Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns in Two Terrestrial Turtles

Sympatric box turtles (Terrapene carolina) and wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in south-central Pennsylvania possess the following contrasting constellations of characteristics. Clemmys have large home ranges and long daily foraging paths, include green leaves among their major diet categories, remain active during summer dry periods, and are restricted to lowland areas. Terrapene have small home ranges and short daily foraging paths, do not eat green leaves, generally are inactive during dry spells, and occur in both the lowlands and the dry summits of the folded Appalachians. These differences appear to be associated with the turtles' different ways of com- batting desiccation, and with spatial and temporal food distribution patterns.