Previous studies have reported all categories of diel behavior (diurnal, nocturnal and crepuscular) in the genus Sternotherus (Smith and Iverson, 2004; Bancroft et al., 1983; Graham and Hutchinson, 1979; Lagler, 1943; Mahmoud, 1969; Ernst, 1986; Dodd et al., 1988; Dodd, 1986).
Because others have reported a variety of diel behaviors for the genus Sternotherus, we hypothesize that there will be no significant difference in turtle movement behavior between darkness, daylight or crepuscular periods when considering (1) frequency of movement, (2) distance traveled, (3) gender frequency of movement and (4) gender distance traveled.
This propensity for a more nocturnal movement behavior has been widely reported in the genus Sternotherus. For example, Ernst et al.
genus Sternotherus - musk turtles