Movement of Box Turtles & Studies of Forest Buffer Zones
	Many species of animals that inhabit wetlands may move into upland forests during certain times of the year. Adult spotted salamanders, for example, live in underground burrows in forests that surround wetlands. The adults migrate during the breeding season to mate and lay eggs in vernal ponds, then return to their forest retreats where they spend the remainder of the year. The eastern box turtle often moves from upland forests to wetlands during the hottest summer months and may use shallow pools and muddy areas to cool their bodies. Because many wetland species shuffle back and forth seasonally between wetlands and surrounding forests, scientists are trying to delineate the minimum diameter of forest buffers that will sustain populations of resident species.
		We have been studying the eastern box turtle to examine seasonal movements and determine buffer use. Over the past two years, 31turtles have been outfitted with radiotransmitters for some period of time. Each time that turtles are located, data on microhabitat features such as soil temperature and moisture, coverage by herbaceous and woody plants, and proximity to water bodies are collected in order to better define the habitat requirements of this species.