Abstract. An 8-wk mark-and-recapture study using baited fyke nets showed that native red-bellied cooters (Pseudemys rubriventris) (estimated population 738–3618) were more abundant than non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) (estimated population 256–520) in Lake Matoaka in southeastern Virginia. Red-bellied cooters have maintained a similarly large population since a prior study in 2004 with a balanced female:male sex ratio of 0.91:1, but over that time, capture of red-eared sliders has increased almost 5-fold; their size distribution is broader than that of red-bellied cooters, and their sex ratio is dominated by females (2.02:1). Persistence of native red-bellied cooters in Lake Matoaka may be challenged by the apparent ongoing growth of the invasive red-eared slider population.
摘要在弗吉尼亚州东南部的马托卡湖（Lake Matoaka）进行的一项为期8周的带饵耙网标记与再捕获研究表明，本地红腹疣鼻鲉（Pseudemys rubriventris）（估计种群数量为738-3618只）比非本地红耳滑蜥（Trachemys scripta elegans）（估计种群数量为256-520只）数量更多。自 2004 年的一项先前研究以来，红腹滨鹬的种群数量同样庞大，雌雄性别比为 0.91:1，但在此期间，红耳滑蜥的捕获量增加了近 5 倍；其体型分布比红腹滨鹬更广，性别比以雌性为主（2.02:1）。入侵的红耳滑舌蟾种群的明显增长可能会对马托卡湖本地红腹滨鹬的生存构成挑战。
{"title":"Population Demographics of Native Red-Bellied Cooters and Invasive Red-Eared Sliders in a Virginia Lake","authors":"Cypress Ambrose, Abigail DeCesare, R. Chambers","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1587.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1587.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. An 8-wk mark-and-recapture study using baited fyke nets showed that native red-bellied cooters (Pseudemys rubriventris) (estimated population 738–3618) were more abundant than non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) (estimated population 256–520) in Lake Matoaka in southeastern Virginia. Red-bellied cooters have maintained a similarly large population since a prior study in 2004 with a balanced female:male sex ratio of 0.91:1, but over that time, capture of red-eared sliders has increased almost 5-fold; their size distribution is broader than that of red-bellied cooters, and their sex ratio is dominated by females (2.02:1). Persistence of native red-bellied cooters in Lake Matoaka may be challenged by the apparent ongoing growth of the invasive red-eared slider population.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"113 - 118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141685071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joshua Smith, Kaylyn Hobelman, Aubrey Gauntt, Samuel Wagner, Layne Hodge, Michelle Decker, Benjamin M. Reed
Abstract. – Understanding which factors make an individual susceptible to parasitism provides insight on how a parasite infects a host. Numerous factors such as habitat characteristics, body size, and sex have shown differential impacts on parasitism rates. Trends in parasitism rate often exist for similar taxonomic groups, so expanding research to new species helps test the robustness of such trends. A chelonian-specific ectoparasite, Cistudinomyia cistudinis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), has been documented in case studies dating back a century. Almost all reports of infection by this flesh fly are of a single or few turtles, so there is a lack of information regarding the population dynamics of infection. This lack of information means little is known about which factors make a turtle more or less likely to be parasitized. In this work, we compared the occurrences of parasitism in ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) populations across multiple seasons from 2 different habitats in northeastern Kansas (North Topeka and Lawrence). At the population level, we found a significantly higher number of parasitized turtles in the Lawrence population. Within the Lawrence population, we found females were more likely to be parasitized. This study sets baseline infection rates for a long-lived vertebrate host that can help better understand the reasons for parasitism both among and within populations.
{"title":"Variable Rates of Parasitism on Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) in Eastern Kansas by the Chelonian-Specific Ectoparasite Cistudinomyia cistudinis","authors":"Joshua Smith, Kaylyn Hobelman, Aubrey Gauntt, Samuel Wagner, Layne Hodge, Michelle Decker, Benjamin M. Reed","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1586","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. – Understanding which factors make an individual susceptible to parasitism provides insight on how a parasite infects a host. Numerous factors such as habitat characteristics, body size, and sex have shown differential impacts on parasitism rates. Trends in parasitism rate often exist for similar taxonomic groups, so expanding research to new species helps test the robustness of such trends. A chelonian-specific ectoparasite, Cistudinomyia cistudinis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), has been documented in case studies dating back a century. Almost all reports of infection by this flesh fly are of a single or few turtles, so there is a lack of information regarding the population dynamics of infection. This lack of information means little is known about which factors make a turtle more or less likely to be parasitized. In this work, we compared the occurrences of parasitism in ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) populations across multiple seasons from 2 different habitats in northeastern Kansas (North Topeka and Lawrence). At the population level, we found a significantly higher number of parasitized turtles in the Lawrence population. Within the Lawrence population, we found females were more likely to be parasitized. This study sets baseline infection rates for a long-lived vertebrate host that can help better understand the reasons for parasitism both among and within populations.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"9 3","pages":"75 - 80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141687265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kaili M. Gregory, Cat Darst, Samantha M. Lantz, Katherine Powelson, Don Ashton, Robert N. Fisher, B. Halstead, Brian Hubbs, J. Lovich, Conor P. McGowan
Abstract. In the first range-wide population viability model for the northwestern and southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida, respectively), a stage-based population projection matrix was assembled with 3 life stages: hatchling, juvenile, and adult. Vital rates were defined using biologically appropriate statistical distributions, with additional parametric uncertainty included for the adult survival parameter. A triple-loop stochastic simulation model was built around a population viability analysis to project pond turtle populations into the future. Initial abundance was calculated using available historical presence data and remotely sensed landscape condition metrics. A negative binomial regression was used to predict the relationship between abundance, habitat area, and human modification. Populations of pond turtles are dominated by adult individuals, so we applied a nonstable stage distribution to initial abundance values. Initial abundances of analysis units were variable across the species' ranges, but all populations declined precipitously in the population projections. By the end of the century, the mean range-wide probability of extinction was 44.3% for the northwestern species and 57.8% for the southwestern species. Consistent with other long-lived chelonian species, population growth rate was most sensitive to adult survival, indicating that where possible, conservation efforts focusing on increasing or maintaining adult survival would benefit the species. Elasticity analysis indicated a bet-hedging life history strategy where long-term reproductive output is maximized through longevity, small clutches, and frequent reproductive bouts in the face of highly variable juvenile survival. The population dynamics presented here indicate that efforts to bolster adult survival would be most beneficial in terms of long-term population viability, which can inform targeted research and management. The feasibility of such efforts is an important consideration in conservation management for these long-lived species.
{"title":"Population Viability Analysis for Two Species of Imperiled Freshwater Turtles","authors":"Kaili M. Gregory, Cat Darst, Samantha M. Lantz, Katherine Powelson, Don Ashton, Robert N. Fisher, B. Halstead, Brian Hubbs, J. Lovich, Conor P. McGowan","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1593.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1593.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. In the first range-wide population viability model for the northwestern and southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida, respectively), a stage-based population projection matrix was assembled with 3 life stages: hatchling, juvenile, and adult. Vital rates were defined using biologically appropriate statistical distributions, with additional parametric uncertainty included for the adult survival parameter. A triple-loop stochastic simulation model was built around a population viability analysis to project pond turtle populations into the future. Initial abundance was calculated using available historical presence data and remotely sensed landscape condition metrics. A negative binomial regression was used to predict the relationship between abundance, habitat area, and human modification. Populations of pond turtles are dominated by adult individuals, so we applied a nonstable stage distribution to initial abundance values. Initial abundances of analysis units were variable across the species' ranges, but all populations declined precipitously in the population projections. By the end of the century, the mean range-wide probability of extinction was 44.3% for the northwestern species and 57.8% for the southwestern species. Consistent with other long-lived chelonian species, population growth rate was most sensitive to adult survival, indicating that where possible, conservation efforts focusing on increasing or maintaining adult survival would benefit the species. Elasticity analysis indicated a bet-hedging life history strategy where long-term reproductive output is maximized through longevity, small clutches, and frequent reproductive bouts in the face of highly variable juvenile survival. The population dynamics presented here indicate that efforts to bolster adult survival would be most beneficial in terms of long-term population viability, which can inform targeted research and management. The feasibility of such efforts is an important consideration in conservation management for these long-lived species.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"7 3","pages":"1 - 12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141686030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. – To explore patterns of emigration of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), we examined movements at a study site in south-central Alabama that consisted of 2 distinct aggregations of burrows located on adjacent north and south sandhills separated by a mesic depression wash. We collected telemetry data from 41 individuals over a complete season of activity (2000–2001) and capture-mark-recapture data of those same individuals during 14 trapping sessions from 1992 to 2020. We observed a bimodal distribution of telemetry fixes, with 1 mode created by individuals with few fixes (n = 9) who also were recaptured infrequently, which we interpreted to represent emigrants. Thus, our data suggest that the proportion of a local population that emigrates each year is on the order of 20%. To characterize the degree to which resident tortoises (those recaptured ≥ 5 times over the 29-yr period) used space across the entire study site, we used 100% minimum convex polygons to examine the proportion of annual home ranges (based on telemetry data) and lifetime home ranges (based on capture-mark-recapture and telemetry data) that involved both sandhills. For annual home ranges, only a single individual (of 14 residents) occupied burrows on both hills over 1 yr. For lifetime home ranges, 9 individual residents used burrows on both hills. Lifetime home ranges were 6 times larger than annual home ranges, with longest distances between vertices of lifetime home ranges approaching distances ascribed to emigration in previous studies. A model generated from the lifetime recapture data indicated a tendency for greater apparent survival of adults compared with juveniles on the study site and for juveniles and adult females to be more likely to move from the south hill to the north hill than the opposite direction. When added to 5 additional sites for which telemetry data were gathered, we argue that emigration rate is strongly and negatively correlated with local tortoise density. We conclude that current individual-based population models correctly separate movements of animals within a local population (residents) from emigration of animals among local populations, such models require addition of density dependence when addressing emigration rate, and dispersal distances are longer than those based on studies of movements within a single season of activity.
{"title":"Annual and Lifetime Home Ranges Reveal Movement Patterns Within and Among Local Populations of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus)","authors":"Craig Guyer, J. Goessling, Brian Folt","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1603.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1603.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. – To explore patterns of emigration of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), we examined movements at a study site in south-central Alabama that consisted of 2 distinct aggregations of burrows located on adjacent north and south sandhills separated by a mesic depression wash. We collected telemetry data from 41 individuals over a complete season of activity (2000–2001) and capture-mark-recapture data of those same individuals during 14 trapping sessions from 1992 to 2020. We observed a bimodal distribution of telemetry fixes, with 1 mode created by individuals with few fixes (n = 9) who also were recaptured infrequently, which we interpreted to represent emigrants. Thus, our data suggest that the proportion of a local population that emigrates each year is on the order of 20%. To characterize the degree to which resident tortoises (those recaptured ≥ 5 times over the 29-yr period) used space across the entire study site, we used 100% minimum convex polygons to examine the proportion of annual home ranges (based on telemetry data) and lifetime home ranges (based on capture-mark-recapture and telemetry data) that involved both sandhills. For annual home ranges, only a single individual (of 14 residents) occupied burrows on both hills over 1 yr. For lifetime home ranges, 9 individual residents used burrows on both hills. Lifetime home ranges were 6 times larger than annual home ranges, with longest distances between vertices of lifetime home ranges approaching distances ascribed to emigration in previous studies. A model generated from the lifetime recapture data indicated a tendency for greater apparent survival of adults compared with juveniles on the study site and for juveniles and adult females to be more likely to move from the south hill to the north hill than the opposite direction. When added to 5 additional sites for which telemetry data were gathered, we argue that emigration rate is strongly and negatively correlated with local tortoise density. We conclude that current individual-based population models correctly separate movements of animals within a local population (residents) from emigration of animals among local populations, such models require addition of density dependence when addressing emigration rate, and dispersal distances are longer than those based on studies of movements within a single season of activity.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"8 8","pages":"81 - 91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141685964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-02DOI: 10.2744/1071-8443-23.1.133
Gwen Carlson
{"title":"A Box Turtle Named Robin","authors":"Gwen Carlson","doi":"10.2744/1071-8443-23.1.133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/1071-8443-23.1.133","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"7 16","pages":"133 - 133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141685753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Angela Picknell, Kimberly M. Stewart, Kelly R. Stewart, Michelle M. Dennis
Abstract. Northwest Atlantic leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtle populations are endangered and have low hatching success compared to other sea turtles. Hatchling survival is an important element of their conservation. This longitudinal study assessed developmental phase and pathology of leatherback embryos and hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, in 2019 to identify patterns in mortality and lesions across a nesting season, and to make regional comparisons. Hatching and emergence success averaged 63.6% and 56.6%, respectively, and both differed significantly by month. ‘Breakout’ analysis was conducted on 41 nests and showed a preponderance of unhatched eggs lacking grossly evident embryological development (52%). Necropsies were performed on 79 unhatched and dead in nest individuals from 34 nests, and most (58%) had lesions including inflammation associated with microorganisms (34%), renal mineralization (15%), mild multifocal skeletal muscle degeneration and necrosis (5%), and anatomic malformations (4%). Inflammatory lesions included chorioallantoitis, esophagitis, stomatitis, dermatitis, gastritis, and yolk sacculitis. These were associated with bacteria (n = 13), fungi (n = 4), or both (n = 7). Sex was determined histologically and was predominantly female (90%) with no males identified in nests laid after 3 April 2019. Although hatching success was higher in in situ relative to relocated nests, embryological development and lesion patterns were similar in both groups. Patterns of lesions observed in leatherback embryos and hatchlings did not differ across the season and are comparable to other Caribbean nesting sites. Future studies pairing ‘breakout’ and pathological analyses with assessments of potentially influential environmental and/or maternal factors could help develop targeted strategies for improving hatchling production.
{"title":"Assessment of Hatching and Emergence Success, Developmental Phases, and Pathology of Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Embryos and Dead-in-Nest Hatchlings on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands","authors":"Angela Picknell, Kimberly M. Stewart, Kelly R. Stewart, Michelle M. Dennis","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1617.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1617.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Northwest Atlantic leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtle populations are endangered and have low hatching success compared to other sea turtles. Hatchling survival is an important element of their conservation. This longitudinal study assessed developmental phase and pathology of leatherback embryos and hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, in 2019 to identify patterns in mortality and lesions across a nesting season, and to make regional comparisons. Hatching and emergence success averaged 63.6% and 56.6%, respectively, and both differed significantly by month. ‘Breakout’ analysis was conducted on 41 nests and showed a preponderance of unhatched eggs lacking grossly evident embryological development (52%). Necropsies were performed on 79 unhatched and dead in nest individuals from 34 nests, and most (58%) had lesions including inflammation associated with microorganisms (34%), renal mineralization (15%), mild multifocal skeletal muscle degeneration and necrosis (5%), and anatomic malformations (4%). Inflammatory lesions included chorioallantoitis, esophagitis, stomatitis, dermatitis, gastritis, and yolk sacculitis. These were associated with bacteria (n = 13), fungi (n = 4), or both (n = 7). Sex was determined histologically and was predominantly female (90%) with no males identified in nests laid after 3 April 2019. Although hatching success was higher in in situ relative to relocated nests, embryological development and lesion patterns were similar in both groups. Patterns of lesions observed in leatherback embryos and hatchlings did not differ across the season and are comparable to other Caribbean nesting sites. Future studies pairing ‘breakout’ and pathological analyses with assessments of potentially influential environmental and/or maternal factors could help develop targeted strategies for improving hatchling production.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"4 17","pages":"103 - 112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141686190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kaitlyn M. Dirr, J. Pawelek, Joshua P. Stone, Matthew E. Kimball
Abstract. – Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), the only land tortoises native to the southeastern United States, are found throughout their range in a variety of upland habitat types, with their use of upland pine-dominated habitats receiving most attention. Fewer studies have examined their use of coastal beach dune habitats, but some of the highest gopher tortoise burrow densities have been observed in this vulnerable, yet critical, habitat. Gopher tortoises construct extensive burrows for their own use, and these burrows have also been shown to support numerous other animals (i.e., commensal species) that may depend on them for critical needs (e.g., shelter, food). Motion-activated wildlife cameras allow for nonintrusive and continuous observation of burrow activity with minimal disturbance to the animals and habitat. Here we examined 10 gopher tortoise burrows over a 12-mo period using motion-activated wildlife cameras in beach dune habitat in an undeveloped section of coastline in northeast Florida. Gopher tortoises were most frequently observed during the spring and summer months (April–August), and most often during daylight hours. Gopher tortoise behaviors such as burrow maintenance, mating, foraging, and resting were all observed more during April through August, which is a slightly earlier start than these activities have been observed in inland populations. We observed a commensal community of 51 animal taxa using tortoise burrows and their aprons, 29 of which we were able to identify to species. The commensal community was generally similar to those in inland habitats, but we did observe some taxa that were previously undocumented at gopher tortoise burrows including 2 bird species and 8 insect taxa. These commensals displayed varied diel and seasonal activity patterns, with many taxa observed at burrows concurrently occupied by gopher tortoises. Considered together, our observations of gopher tortoise behavior and their commensal community in coastal beach dunes provide valuable insights into the importance of this understudied habitat and highlight distinct differences from inland ecosystems.
{"title":"Seasonal and Diel Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Activity and Burrow Use by Commensals in Coastal Beach Dune Habitat as Examined by Wildlife Cameras","authors":"Kaitlyn M. Dirr, J. Pawelek, Joshua P. Stone, Matthew E. Kimball","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1600.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1600.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. – Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), the only land tortoises native to the southeastern United States, are found throughout their range in a variety of upland habitat types, with their use of upland pine-dominated habitats receiving most attention. Fewer studies have examined their use of coastal beach dune habitats, but some of the highest gopher tortoise burrow densities have been observed in this vulnerable, yet critical, habitat. Gopher tortoises construct extensive burrows for their own use, and these burrows have also been shown to support numerous other animals (i.e., commensal species) that may depend on them for critical needs (e.g., shelter, food). Motion-activated wildlife cameras allow for nonintrusive and continuous observation of burrow activity with minimal disturbance to the animals and habitat. Here we examined 10 gopher tortoise burrows over a 12-mo period using motion-activated wildlife cameras in beach dune habitat in an undeveloped section of coastline in northeast Florida. Gopher tortoises were most frequently observed during the spring and summer months (April–August), and most often during daylight hours. Gopher tortoise behaviors such as burrow maintenance, mating, foraging, and resting were all observed more during April through August, which is a slightly earlier start than these activities have been observed in inland populations. We observed a commensal community of 51 animal taxa using tortoise burrows and their aprons, 29 of which we were able to identify to species. The commensal community was generally similar to those in inland habitats, but we did observe some taxa that were previously undocumented at gopher tortoise burrows including 2 bird species and 8 insect taxa. These commensals displayed varied diel and seasonal activity patterns, with many taxa observed at burrows concurrently occupied by gopher tortoises. Considered together, our observations of gopher tortoise behavior and their commensal community in coastal beach dunes provide valuable insights into the importance of this understudied habitat and highlight distinct differences from inland ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"76 5","pages":"35 - 47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141688488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. – Determining activity rhythms is crucial for understanding the life history, ecology, and evolution of an animal species. Due to various anthropogenic threats, wild populations of Reeves' turtle (Mauremys reevesii) are diminishing throughout its geographic range in East Asia. Despite the endangered conservation status of this species, little is known about its activity rhythm. Therefore, the focus of this study was to radio track 23 wild Reeves' turtles in the field to determine their daily and seasonal activity patterns. We identified the Reeves' turtle as both diurnal and nocturnal, rather than the traditional classification of diurnal, with an average daily activity peak between 1800 and 2000 hours. In spring, the frequency of diurnal activity was higher than that of nocturnal activity, and males were significantly more active than females. In summer, total activity frequency increased significantly and was predominantly nocturnal, with no significant difference in activity found between males and females. In autumn, nocturnal activity decreased and males were significantly more active than females overall. Reeves' turtles hibernated from the end of October to mid-April. Our results elucidate the daily and seasonal activity rhythms of Reeves' turtles, thus providing a reference for understanding the life history of the species and potentially improving future conservation planning.
{"title":"Daily and Seasonal Activity Rhythms of Wild Reeves' Turtles (Mauremys reevesii) in Qichun County, China","authors":"R. Bu, Zihao Ye, Hai‐Tao Shi","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1592.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1592.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. – Determining activity rhythms is crucial for understanding the life history, ecology, and evolution of an animal species. Due to various anthropogenic threats, wild populations of Reeves' turtle (Mauremys reevesii) are diminishing throughout its geographic range in East Asia. Despite the endangered conservation status of this species, little is known about its activity rhythm. Therefore, the focus of this study was to radio track 23 wild Reeves' turtles in the field to determine their daily and seasonal activity patterns. We identified the Reeves' turtle as both diurnal and nocturnal, rather than the traditional classification of diurnal, with an average daily activity peak between 1800 and 2000 hours. In spring, the frequency of diurnal activity was higher than that of nocturnal activity, and males were significantly more active than females. In summer, total activity frequency increased significantly and was predominantly nocturnal, with no significant difference in activity found between males and females. In autumn, nocturnal activity decreased and males were significantly more active than females overall. Reeves' turtles hibernated from the end of October to mid-April. Our results elucidate the daily and seasonal activity rhythms of Reeves' turtles, thus providing a reference for understanding the life history of the species and potentially improving future conservation planning.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"39 6","pages":"23 - 29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141687765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristin H. Berry, J. Mack, K. M. Anderson, Michael W. Tuma
Abstract. – In the wild, prereproductive Agassiz's Desert Tortoises rarely co-occur in burrows, which we determined by tracking 83 head-started and translocated juvenile and immature tortoises with radio transmitters at least once per month between 2013 and 2022. We observed only 2 instances of co-occurrence at burrows out of 4622 locations; 594 of these locations were at burrows often used repeatedly during temperature extremes in summer and late fall and winter. One occurrence was brief and defensive, and the other transitory cohabitation.
{"title":"Young, Wild Desert Tortoises Lead Solitary Lives","authors":"Kristin H. Berry, J. Mack, K. M. Anderson, Michael W. Tuma","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1608.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1608.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. – In the wild, prereproductive Agassiz's Desert Tortoises rarely co-occur in burrows, which we determined by tracking 83 head-started and translocated juvenile and immature tortoises with radio transmitters at least once per month between 2013 and 2022. We observed only 2 instances of co-occurrence at burrows out of 4622 locations; 594 of these locations were at burrows often used repeatedly during temperature extremes in summer and late fall and winter. One occurrence was brief and defensive, and the other transitory cohabitation.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"28 49","pages":"130 - 132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141684659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. The Scorpion Mud Turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) has been recognized by most recent authors to be a single species (3 subspecies) ranging from Tamaulipas, Mexico, to northern Argentina. However, recent molecular analyses have demonstrated that it is not monophyletic, but rather paraphyletic relative to other Neotropical Kinosternon. Based on extensive genetic sampling across the range of this species, a recent paper elevated the 3 subspecies (albogulare, cruentatum, and scorpioides) to species status, confirmed the divergence of Pacific and Atlantic versant populations of K. cruentatum, and recommended that both be given species status. However, the type locality of K. cruentatum is imprecise, making the allocation of the name problematic. Our study sought to determine the provenance of the type using morphometric analysis of specimens from across the range. That analysis demonstrates unequivocally that the type of K. cruentatum was collected on the Atlantic versant, likely from an eastern population. Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that the type of K. mexicanum, previously synonymized with K. cruentatum, was collected from along the Pacific versant. Hence, the name K. cruentatum should be restricted to populations in Atlantic drainages, and the name K. mexicanum should be restricted to Pacific drainages. Our analysis also indicated divergence among the 3 allopatric Atlantic versant populations, but future genetic work will be needed to determine whether they merit taxonomic recognition.
摘要蝎纹泥龟（Kinosternon scorpioides）一直被大多数作者认为是一个单一物种（3 个亚种），分布于墨西哥塔毛利帕斯到阿根廷北部。然而，最近的分子分析表明，相对于其他新热带地区的 Kinosternon 而言，它不是单系的，而是旁系的。根据在该物种分布区进行的广泛遗传采样，最近的一篇论文将 3 个亚种（albogulare、cruentatum 和 scorpioides）提升为物种地位，确认了 K. cruentatum 太平洋种群和大西洋种群的分化，并建议将两者都列为物种。然而，K. cruentatum 的模式产地并不精确，因此该名称的分配很成问题。我们的研究试图通过对整个分布区的标本进行形态计量分析来确定模式产地。该分析明确表明，K. cruentatum 的模式标本采集于大西洋沿岸，很可能来自东部种群。此外，该分析还显示，之前与 K. cruentatum 同名的 K. mexicanum 的模式标本是在太平洋两岸采集的。因此，K. cruentatum 的名称应仅限于大西洋流域的种群，而 K. mexicanum 的名称应仅限于太平洋流域。我们的分析还表明，大西洋两岸的 3 个异源种群之间存在分化，但还需要未来的遗传学工作来确定它们是否值得分类学上的认可。
{"title":"Morphometric Variation in the Red-Cheeked Mud Turtle (Kinosternon cruentatum) and its Taxonomic Implications","authors":"John B. Iverson, James F. Berry","doi":"10.2744/CCB-1589.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1589.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The Scorpion Mud Turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) has been recognized by most recent authors to be a single species (3 subspecies) ranging from Tamaulipas, Mexico, to northern Argentina. However, recent molecular analyses have demonstrated that it is not monophyletic, but rather paraphyletic relative to other Neotropical Kinosternon. Based on extensive genetic sampling across the range of this species, a recent paper elevated the 3 subspecies (albogulare, cruentatum, and scorpioides) to species status, confirmed the divergence of Pacific and Atlantic versant populations of K. cruentatum, and recommended that both be given species status. However, the type locality of K. cruentatum is imprecise, making the allocation of the name problematic. Our study sought to determine the provenance of the type using morphometric analysis of specimens from across the range. That analysis demonstrates unequivocally that the type of K. cruentatum was collected on the Atlantic versant, likely from an eastern population. Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that the type of K. mexicanum, previously synonymized with K. cruentatum, was collected from along the Pacific versant. Hence, the name K. cruentatum should be restricted to populations in Atlantic drainages, and the name K. mexicanum should be restricted to Pacific drainages. Our analysis also indicated divergence among the 3 allopatric Atlantic versant populations, but future genetic work will be needed to determine whether they merit taxonomic recognition.","PeriodicalId":126915,"journal":{"name":"Chelonian Conservation and Biology: Celebrating 25 Years as the World's Turtle and Tortoise Journal","volume":"35 18","pages":"13 - 22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141838174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：