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.