have on box turtles as this species lives on land rather than in an aquatic environment." said environmental office manager John Mitchell.
For the safety of the turtle population, he explained, timing of spring burns needs to be coordinated with the turtles' emergence from winter hibernation.
Twenty eight adult and six juvenile box turtles have been fitted with transmitters. The purpose of the weekly tracking is to use the GPS technology to pinpoint and record each turtle's day time location and habitat conditions.
At the end of the two-year tracking research, Gibson will be able to identify each turtle's home range and travel patterns. Mitchell's office can then compare the data to the location of several prairie restoration projects where controlled burning occurs.
Box turtles are no longer common throughout their range, mainly due to loss of habitat. In Michigan, the DNR lists them as species of concern - that is, one to watch carefully so its population numbers do not tip downward toward endangered status.
"Female Box turtles have shown great determination in getting to a preferred nest site," Gibson said. "They often travel surprisingly long distances over rough terrain that may include crossing shallow creeks and small ponds. One female in the study traveled for more than a mile one way."
When asked about possible difficulties in accessing her research plots during winter with the unpredictable snow depths typical of this area, Gibson grins and says confidently, "No worries!" in true Australian fashion!
Hot on the tracks of box turtles