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Marine Science

Marine Science

Senior Theses 2007

Rebecca Xiques (2007).  A study of home range, movement and thermoregulatory patterns of Elaphe guttata in East Tennessee using radiotelemetry.
Faculty Advisor: Peter Meylan

ABSTRACT

Radio telemetry is a proven tool to collect detailed information on movements and internal body temperatures of vertebrates. This method was used to study Elaphe guttata, a common snake in the Southeast, for which information is scarce. Ten E. guttata were studied in East Tennessee using radio telemetry, and home range was calculated from five E. guttata from global positioning system (GPS) data. Mean home range was 5.07 ha and mean body temperature was 25.6 ± 3.5°C. Movement in E. guttata is linked to body and air temperature and to resource availability. Egg temperatures, which have never been observed in the wild, were 22.8 ± 0.3°C.

Student Research

Given the close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and subtropical climate, the Tampa Bay region has a high concentration of marine research and academic institutions. Because of many local connections in the Tampa Bay area, a large number of opportunities are available to our students through government and private marine agencies and laboratories, public aquaria, marine conservation institutions, environmental consulting firms, and commercial aquaculture firms.

$1 Million Renovation Project

GMSL patio

The National Science Foundation awarded Eckerd College $870,720 to renovate research spaces within the Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory during the summer of 2011. Eckerd contributions to the project bring the total renovation budget to over $1 million. Learn more.