Abstract. Nearly all studies of lizard behavior have been conducted on adults. Therefore, an important part of the lizard life cycle has been overlooked, the neonate stage. Lizards hatch at about the same time, briefly causing high density and increased chances that neonates engage in aggressive encounters. We studied the behavior of neonate Little Brown Skinks (Scincella lateralis) by staging a series of dyadic encounters between pairs of neonates in the laboratory. Two neonates were confined in an observation chamber on either side of a partition for 48 h. The partition was then removed, a single retreat was placed in the center of the observation chamber, and the behavior of the two neonates was recorded for 60 min. Neonate Little Brown Skinks almost never showed aggressive behaviors, such as biting and chasing, exhibited by adults. Neonates segregated themselves on opposite sides of the observation chamber when active on the surface, but frequently simultaneously occupied the retreat, something that almost never happens in adults. Limited data on species of skinks that form stable aggregations suggest that retreat sharing by neonates or juveniles may be common in members of the Scincidae.
{"title":"Lack of Aggressive Behavior between Neonates of Little Brown Skinks (Scincella lateralis)","authors":"M. Paulissen, Katie Fletcher","doi":"10.1670/22-038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-038","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Nearly all studies of lizard behavior have been conducted on adults. Therefore, an important part of the lizard life cycle has been overlooked, the neonate stage. Lizards hatch at about the same time, briefly causing high density and increased chances that neonates engage in aggressive encounters. We studied the behavior of neonate Little Brown Skinks (Scincella lateralis) by staging a series of dyadic encounters between pairs of neonates in the laboratory. Two neonates were confined in an observation chamber on either side of a partition for 48 h. The partition was then removed, a single retreat was placed in the center of the observation chamber, and the behavior of the two neonates was recorded for 60 min. Neonate Little Brown Skinks almost never showed aggressive behaviors, such as biting and chasing, exhibited by adults. Neonates segregated themselves on opposite sides of the observation chamber when active on the surface, but frequently simultaneously occupied the retreat, something that almost never happens in adults. Limited data on species of skinks that form stable aggregations suggest that retreat sharing by neonates or juveniles may be common in members of the Scincidae.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"87 - 91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43080579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. Crocodilians occupy diverse aquatic and riparian habitats, and through their movements and ontogenetic niche shifts, link the flow of energy and nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial food webs. We analyzed the trophic ecology of African dwarf crocodiles Osteolaemus tetraspis and O. osborni at one site for each species in Cameroon by analyzing carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. We hypothesized that Osteolaemus species inhabiting a perennial river would be primarily associated with aquatic food webs, whereas those inhabiting a small ephemeral stream would assimilate significant fractions of terrestrial-derived material into their biomass. We also hypothesized that Osteolaemus species would undergo ontogenetic trophic shifts, including changes in vertical trophic position (TP). We found that crocodiles in both systems assimilated material from both terrestrial and aquatic-based food chains, and therefore provide a trophic link between habitats. In the perennial river, aquatic gastropods, fish, and amphibians were estimated to have higher maximum feasible contributions to crocodile biomass than terrestrial invertebrates. Prey contributions to crocodile biomass in the ephemeral stream could not be estimated because model results suggested that at least one important prey had not been sampled. Even though isotopic overlap was high between juveniles and adults, and between sexes, ontogenetic shifts in TP were apparent in both Osteolaemus populations.
{"title":"Trophic Ecology of African Dwarf Crocodiles (Osteolaemus spp.) in Perennial and Ephemeral Aquatic Habitats","authors":"N. Smolensky, Lee FitzGerald, K. Winemiller","doi":"10.1670/21-076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/21-076","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Crocodilians occupy diverse aquatic and riparian habitats, and through their movements and ontogenetic niche shifts, link the flow of energy and nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial food webs. We analyzed the trophic ecology of African dwarf crocodiles Osteolaemus tetraspis and O. osborni at one site for each species in Cameroon by analyzing carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. We hypothesized that Osteolaemus species inhabiting a perennial river would be primarily associated with aquatic food webs, whereas those inhabiting a small ephemeral stream would assimilate significant fractions of terrestrial-derived material into their biomass. We also hypothesized that Osteolaemus species would undergo ontogenetic trophic shifts, including changes in vertical trophic position (TP). We found that crocodiles in both systems assimilated material from both terrestrial and aquatic-based food chains, and therefore provide a trophic link between habitats. In the perennial river, aquatic gastropods, fish, and amphibians were estimated to have higher maximum feasible contributions to crocodile biomass than terrestrial invertebrates. Prey contributions to crocodile biomass in the ephemeral stream could not be estimated because model results suggested that at least one important prey had not been sampled. Even though isotopic overlap was high between juveniles and adults, and between sexes, ontogenetic shifts in TP were apparent in both Osteolaemus populations.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"60 - 69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46887136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. Most of the literature on the basic ecology of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) cites “cryptic color pattern” as their first line of defense against predation, and yet the degree to which Texas Horned Lizards color match their backgrounds has never been quantified. Several zoos and state wildlife agencies are releasing captive-bred and translocated lizards to parts of their former range. Background color matching may be important to consider when moving lizards into a new habitat where predation may be higher if they are not closely color matched to the local soils. We asked whether lizards more closely match their local soil colors and sun-bleached plant stems than soils and stems from other areas. We found that lizards more closely match their local soil colors than they do the soil colors of other areas and that their vertebral white stripe matches sun-bleached plant stems more than other objects in their environment. We also present background color-matching variation for this taxon in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico from in situ photos taken, as found, in the wild. We suggest that zoos and wildlife agencies score coloration in their captive populations of lizards, thus possibly enabling these institutions to objectively consider color matching a priori as an applied conservation strategy to potentially increase the survival of reintroduced Texas Horned Lizards.
{"title":"Background Color Matching in Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum)","authors":"Dustin D. Rhoads, Dean A Williams","doi":"10.1670/22-008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Most of the literature on the basic ecology of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) cites “cryptic color pattern” as their first line of defense against predation, and yet the degree to which Texas Horned Lizards color match their backgrounds has never been quantified. Several zoos and state wildlife agencies are releasing captive-bred and translocated lizards to parts of their former range. Background color matching may be important to consider when moving lizards into a new habitat where predation may be higher if they are not closely color matched to the local soils. We asked whether lizards more closely match their local soil colors and sun-bleached plant stems than soils and stems from other areas. We found that lizards more closely match their local soil colors than they do the soil colors of other areas and that their vertebral white stripe matches sun-bleached plant stems more than other objects in their environment. We also present background color-matching variation for this taxon in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico from in situ photos taken, as found, in the wild. We suggest that zoos and wildlife agencies score coloration in their captive populations of lizards, thus possibly enabling these institutions to objectively consider color matching a priori as an applied conservation strategy to potentially increase the survival of reintroduced Texas Horned Lizards.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"27 - 35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45425498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. Monitoring populations of cryptic reptiles is challenging because of their crypticity. Occupancy monitoring is a useful technique for local populations, but seasonal unavailability for detection can result in large swings in apparent annual occupancy. We used data from 5 yr of occupancy surveys, and the observed sampling and process error, to evaluate the power to detect true change in occupancy under a range of sampling scenarios and occupancy trends for a cryptic reptile, Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) None of the sampling strategies that we tested had the power to detect a 1% per annum increase in true occupancy over a 10-yr period and required ≥70 sites to detect a 1% decline in occupancy. For a 2% per annum change in true occupancy, 50 sites were needed and for a 3–4% per annum change 20–30 sites were needed. Power to detect a 4% per annum decline in occupancy was >80% for all number of secondary visits and number of sites if the number of sites was ≥50, but required seven visits to ≥60 sites to detect a 4% increase in occupancy Multiple sampling designs provided equivalent power. For example, both designs of 80 sites with three secondary visits and 50 sites with seven secondary visits yielded >50% power on average to detect 1–4% per annum changes in true occupancy. These results can help local managers of Mojave Desert Tortoises and other cryptic reptiles to design optimally efficient occupancy monitoring strategies.
{"title":"Designing a Long-term Occupancy Monitoring Plan for a Cryptic Reptile","authors":"S. Harju, S. Cambrin","doi":"10.1670/21-087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/21-087","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Monitoring populations of cryptic reptiles is challenging because of their crypticity. Occupancy monitoring is a useful technique for local populations, but seasonal unavailability for detection can result in large swings in apparent annual occupancy. We used data from 5 yr of occupancy surveys, and the observed sampling and process error, to evaluate the power to detect true change in occupancy under a range of sampling scenarios and occupancy trends for a cryptic reptile, Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) None of the sampling strategies that we tested had the power to detect a 1% per annum increase in true occupancy over a 10-yr period and required ≥70 sites to detect a 1% decline in occupancy. For a 2% per annum change in true occupancy, 50 sites were needed and for a 3–4% per annum change 20–30 sites were needed. Power to detect a 4% per annum decline in occupancy was >80% for all number of secondary visits and number of sites if the number of sites was ≥50, but required seven visits to ≥60 sites to detect a 4% increase in occupancy Multiple sampling designs provided equivalent power. For example, both designs of 80 sites with three secondary visits and 50 sites with seven secondary visits yielded >50% power on average to detect 1–4% per annum changes in true occupancy. These results can help local managers of Mojave Desert Tortoises and other cryptic reptiles to design optimally efficient occupancy monitoring strategies.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"20 - 26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48113395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We observed overwintering behavior of bimodally respiring hatchling Smooth Softshell Turtles, Apalone mutica, in two small outdoor ponds that differed in depth. Hatchlings buried themselves shallowly in a sand/mud substrate at the bottom of the ponds. In the deep pond, hatchlings periodically raised and lowered the posterior portion of their body into the water column in a respiratory “pushup” fashion. In the shallow pond, hatchlings did not perform pushups nor snorkel to breathe air. Pushups were similar in appearance and form among turtles but occurred with variable frequency within and among individual turtles. Pushup frequency of hatchling A. mutica was 43% slower than reported for larger A. mutica.
{"title":"Hatchling Smooth Softshell Turtles (Apalone mutica) Perform Respiratory Pushup While Overwintering","authors":"Kyra M. Smith, Michael V. Plummer","doi":"10.1670/22-036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/22-036","url":null,"abstract":"We observed overwintering behavior of bimodally respiring hatchling Smooth Softshell Turtles, Apalone mutica, in two small outdoor ponds that differed in depth. Hatchlings buried themselves shallowly in a sand/mud substrate at the bottom of the ponds. In the deep pond, hatchlings periodically raised and lowered the posterior portion of their body into the water column in a respiratory “pushup” fashion. In the shallow pond, hatchlings did not perform pushups nor snorkel to breathe air. Pushups were similar in appearance and form among turtles but occurred with variable frequency within and among individual turtles. Pushup frequency of hatchling A. mutica was 43% slower than reported for larger A. mutica.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"54 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135778031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. Habitat loss, degradation, and modification are important drivers of global population declines in amphibians. Most amphibians have a biphasic lifestyle and are susceptible to threats in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Eastern Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) are endangered throughout much of their range in the eastern United States, including Maryland and Delaware. Ambystoma t. tigrinum breed in ephemeral freshwater ponds and then migrate into the surrounding terrestrial environment after metamorphosis. Limited research exists about what habitat characteristics play a role in breeding pond use. We sought to understand what features of the breeding pond and surrounding landscape influence abundance and occupancy. We measured salamander occupancy, salamander abundance, and water quality parameters at ponds during the 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons. We used geographic information systems to determine pond area and the percentage of forest area and road density surrounding a pond at four spatial scales. Pond occupancy by A. t. tigrinum was positively associated with increased depth and less forest cover at the largest spatial scales. Abundance of A. t. tigrinum was greatest in larger, deeper ponds, potentially because these factors increase hydroperiod. More basic pH and decreased conductivity were also associated with higher male salamander abundances in ponds. Forest area and road density were not in the top-ranked model, although we note that ponds in this study had a minimum of 70% forest area within 150 m. Our findings elucidate relationships between A. t. tigrinum and their habitat, providing knowledge for future management of this state-endangered species.
{"title":"There's No Place Like Home: Influential Habitat Characteristics of Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) Breeding Ponds in Maryland and Delaware","authors":"Hannah G. Small, E. Liebgold","doi":"10.1670/20-097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/20-097","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Habitat loss, degradation, and modification are important drivers of global population declines in amphibians. Most amphibians have a biphasic lifestyle and are susceptible to threats in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Eastern Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) are endangered throughout much of their range in the eastern United States, including Maryland and Delaware. Ambystoma t. tigrinum breed in ephemeral freshwater ponds and then migrate into the surrounding terrestrial environment after metamorphosis. Limited research exists about what habitat characteristics play a role in breeding pond use. We sought to understand what features of the breeding pond and surrounding landscape influence abundance and occupancy. We measured salamander occupancy, salamander abundance, and water quality parameters at ponds during the 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons. We used geographic information systems to determine pond area and the percentage of forest area and road density surrounding a pond at four spatial scales. Pond occupancy by A. t. tigrinum was positively associated with increased depth and less forest cover at the largest spatial scales. Abundance of A. t. tigrinum was greatest in larger, deeper ponds, potentially because these factors increase hydroperiod. More basic pH and decreased conductivity were also associated with higher male salamander abundances in ponds. Forest area and road density were not in the top-ranked model, although we note that ponds in this study had a minimum of 70% forest area within 150 m. Our findings elucidate relationships between A. t. tigrinum and their habitat, providing knowledge for future management of this state-endangered species.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47230090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adrian D. Macedo, Justin A. Demianew, J. Garwood, John O. Reiss
Abstract. Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) range across the Pacific Northwest from northern California, USA, into British Columbia, Canada, and from sea level to >2,131 m. Previous work has shown a variable larval period but has not clearly separated elevational from latitudinal effects. Therefore, we examined size at beginning of metamorphosis, larval period, individual growth rates, and timing of metamorphosis of A. truei populations along an elevational gradient from 152 to 2,131 m across a small latitudinal range (29 km) to reduce potential latitudinal effects, all within the Klamath Mountains of northern California. We sampled larvae at 15 study sites, of which we used 6 sites as intensive capture–mark–recapture (CMR) locations, and the other 9 for supplemental data on larval period and size at metamorphosis. In CMR sites, we individually marked tadpoles to determine within-season growth rates. We found that the A. truei larval period in these populations ranges from 2 yr in low and middle elevations to ‡3 yr in high-elevation populations. We also found decreased size at beginning of metamorphosis and increased growth rates of tadpoles with increasing elevation. Our high-elevation populations had the longest larval period documented in California. The associations of growth and timing of metamorphosis to elevation in A. truei populations suggest that responses to changing climate may differ across elevations.
{"title":"Larval Life History of Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) Across an Elevational Gradient in Northern California: Implications for a Changing Climate","authors":"Adrian D. Macedo, Justin A. Demianew, J. Garwood, John O. Reiss","doi":"10.1670/21-073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/21-073","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) range across the Pacific Northwest from northern California, USA, into British Columbia, Canada, and from sea level to >2,131 m. Previous work has shown a variable larval period but has not clearly separated elevational from latitudinal effects. Therefore, we examined size at beginning of metamorphosis, larval period, individual growth rates, and timing of metamorphosis of A. truei populations along an elevational gradient from 152 to 2,131 m across a small latitudinal range (29 km) to reduce potential latitudinal effects, all within the Klamath Mountains of northern California. We sampled larvae at 15 study sites, of which we used 6 sites as intensive capture–mark–recapture (CMR) locations, and the other 9 for supplemental data on larval period and size at metamorphosis. In CMR sites, we individually marked tadpoles to determine within-season growth rates. We found that the A. truei larval period in these populations ranges from 2 yr in low and middle elevations to ‡3 yr in high-elevation populations. We also found decreased size at beginning of metamorphosis and increased growth rates of tadpoles with increasing elevation. Our high-elevation populations had the longest larval period documented in California. The associations of growth and timing of metamorphosis to elevation in A. truei populations suggest that responses to changing climate may differ across elevations.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"52 - 59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47551134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ryan P. Dougherty, J. Higbie, T. Green, A. Arietta
Abstract. Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) populations have declined drastically since 1970 because of continued destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. Although they are known to shift their home ranges because of environmental degradation, it is unknown how solar arrays impact Eastern Box Turtles. From 2011–2018, we collected data on Eastern Box Turtle movement and occupancy in a 79-ha solar farm. The solar farm is divided into six fenced areas, each containing wildlife openings for movement of terrestrial fauna every 23 m around the fenced solar arrays. We hypothesized that the solar arrays changed the home range sizes of turtles that interacted with the field. We fitted 41 Eastern Box Turtles with radio transmitters and tracked their locations twice per week in June–August from 2011–2018. Seventeen turtles had home ranges that overlapped with the solar arrays whereas 24 turtles had home ranges that never interacted with the solar arrays. We calculated home range sizes and tested for differences between overlapping and nonoverlapping groups. We further considered if the number of observations within the solar farm impacted home range size and displacement. We found that Eastern Box Turtles that used the solar farm exhibited 55–83% larger home ranges on average than turtles in natural habitats, but there was no significant association of home range size with the amount of time observed within the solar farm. Finally, we discuss strategies to mitigate negative impacts of solar farm development on turtles.
{"title":"Solar Farm Development Impacts on Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) Home Ranges","authors":"Ryan P. Dougherty, J. Higbie, T. Green, A. Arietta","doi":"10.1670/21-024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/21-024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) populations have declined drastically since 1970 because of continued destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. Although they are known to shift their home ranges because of environmental degradation, it is unknown how solar arrays impact Eastern Box Turtles. From 2011–2018, we collected data on Eastern Box Turtle movement and occupancy in a 79-ha solar farm. The solar farm is divided into six fenced areas, each containing wildlife openings for movement of terrestrial fauna every 23 m around the fenced solar arrays. We hypothesized that the solar arrays changed the home range sizes of turtles that interacted with the field. We fitted 41 Eastern Box Turtles with radio transmitters and tracked their locations twice per week in June–August from 2011–2018. Seventeen turtles had home ranges that overlapped with the solar arrays whereas 24 turtles had home ranges that never interacted with the solar arrays. We calculated home range sizes and tested for differences between overlapping and nonoverlapping groups. We further considered if the number of observations within the solar farm impacted home range size and displacement. We found that Eastern Box Turtles that used the solar farm exhibited 55–83% larger home ranges on average than turtles in natural habitats, but there was no significant association of home range size with the amount of time observed within the solar farm. Finally, we discuss strategies to mitigate negative impacts of solar farm development on turtles.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"11 - 19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42996808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neil P. Bernstein, Rachel H Fendrich, S. A. McCollum
Abstract. Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) exist in few large, reproductive populations in Iowa. Little is known about the home range, movements, and habitat use of neonates and young turtles or how movements change during maturation. We tracked four age classes of turtles from 2011 to 2016 and calculated weekly minimum convex polygon home range, every-other-day linear distance moved, habitat, microhabitat, and vegetation cover. We divided the active season into three blocks of time based on established patterns of behavior in Ornate Box Turtles. Age was the only significant factor explaining larger home ranges in older turtles during May and June–July, but there were no significant differences during August–September. However, linear distance moved significantly increased with age during all time periods. Turtles were mainly found in prairie or shrub–prairie habitats, but older turtles were more likely to move farther away from the nesting/breeding/overwintering area. While often on the surface, all age groups were found primarily under vegetation, shrubs, or trees that provided >95% vegetation cover. We suggest that habitat management for this state-threatened species consider the diverse habitats and area needed by all age classes.
{"title":"Do Home Range, Movement Patterns, and Habitat Use of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) Differ Among Age Classes?","authors":"Neil P. Bernstein, Rachel H Fendrich, S. A. McCollum","doi":"10.1670/21-005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/21-005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) exist in few large, reproductive populations in Iowa. Little is known about the home range, movements, and habitat use of neonates and young turtles or how movements change during maturation. We tracked four age classes of turtles from 2011 to 2016 and calculated weekly minimum convex polygon home range, every-other-day linear distance moved, habitat, microhabitat, and vegetation cover. We divided the active season into three blocks of time based on established patterns of behavior in Ornate Box Turtles. Age was the only significant factor explaining larger home ranges in older turtles during May and June–July, but there were no significant differences during August–September. However, linear distance moved significantly increased with age during all time periods. Turtles were mainly found in prairie or shrub–prairie habitats, but older turtles were more likely to move farther away from the nesting/breeding/overwintering area. While often on the surface, all age groups were found primarily under vegetation, shrubs, or trees that provided >95% vegetation cover. We suggest that habitat management for this state-threatened species consider the diverse habitats and area needed by all age classes.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"57 1","pages":"1 - 10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46021334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Courtney Dvorsky, Jessica L. McQuigg, Faythe Lopez, M. Boone
Abstract. Excess nutrient runoff can profoundly alter aquatic habitats and has been associated with changes in host–pathogen interactions. Floating macrophyte mats have been suggested as a management strategy to improve water quality for aquatic communities and, thus, may have the potential to protect hosts from some disease outbreaks. We assessed the impact of ammonium nitrate and sodium phosphate addition in the presence or absence of floating macrophyte mats (blue flag iris [Iris versicolor] and ice dance sedge [Carex morrowii]) on Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) metamorphosis to examine whether macrophyte management treatments improve outcomes for amphibians. At metamorphosis, we infected individuals with the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), to assess whether larval treatments resulted in differential susceptibility to this pathogen. We found that nutrient addition significantly increased time to metamorphosis without affecting mass at metamorphosis or survival. Additionally, Bd exposure decreased mass of juvenile treefrogs, regardless of earlier larval environment or condition at metamorphosis. Macrophyte addition had no direct impact on larval anurans, but the aquatic community was altered via fluctuations in aquatic nutrient concentrations. Overall, our study suggests that nutrient exposure and Bd infection individually affect anurans, and larval exposure to nutrients may have latent effects on metamorphosed anurans that could affect future fitness.
{"title":"Delayed Effects of Nutrients in the Larval Environment on Cope's Gray Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) Exposed to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis","authors":"Courtney Dvorsky, Jessica L. McQuigg, Faythe Lopez, M. Boone","doi":"10.1670/21-058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1670/21-058","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Excess nutrient runoff can profoundly alter aquatic habitats and has been associated with changes in host–pathogen interactions. Floating macrophyte mats have been suggested as a management strategy to improve water quality for aquatic communities and, thus, may have the potential to protect hosts from some disease outbreaks. We assessed the impact of ammonium nitrate and sodium phosphate addition in the presence or absence of floating macrophyte mats (blue flag iris [Iris versicolor] and ice dance sedge [Carex morrowii]) on Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) metamorphosis to examine whether macrophyte management treatments improve outcomes for amphibians. At metamorphosis, we infected individuals with the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), to assess whether larval treatments resulted in differential susceptibility to this pathogen. We found that nutrient addition significantly increased time to metamorphosis without affecting mass at metamorphosis or survival. Additionally, Bd exposure decreased mass of juvenile treefrogs, regardless of earlier larval environment or condition at metamorphosis. Macrophyte addition had no direct impact on larval anurans, but the aquatic community was altered via fluctuations in aquatic nutrient concentrations. Overall, our study suggests that nutrient exposure and Bd infection individually affect anurans, and larval exposure to nutrients may have latent effects on metamorphosed anurans that could affect future fitness.","PeriodicalId":54821,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetology","volume":"56 1","pages":"470 - 477"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45744563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","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：