Home Range and Habitat Use of the Exotic Turtle Chelydra serpentina in the Inbanuma Basin, Chiba Prefecture, Central Japan

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Home-range size and habitat use of the introduced snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) were examined in an agricultural landscape of the Inbanuma Basin, central Japan. Twenty-eight subadult and adult turtles were tracked in 2002 and 2003 using radio telemetry. Home-range size did not significantly differ between sexes and was not affected by tracking period or the body size. Mean home-range sizes estimated using 50% kernel, 95% kernel, and maximum stream length were 0.9 ha, 3.9 ha, and 393 m, respectively. Habitat used by large turtles during the active season was restricted to the stream. Smaller turtles tended to use agricultural areas, such as paddy fields and ditches. The frequency of the stream use was low during the overwintering period. Considering that the adult mortality greatly affects population dynamics, introduced snapping turtles could be eradicated by trapping in streams.
日本爬虫両棲類学会の論文