Abstract - Terrapene carolina bauri (Florida Box Turtle) is a species of conservation interest that ranges throughout peninsular Florida. Florida Box Turtles utilize a number of habitat types throughout the state, but limited information has been collected in the southern extent of their range. We investigated the home range (HR) and habitat usage of a coastal population of Florida Box Turtles in southwestern Florida for 3 tracking periods (2020– 2021, 2021–2022, and 2022–2023) via radiotelemetry. We found variation in HR between sexes, with males exhibiting larger home-range estimates. Estimated HR was 3.68–7.54 ha for males and 1.74–2.87 ha for females depending on estimate type. We detected no significant differences in HR between tracking periods or wet and dry seasons. However, we did observe a significant interaction between season and sex indicating male HR in both seasons was greater than that of females. Our evaluation of second-order habitat selection revealed that turtles preferred coastal grassland habitat during all 3 tracking periods. Second-order selection also indicated that turtles avoided both ephemeral habitats lacking water from drought, and areas of anthropogenic influence. Third-order selection indicated variation among tracking periods in the most selected habitat, with hammock and grassland being selected for in different periods. Similarly, turtles selected against flooded grasslands and dunes. These preferences for multiple habitats may support Florida Box Turtles as an opportunistic generalist, capable of using a mosaic of habitats and resources. These data provide critical information on the ecology of a species that is understudied in the southern Florida region and may aid in conservation decisions in the future.

Box turtle (Terrapene spp.) reproduction has been relatively well studied in northern populations inhabiting more seasonal climates but is much less understood in the subtropics. We assessed female reproduction of T. bauri in southwestern Florida by quantifying courtship, mating, seasonal timing of nesting, clutch frequency, and clutch size. Box turtles were observed courting or mating in 10 out of 12 mo. Radiographs revealed oviducal eggs from January to August. To our knowledge, this is the earliest recorded detection of eggs in wild box turtles. Individual turtles produced 2-4 clutches of 1-5 eggs in a nesting season. This study provides further evidence that turtle populations at warmer climates exhibit extended reproductive seasons compared with similar populations in cooler climates.

The reproductive output of Malaclemys terrapin (Diamond-backed Terrapin) is highly variable across its geographic range. While much of the literature is based on populations from the Atlantic coast of the United States, little reproductive-output data exists for the Gulf of Mexico populations. We captured female Diamond-backed Terrapins in southwestern Louisiana and assessed their reproductive output using radiographic- and ultrasound-imaging techniques. X-rays identified that average clutch size was 7.2 and average egg width was 21.9 mm. We revealed a positive relationship between female size (plastron length) and both clutch size and egg width, but no relationship between egg size and clutch size. Ultrasound imaging in a subset of individuals revealed large pre-ovulatory follicles and fully shelled eggs concurrently in females, indicating the potential for at least 2 clutches annually in this region. Our results suggest Diamond-backed Terrapins in southwestern Louisiana show variation in reproductive output compared to other populations at similar latitudes, indicating the need for additional study within and between populations in the region.