Application of operative environmental temperatures to analysis of basking behavior in Chrysemys picta
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Basking behavior was studied in a northern population of painted turtles, Chrysemys picta. Total radiation, air and water temperatures were obtained and related to hourly basking frequency patterns to determine environmental cues used for basking. Peak basking frequencies occurred in the morning and were associated with operative environmental temperatures (Te; an index of the thermal environment) close to selected body temperature for painted turtles (21.4 C). Observed basking patterns suggested that turtles in the present study used available air and water temperatures to maintain high body temperature over an entire day. Two patterns of hourly basking frequency, bimodal and unimodal, were observed. On days when bimodal basking patterns occurred, fewer turtles basked per hour, the first basking peak occurred earlier, and air and water temperatures were warmer than when unimodal basking patterns were observed.
Journal
Herpetologica
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Volume
41
ISBN/ISSN
1938-5099
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Issue
2
Pages Count
7
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Publisher
Herpetologists' League
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