Preliminary studies and collections of specimens were made at a number
of localities in northeastern Kansas in 1953 and 1954. Two small areas
were finally selected for more intensive study. One of these areas,
the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation, five and
one-half miles north-northeast of Lawrence in the northeasternmost
section of Douglas County, Kansas, is a tract of 590 acres maintained
as a natural area for biological investigations. Slightly less than
two thirds (338 acres) of the Reservation is wooded; the remainder
consists of open areas having vegetation ranging from undisturbed
prairie grassland to weedy, partly brushy fields (Fitch, 1952).
Although ornate box turtles were not numerous at the Reservation, the
area was selected for study because: 1) there was a minimum of
interference there from man and none from domestic animals; 2) the
vegetation of the Reservation is typical of areas where _T. ornata_
and _T. carolina_ occur sympatrically (actually only one specimen of
_T. carolina_ has been seen at the Reservation); and, 3) availability
of biological and climatological data there greatly facilitated the
present study. Actual field work at the Reservation consisted of
studies of hibernation and long-term observations on movements of a
few box turtles.
A much larger number of individuals was intensively studied on a tract
of land, owned by Sophia Damm, situated 12 miles west and one and
one-half miles north of Lawrence in the northwestern quarter of
Douglas County, Kansas. The Damm Farm lies on the southern slope of a
prominence--extending northwestward from Lawrence to Topeka--that
separates the Kansas River Valley from the watershed of the Wakarusa
River to the south. The prominence has an elevation of approximately
1100 feet and is dissected on both sides by small valleys draining
into the two larger river valleys.
The Damm Farm (see Pl. 15) has a total area of approximately 220
acres. The crest of a hill extends diagonally from the middle of the
northern edge approximately two thirds of the distance to the
southwestern corner. Another hill is in the extreme northwestern
corner of the study area.
The northeastern 22 acres were wooded and had small patches of
overgrazed pasture. Trees in the wooded area were Black Walnut
(_Juglans nigra_), Elms (_Ulmus americana_, _U. rubra_), Cottonwood
(_Populus deltoides_), and Northern Prickly Ash (_Xanthoxylum
americanum_). The areas used as pasture had thick growths of Buckbush
(_Symphoricarpos orbiculatus_) mixed with short grasses (_Bromus
japonicus_, _Muhlenbergia Schreberi_, and _Poa pratensis_). Farm
buildings were situated in the wooded area at the end of an entry
road. The southeastern 74 acres were cultivated; corn, wheat, and milo
were grown here and fallow fields had a sparse growth of weeds.
Most of the western two thirds of the study area, comprising 124
acres, was open rolling prairie (hereafter referred to as "pasture")
upon which beef-cattle were grazed (Pl. 16, Fig. 1; Pl. 17, Fig. 1;
Pl. 18, Fig. 2). Rock fences (Pl. 17, Fig. 2) two to four feet high
bordered the northern edge, southern edge, and one half of western
edge of the pasture. A wagon track lead from a gate on the entry road,
along the crest of the hill, to a gate in the southern fence. Except
for the latter gate and for ocassional under-cut places in low areas,
there were no openings in the rock fences through which box turtles
could pass. A few trees--American Elm, Hackberry (_Celtis
occidentalis_), Red Mulberry (_Morus rubra_), Osage Orange (_Maclura
pomifera_), Black Cherry (_Prunus serotina_), Box-Elder (_Acer
Negundo_), and Dogwood (_Cornus Drummondi_)--were scattered along
fences at the borders of the pasture and in ravines. Larger trees in a
small wooded creek-bed at the southwestern edge of the pasture were
chiefly Cottonwood, American Elm, Red Mulberry, and Black Willow
(_Salix nigra_). The only trees growing on the pasture itself were a
few small Osage Orange, none of which bore fruit.
Paths were worn along fences by cattle and in several places near the
fence, usually beneath shade trees, there were large bare places where
cattle congregated. Vegetation near paths and bare places was weedy
and in some places there were tall stands of Smooth Sumac (_Rhus
glabra_).
Rich stands of prairie grasses occurred along the top of the hill in
the pasture; bluestems (_Andropogon gerardi_, _A. scoparius_) were the
dominant species and Switchgrass (_Panicum virgatum_) and Indian grass
(_Sorghastrum nutans_) were scattered throughout. A number of small
areas on top of the hill were moderately overgrazed, as indicated by
mixture of native grasses with an association of shorter plants
consisting chiefly of Ragweed (_Ambrosia artemisiifolia_ var.
_elatior_), Mugwort (_Artemisia ludoviciana_), Japanese Chess (_Bromus
japonicus_), and Asters (_Aster_ sp.).
The upper parts of the hillsides were overgrazed moderately to
heavily. Limestone rocks of various sizes were partly embedded in soil
or lay loose at the surface. Depressions beneath rocks provided
shelter for box turtles as well as for other small vertebrates. Native
grasses were sparse in this area and gave way to Sideoats Grama
(_Bouteloua curtipendula_), extensive patches of Smooth Sumac, and
scattered colonies of Buckbrush.
Tall grasses were dominant on the lower hillsides and small patches of
Slough grass (_Spartina pectinata_) grew in moist areas. Ravines
originated at small intermittent springs on the sides of the hill. The
banks of ravines were high and steep and more or less bare of
vegetation. High, dense stands of Slough grass grew at intermittent
springs and along the courses of ravines; sedges (_Carex_, sp.) grew
where small pools of water formed and created marshy conditions.
Prairie grasses along the tops of ravine embankments formed a narrow
overhanging canopy of vegetation that was accentuated in many places
where the sod was under-cut by erosion or by the activities of
burrowing animals (Pl. 18, Fig. 1). Box turtles frequently sought
shelter beneath this vegetational canopy or burrowed beneath the sod.
On the highest part of the pasture near the entry road several small
areas were nearly bare, presumably because of heavy overgrazing;
grasses (except for scattered clumps of _Bouteloua curtipendula_ and
_Setaria lutescens_) were absent and dominant vegetation consisted of
Buffalo-bur (_Solanum rostratum_), Blue Vervain (_Verbena hastata_),
Mullein (_Verbascum Thapsus_), Ragweed, Asters, and a few Prickly Pear
(_Opuntia humifusa_). Two small areas on the pasture completely lacked
vegetation; these may have been wallows or the sites of old
salt-licks.
Three shallow stock ponds, behind earthen dikes in ravines, were
present on the pasture. The pond near the farm buildings ("House
Pond") and that in the southwestern part of the pasture ("Far Pond")
were present when studies of box turtles were begun. The largest pond,
in a deep ravine in the northern part of the pasture, was constructed
in June, 1956, and became filled in approximately one month (Pls. 16
and 18). Pond embankments were chiefly bare of vegetation because of
trampling by cattle; in a few places at the edge of the water, or in
places too steep for cattle to walk, there were small patches of
weeds, sedges, and Slough Grass. The ponds contained some water at all
times of the year. The only vertebrates permanently inhabiting the
ponds in the course of my studies were Bullfrogs (_Rana catesbeiana_)
and Leopard frogs (_Rana pipiens_).
The three parts of the pasture in which studies were concentrated were
designated as separate subdivisions. The northwest corner area (28
acres) was triangular and bounded on two sides by rock fences and on
its third side by a deep ravine. The southern ravine area (17 acres)
constituted the part of the lower southern hillside drained by a
series of ravines. The house pond area (seven acres) surrounded "House
Pond." Habitat in these three subdivisions of the pasture was
especially favorable for box turtles.