No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Demographics of a Barrier Island Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) Population in a Relict Chenier Forest
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
While the Mediterranean Sea has been designated as a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, assessments of cetacean population abundance are lacking for large portions of the region, particularly in the southern and eastern basins. The challenges and costs of obtaining the necessary data often result in absent or poor abundance information. We applied capture-recapture models to estimate abundance, survival and temporary emigration of odontocete populations within a 2,400 km² semi-enclosed Mediterranean bay, the Gulf of Corinth. Boat surveys were conducted in 2011–2015 to collect photo-identification data on striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis (always found together with striped dolphins in mixed groups) and common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, totaling 1,873 h of tracking. After grading images for quality and marking distinctiveness, 23,995 high-quality photos were included in a striped and common dolphin catalog, and 2,472 in a bottlenose dolphin catalog. The proportions of striped and common dolphins were calculated from the photographic sample and used to scale capture-recapture estimates. Best-fitting robust design capture-recapture models denoted no temporary emigration between years for striped and common dolphins, and random temporary emigration for bottlenose dolphins, suggesting different residency patterns in agreement with previous studies. Average estimated abundance over the five years was 1,331 (95% CI 1,122–1,578) striped dolphins, 22 (16–32) common dolphins, 55 (36–84) “intermediate” animals (potential striped x common dolphin hybrids) and 38 (32–46) bottlenose dolphins. Apparent survival was constant for striped, common and intermediate dolphins (0.94, 95% CI 0.92–0.96) and year-dependent for bottlenose dolphins (an average of 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.95). Our work underlines the importance of long-term monitoring to contribute reliable baseline information that can help assess the conservation status of wildlife populations.
Cheniers are ancient beach ridges in southwestern Louisiana that are often characterized by coastal forest surrounded by marshland. Coastal chenier forests (CCFs) are considered an imperiled habitat in Louisiana because many forest remnants are considerably impacted due to human activities and recent hurricanes. Because little is known about the herpetofaunal community of CCFs, I initiated a seasonal herpetofaunal diversity and abundance study on a privately-owned, remnant CCF in eastern Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Utilizing coverboards and drift fence arrays with pitfall and funnel traps, I documented 12 species (4 anuran, 4 snake, 3 lizard, and 1 turtle) comprising CCF obligate and faculta-tive species, as well as one marsh transient species. Species-accumulation curves indicate the sample was representative of the small herpetofaunal community. Three amphibian (Incilius nebulifer [Gulf Coast Toad], Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius [Coastal Plains Leopard Frog], and Gastrophryne carolinensis [Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad]) and 2 reptile (Scincella lateralis [Little Brown Skink] and Thamnophis p. proximus [Orange-striped Ribbonsnake]) species comprised 94% of the captures. Diversity was highest during the spring, with 3 months (March–May) of sampling detecting 92% of the total diversity observed. Sampling during single months only yielded 42–75% of the diversity. Amphibian abundance varied by month (highest June to September) and with the presence of rain, whereas reptile abundance only varied by month (highest in March). Funnel traps were more effective and quantified diversity better than pitfall traps or coverboards. The herpetofaunal diversity at the site was low and comprised of mostly generalist species; regional specimen records also exhibit a modest herpetofaunal community. This data will provide baseline information to determine the impacts of future hurricanes on the herpetofaunal community, analyze recolonization dynamics following hurricanes, and make comparisons to other CCF remnants in the region. I also provide recommendations for improving herpetofauna sampling methodology in coastal settings.
Accurate and reliable monitoring is necessary for effective management of threatened species in New Zealand. Mark-recapture studies are a powerful tool for conservation managers, and can be used in any situation where animals can be marked (or otherwise identified) and detected later by capture or sighting. In addition to estimating population size and survival rates, mark-recapture methods can be used to evaluate impacts of threats on survival, record population trends, collect information for population viability analyses, set performance targets against which responses to management can be measured, and highlight areas where further research is necessary. This report has three main sections. The first section introduces the basic principles of mark-recapture methodology that conservation managers need to understand to design effective mark-recapture studies. In the second section, specific guidelines for estimating abundance, survival and population growth rates are provided. We show which methods are appropriate for different situations, how field studies should be designed to avoid violating assumptions of mark-recapture methods, and how to get started on analysing the data. In the final section, we review a case study involving long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus), and use this to illustrate some problems that may be encountered in mark-recapture studies.
The destruction of prairies has led to the decline of the ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornate) across much of its range. Land management agencies are considering translocation programs to restore populations to areas from which they have been extirpated. For these conservation efforts to be successful, long-term posttranslocation monitoring is necessary to ensure that translocated individuals behave and use habitat similarly to unmanipulated individuals. We conducted a 3-yr radiotelemetry study of a potential source population of ornate box turtles to provide baseline data on home range size and site fidelity pretranslocation. Adult males and females did not differ in minimum convex polygon home range size (mean 4.0 ha), 95% fixed kernel home ranges (mean 2.6 ha), or 50% fixed kernel home ranges (mean 0.4 ha). Both sexes showed high site fidelity to annual home ranges and to previously used overwintering sites, although distance between subsequent overwintering sites was less for females than for males. At our study site, ornate box turtles have relatively small home ranges and exhibit strong site fidelity. Translocation programs for this species should closely monitor movements of translocated individuals to assess whether they are successfully establishing new home ranges or attempting to return to their site of origin. Moreover, the high site fidelity exhibited by this species suggests that newly translocated individuals may be at increased mortality risk because they are unfamiliar with suitable overwintering and/or nesting sites in their new location. The results of our study will be used to ensure that sites to which animals are translocated are comparable to the site of origin in terms of home range size requirements and important habitat features. In addition, our data serve as a critical baseline to which the habitat use and movement patterns of monitored animals posttranslocation can be directly compared to assess the success of the translocation.
Large-scale efforts to protect and restore coastal wetlands and the concurrent renewal of forest harvesting in cypress-tupelo swamps have brought new attention to Louisiana's coastal wetland forests in recent years. Our understanding of these coastal wetland forests has been limited by inadequate data and the lack of a comprehensive review of existing information. The importance of these forests is now being recognized and the loss and degradation of the ecosystem functions and services provided by Louisiana's coastal wetland forests is significant. Since Louisiana's coastal wetland forests are of tremendous economic, ecological, cultural, and recreational value to Louisiana, the country, and the world, the Louisiana Governor's office commissioned a Science Working Group to examine these forests and make recommendations for their conservation, protection and use. This paper summarizes the report findings and provides recommendations for what state government, professional foresters, research scientists, landowners, and the public can do to ensure the sustainability of Louisiana's coastal wetland forests well into the future.
Disturbances can affect the structure of ecological communities, and their impacts may have consequences for individual species' population dynamics and long-term persistence. Even without catastrophic mortality, survivorship could be reduced following a disturbance, thus leading to population decline. We used a 16-year mark–recapture dataset to determine the effects of catastrophic storms and the cutting of nonindigenous vegetation on the survivorship and abundance of a population of long-lived terrestrial turtles (Terrapene bauri). Our results indicate that these habitat disturbances had little long-term effect on abundance. Indeed, the population continued to grow despite severe changes to its habitat, although recapture probabilities decreased through time. Tertiary (adult) sex ratios became more highly skewed temporarily but eventually approached their predisturbance levels. In long-lived box turtles, short-term disturbances may alter growth rates and dispersal tendencies, but they appear to have little long-term effect on abundance as long as initial mortality is not severe and food resources remain available.
Reptiles are in decline globally, and one-third of turtle species are considered endangered or vulnerable. Conservation of turtles presents special challenges, as turtles are long-lived, and have delayed sexual maturity, making long-term study necessary for accurate calculation of life history parameters. The spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is listed as an endangered species in Canada. A population in eastern Georgian Bay, Ontario has been the focus of the longest-running ecological study (30 years) on the species to date. The objective of the current project was to use the long-term demographic data to parameterize a stage-classified matrix and to use the model to asses several hypothetical management scenarios. Elasticity analyses and simulations indicated that small changes in adult survivorship would have the largest proportional effect on population growth rate, and that increasing survivorship of juveniles to 100% would result in the largest increase in population growth rate. Simulation of nest protection and headstarting scenarios indicated that these are inefficient conservation strategies for this species. We recommend that adults, and when possible, juveniles, be the stages targeted for conservation in spotted turtles and other long-lived iteroparous vertebrates.
Human-induced disturbances may threaten the viability of many turtle populations, including populations of North American box turtles. Evaluation of the potential impacts of these disturbances can be aided by long-term studies of populations subject to minimal human activity. In such a population of ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) in western Nebraska, we examined survival rates and population growth rates from 1981-2000 based on mark-recapture data. The average annual apparent survival rate of adult males was 0.883 (SE = 0.021) and of adult females was 0.932 (SE = 0.014). Minimum winter temperature was the best of five climate variables as a predictor of adult survival. Survival rates were highest in years with low minimum winter temperatures, suggesting that global warming may result in declining survival. We estimated an average adult population growth rate (λ̂) of 1.006 (SE = 0.065), with an estimated temporal process variance (ω̂2) of 0.029 (95% CI = 0.005-0.176). Stochastic simulations suggest that this mean and temporal process variance would result in a 58% probability of a population decrease over a 20-year period. This research provides evidence that, unless unknown density-dependent mechanisms are operating in the adult age class, significant human disturbances, such as commercial harvest or turtle mortality on roads, represent a potential risk to box turtle populations.
Hypotheses in the chelonian literature suggest that in species with sexual size dimorphism, the smaller sex will mature at a smaller size and a younger age than the larger sex, sex ratios should be biased in favor of the earlier maturing sex, and deviations from a 1:1 sex ratio result from maturation of the smaller sex at a younger age. I tested these hypotheses using data collected from 1991 to 1995 on an insular (Egmont Key) population of Florida box turtles, Terrapene Carolina bauri. Contrary to predictions, the earlier maturing sex (males) grew to larger sizes than the late maturing sex. Males were significantly larger than females in mean carapace length but not mean body mass. Sex ratios were not balanced, favoring the earlier maturing sex (1.6 males: 1 female), but the sex-ratio imbalance did not result from faster maturation of the smaller sex. The imbalance in the sex ratio in Egmont Key's box turtles is not the result of sampling biases; it may result from nest placement. Size-class structure and sex ratios can provide valuable insights into the status and trends of populations of long-lived turtles.
Millions of Nearctic-Neotropical landbirds move through the coastal forests of the Gulf of Mexico each spring and autumn as they migrate across and around the gulf. Migration routes in the gulf region are not static—they shift year to year and season to season according to prevailing wind patterns. Given the dynamic nature of migration routes, coastal forests around the Gulf of Mexico potentially can provide important stopover habitat to en route migrants. The coastal forests from the Florida Keys to the Yucatan Peninsula include a wide range of habitat types that we have classified as 19 broad community types. From literature reviews, we determined that the majority of these coastal habitats have been lost or degraded due to the effects of development, agriculture, livestock graz- ing, timber industry activities, and the spread of exotic species. The continued loss and degradation of coastal forests pose a risk to migrating birds, and thus we need to develop a conservation strategy that maximizes the suitability of the remaining forested patches around the gulf. An effective conservation strategy will require considerations at the gulf-wide, regional, landscape and habitat levels. These considerations should include mi- grant movement and landfall patterns, migrant use of inland versus coastal fringe stopover sites, the creation of landscape mosaics that incorporate patch size and inter-patch distance, and the availability of within- habitat resources.
From 1991-1993, we conducted an intensive mark-recapture study of an island population of Florida box turtles, Terrapene carolina bauri. We used models based on the Jolly- Seber open population model to estimate abundance, after first examining the capture histories for violations of the underlying assumptions of mark-recapture analysis with goodness-of-fit tests con- tained in the program RELEASE. Some violations were detected, resulting in low estimates. We estimated that 544 (415-672 approximate 95% confidence interval) adult box turtles inhabited the southern 36.4 ha of Egmont Key in the summer of 1993. This estimate is similar to those of conspecific populations studied in more northern areas and provides a reliable initial estimate with which to monitor population trends in the future. Adult capture probabilities ranged between 0.09 and 0.30. Weekly survival probabilities for adults ranged between 0.94 and 1.00. There were significant differences in capture histories between adults and juveniles, indicating differences in survival and/or capture probabilities. Increased movement and activity of individuals on the study area during two survey periods, one after a severe storm and the other during the fruiting season of a favorite food source, was verified with one of the goodness-of-fit tests.
Alteration and loss of habitat is a major factor in the recent declines of many turtle populations. However, there are few studies of turtle populations in areas that are used intensively by humans. We used temporal symmetry modeling and an information-theoretic approach to model selection to estimate survival and recruitment in a population of Ornate Box Turtles, Terrapene ornata, in fragmented, isolated habitat over an eight-year period. Apparent annual survival was high during this period (0.97, SE = 0.06), as was the seniority probability (0.95 ± 0.04). Recruitment into the adult population (λ) was estimated at 1.02 (± 0.06). Our results suggest a healthy population, but we note several reasons for a cautious management approach. These include a vulnerability of λ to the removal of adults, the need for increased recruitment to offset loss of genetic diversity, and the uncertainty of our estimates resulting from the sampling and modeling processes.
Demographic information from geographically isolated conspecifi c populations is important for understanding how a species is locally adapted, and can thus inform conservation decisions. Clemmys guttata (Spotted Turtle) is declining throughout its range in eastern North America due to habitat loss and fragmentation and collection of specimens for the pet trade. The objectives of our study were to de-scribe the demography of a previously unstudied island population of Spotted Turtles and to make comparisons to conspecifi c mainland populations. We conducted mark-recapture surveys for turtles on a small (23.2-ha) island in eastern Georgian Bay, ON, Canada. Over seven sampling trips, 40 different turtles were captured 72 times: 23 females, 6 males, 10 juveniles, and 1 hatchling. Males had signifi cantly larger straight-line carapace lengths and contour carapace lengths than females, whereas females had greater carapace heights than males. Adult females on the island were signifi cantly smaller than females on the mainland. Density was estimated to be 1.7 turtles/ha for the entire island, and 21.4 turtles/ha in one wetland where turtles ag-gregated in spring. The adult sex ratio was signifi cantly skewed in favor of females (1 male: 3.83 females). Our study provides information on the population ecology of Spotted Turtles in isolation, which is important for the creation of management plans for populations being fragmented by human activities.
Urbanization and other anthropogenic factors are often implicated in turtle population declines, yet limited research on the natural history of turtles in urban areas has been conducted. To assess the effects of urbanization and to help develop proper conservation strategies for Terrapene c. carolina (Eastern Box Turtles), we conducted a mark-recapture study in the vicinity of Davidson, NC, from 1999 to 2004. We made 354 turtle captures, 42 of which were recapture events. We evaluated meristic characters, body condition, activity patterns, population structure, and growth rates, and then examined relationships among these variables and the amount of anthropogenically-modified habitat within 100 m of each turtle's collec-tion location. Males and females had different patterns of seasonal activity and body condition indices. Growth rates decreased with turtle age and varied between devel-oped and forested habitats. More turtles over the age of 20 were found in areas with extensive forest cover than in areas that were developed. Although box turtles may persist in urbanized landscapes and may grow more quickly there, they suffer higher mortality in these habitats compared to forested landscapes.
We quantified home range size and philopatry in ornate box turtles, Terrapene ornata ornata, with minimum convex polygons (MCP) and 95% Kernel areas (K) calculated from radio telemetry data in Iowa during 1999–2001. We also analyzed philopatry by mark-recapture data during 1994–2000. Ten adult turtles were followed every other day from May to Sep. 2000 and seven of the turtles were followed in 2001. Mean monthly MCP and K home ranges of males and females did not significantly differ. Mean annual MCP and K home ranges for males were significantly larger than those of females. For an individual, monthly MCP home ranges overlapped on average 19.3% between years and K home ranges over-lapped an average of 6.0%. There were no significant differences in annual or monthly home range overlap between sexes for K home ranges, but MCP monthly home range overlap was significantly larger for males. Annual MCP home ranges overlapped on average 40.9% between years and K annual home range overlap averaged 6.8%. Seven years of mark-recapture data were analyzed to determine movements between habitat zones. Turtles were found in sand prairie or shrubby border to sand prairies 69% of the time. Regardless of sex, turtles were twice as likely to be recaptured in the same sub-habitat from where they initially were found compared to the adjacent sub-habitat. Turtles were 2–3 times more likely to be in the adjacent sub-habitat than two sub-habitats away. Given the degree of philopatry exhibited by ornate box turtles in this area, turtle populations faced with habitat fragmentation or destruction will most likely decline.
MARK provides parameter estimates from marked animals when they are re-encountered at a later time as dead recoveries, or live recaptures or re-sightings. The time intervals between re-encounters do not have to be equal. More than one attribute group of animals can be modelled. The basic input to MARK is the encounter history for each animal. MARK can also estimate the size of closed populations. Parameters can be constrained to be the same across re-encounter occasions, or by age, or group, using the parameter index matrix. A set of common models for initial screening of data are provided. Time effects, group effects, time x group effects and a null model of none of the above, are provided for each parameter. Besides the logit function to link the design matrix to the parameters of the model, other link functions include the log—log, complimentary log—log, sine, log, and identity. The estimates of model parameters are computed via numerical maximum likelihood techniques. The number of parameters that are estimable in the model are determined numerically and used to compute the quasi-likelihood AIC value for the model. Both the input data, and outputs for various models that the user has built, are stored in the Results database which contains a complete description of the model building process. It is viewed and manipulated in a Results Browser window. Summaries available from this window include viewing and printing model output, deviance residuals from the model, likelihood ratio and analysis of deviance between models, and adjustments for over dispersion. Models can also be retrieved and modified to create additional models. These capabilities are implemented in a Microsoft Windows 95 interface. The online help system has been developed to provide all necessary program documentation.
We measured microclimate, field metabolic rates (FMRs), water flux, and activity patterns of telemetered box turtles (Terrapene carolina) in South Carolina from September 1987 to October 1988. Turtles were inactive for most of the winter and were active only sporadically during the rest of the year. Using the doubly labeled water method, we found that water flux averaged 8.8, 18.9, and 26.4 mL kg(-1) d(-1) in winter, spring, and summer/fall, respectively. FMR for the same periods averaged 0.028, 0.065, and 0.124 mL CO(2) g(-1) h(-1). Differences in FMR among seasons were significant but not between sexes. Using operative temperatures, we predicted standard and maximum metabolic rates of turtles. In winter, FMR was elevated above standard metabolic rates and close to maximum metabolic rates, whereas in spring and summer/fall, FMR fell midway between standard and maximum metabolic rates. We used a model to predict metabolic rates, geographical distribution, and potential reproductive output of box turtles across latitudes in eastern North America. Low FMR and low annual reproductive output may allow box turtles to survive and flourish in unpredictable resource environments by minimizing costs and risks, thereby maintaining greater lifetime reproductive success.
Abstract.—Terrapene carolina major (Gulf Coast Box Turtle) is an unresolved taxonomic lineage from the Florida Panhandle and Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain in the USA. Like other box turtles, T. c. major is vulnerable to increasing anthropogenic pressures. To date, no intensive or comparative ecological or behavioral studies have been published on this lineage of box turtles. We conducted a radio-telemetry study of 21 adult T. c. major in the Florida Panhandle in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate seasonal home range, habitat use and selection, and behavior. We calculated summer home range size using minimum convex polygons (MCP) and xed kernel density estimators (KDE). We evaluated habitat use using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to determine proportions of different habitat types within 100% MCPs of individuals and habitat selection was evaluated using generalized linear models. Unlike most other studies of T. carolina lineages, females had signi cantly larger home ranges than males, while males had higher home range delity than females. The generalized linear models indicated males used forested wetlands and females used coniferous forests signi cantly more than other habitats. Approximately 23% of total radio-location observations for both sexes were aquatic environments that included areas primarily in Floodplain Swamps, Mixed Wetland Hardwoods, and Wet Coniferous (Pinus spp.) Plantations. Our observations indicated that T. c. major demonstrates unique behavioral and ecological characteristics, and while the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary signi cance of this lineage remains unclear, we recommend T. c. major be managed as a distinct taxon of T. carolina when evaluating conservation and management decisions.
The animal most often associated with Louisiana, the American alligator, is but one among 147 amphibian and reptile species found in the state. From the ubiquitous green tree frog to the elusive slimy salamander, the variety of the state’s wildlife can be intriguing and overwhelming. In content that is both accessible to laypersons and relevant to herpetologists, Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana guides curious nature lovers and experienced biologists through a vast wealth of biodiversity.
Jeff Boundy and John L. Carr describe the general form, sizes, and color patterns of each of Louisiana’s species: 23 salamanders, 30 frogs and toads, 26 turtles, 12 lizards, 47 snakes, and one alligator, along with eight non-native species now found in the state. Each entry considers the species’ behavior, geographic range, populations, food and feeding habits, reproduction, and predators. Useful identification keys to each genus are provided, while drawings of anatomical features, distribution maps, and color photographs serve as efficient visual aids. The authors offer techniques for locating amphibians and reptiles in their natural environments, as well as an illustrated summary of the landscape and habitats of Louisiana. Notation of endangered species and those of conservation concern is also included, along with a glossary and a list of additional references. With more than 780 color photographs and nearly 150 maps, this resource will enrich readers’ appreciation for Louisiana’s natural diversity and deepen their interest
in the state’s complex ecology.
The Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is a species of concern in Tennessee, USA, due to population declines. These declines are primarily due to anthropogenic causes including, but not limited to, habitat fragmentation as a result of urbanization, road mortality, and disease. Demographic and natural history data are lacking for T. c. carolina populations in Tennessee and are much needed for conservation and preservation of the declining populations. We collected demographic data for monitoring a T. c. carolina population in a relictual, suburban, wetland habitat in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA. The demographic characteristics we recorded included population density, age class, sex ratio, and body size measurements. We estimated the population density to be approximately 14.0–15.5 turtles per ha. The age class structure of located turtles was negatively skewed and leptokurtic, with most turtles falling within the middle age class (10–14 y). The sex ratio of located turtles from both 2013 and 2014 was 1.26 male:1 female. For body size, the only variable that differed between males and females was straight-line carapace length, with males exhibiting a longer carapace length than females. The data collected herein will be important for monitoring and conserving this and other box turtle populations.
Habitat destruction and modification may be the most prominent anthropogenic forces affecting extant biological systems. Growing evidence suggests that turtles are especially vulnerable to many anthropogenic stressors. We evaluated the effects of habitat modification on survival rates of the threatened ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) in northwest Illinois, USA, using a 20-year mark-recapture dataset. Longstanding development (i.e., cottages, outbuildings, landscape management) reduced the apparent survival of the ornate box turtle, especially among females. In contrast, smaller, more recent development (i.e., construction and paving of a bike path) did not have demonstrable negative effects on apparent survival. Our results indicate that the scale of development is important to consider in management and that adverse effects of anthropogenic development may require a considerable time frame to manifest in long-lived organisms.
The cheniers of southwestern Louisiana are linear strayed ridges up to 3 meters high and 450 meters wide. These prehistoric shorelines now stand as relict 'islands' surrounded by coastal marsh. Although the chenier woodlands were once extensive, most have now been converted to rangeland, roads and homesites, and therefore presently exist as remnants. The woody species in six remnant sites were sampled in order to determine species diversity and importance. High numbers of the introduced species, Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb., resulted in species diversity in the two Little Chenier sites being significantly lower than those on Grand Chenier, Tiger Island and Pecan Island. This appears to be due to a higher level of habitat destruction in the Little Chenier than in the other cheniers. Importance values suggest a high degree of heterogeneity among the sites chosen for study. For example, Quercus virginians L. Celtis laevigata Wilid., Cephalanthus occidentalis L. and Sapium were each the most important species in at least one of the sampled sites. An ordination of the six sites suggests that only three sites form an ecologically meaningful cluster and the remaining three sites are clearly segregated from all others. The ordination pattern may be due primarily to varying levels of habitat destruction as a result of historic anthropogenic activity.
We studied a population of ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata) during 1977-87 in south-central Wisconsin, and intensively monitored (≥20 relocations) 53 radio-marked individuals during 1986-87. Egg laying occurred mainly in June; eggs in four nests hatched after 79-84 d. Twenty-one of 37 adult females (57%) laid during 1986-87, mean clutch size was 3.5, and hatchlings per adult female averaged 0.7. Mean annual survival of marked adults (age ≥10 yr) was 0.81 during 1977-87 (Jolly-Seber analysis). We estimated a total of 54-56 adults on four occupied sites within our 8 km2 study area. Adult densities at these sites ranged from 2.9-5.0/ha. Most (84%) turtles entered hibernation during Sept.; all emerged during April. Known periods of hibernation averaged 216 d (n = 9); burrow depths were between 0.5-1.8 m (n = 26). Mean home range size of adults was 8.7 ha (n = 47) annually, but varied greatly among individuals and did not differ significantly with sex or year. Home ranges of juveniles and subadults were much smaller. Areas of remnant prairie on deep sandy soil were frequented disproportionately, whereas agricultural cropland was clearly avoided. We compared demographic parameters of this and other turtle populations, and explored requisites for numerical stability with observed and hypothetical survival and recruitment rates. Our study area population will likely continue to decline because the average rate of adult survival (0.81 annually) is well below that (about 0.95) which would, with normal recruitment, stabilize numbers. Results of this study are discussed from a management perspective.
A quantitative study of habitat selection in Terrapene carolina triunguis was conducted from August 1969 through January 1972. Thirty-three microenvironmental variables were measured in the vicinity of 201 form locations. Principal component analysis of these data indicated that temperature, cover and moisture are fundamental aspects of the environment at form locations. Canonical correlation of microhabitat and microclimatic variables showed that the microclimate surrounding forms was primarily influenced by ground cover aspects of the habitat. Moisture variables immediately surrounding the turtle were not correlated with features of the microhabitat, suggesting that turtles select humidity levels independent of prevailing conditions at the surface. Microclimatic factors were measured at the location of 55 active turtles within the study area. The similarity in temperature and humidity levels with those taken at form locations indicated that turtles exist within a relatively limited microclimatic range at all times during seasons of activity. Analysis of form location and trailing information indicated a seasonal shift in habitat utilization from grasslands in late spring and early fall to forested areas in summer, early spring and late fall. Activity in the grassland areas was found to coincide with moderate temperature and peak moisture conditions. At other seasons turtles burrowed beneath the litter in wooded areas to avoid temperature extremes and maintain high humidity.
Statistical inference for capture-recapture studies of open animal populations typically relies on the assumption that all emigration from the studied population is permanent. However, there are many instances in which this assumption is unlikely to be met. We define two general models for the process of temporary emigration: completely random and Markovian. We then consider effects of these two types of temporary emigration on Jolly-Seber estimators and on estimators arising from the full-likelihood approach to robust design data. Capture-recapture data arising from Pollock's robust design provide the basis for obtaining unbiased estimates of demographic parameters in the presence of temporary emigration, and for estimating the probability of temporary emigration. We present a likelihood-based approach to dealing with temporary emigration that permits estimation under different models of temporary emigration and yields tests for completely random and Markovian emigration. In addition, we use the relationship between capture probability estimates based on closed and open models under completely random temporary emigration to derive three ad hoc estimators for the probability of temporary emigration. Two of these should be especially useful in situations where capture probabilities are heterogeneous among individual animals. Ad hoc and full-likelihood estimators are illustrated for small-mammal capture-recapture data sets. We believe that these models and estimators will be useful for testing hypotheses about the process of temporary emigration, for estimating demographic parameters in the presence of temporary emigration, and for estimating probabilities of temporary emigration. These latter estimates are frequently of ecological interest as indicators of animal movement and, in some sampling situations, as direct estimates of breeding probabilities and proportions.
The Lincoln-Petersen model (Chapter 2) and closed population models (Chapter 3) are presented briefly. The Jolly-Seber open population model is covered in detail in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5, the authors consider the "enumeration' or "calendar of captures' approach, which is widely used by mammalogists and other vertebrate ecologists, and recommend that it be abandoned in favor of analyses based on the Jolly-Seber model. One restricted version of the Jolly-Seber model, which allows losses (mortality or emigration) but not additions (births or immigration), is likely to be useful in practice. Another series of restrictive models requires the assumptions of a constant survival rate or a constant survival rate and a constant capture rate for the duration of the study. In Chapter 5, the authors consider 2 generalizations of the Jolly-Seber model. The temporary trap response model allows newly marked animals to have different survival and capture rates for 1 period. The other generalization is the cohort Jolly-Seber model. Ideally all animals would be marked as young, and age effects considered by using the Jolly-Seber model on each cohort separately. Chapter 6 presents a detailed description of an age-dependent Jolly-Seber model, which can be used when ≥2 identifiable age classes are marked. Detailed description of the "robust' design is given in Chapter 7, in which each primary period contains several secondary sampling periods. Chapter 8 gives detailed discussion of the design of capture-recapture studies. A new program has been written to accompany the material on the Jolly-Seber model (Chapter 4) and its extensions (Chapter 5). Another new program has been written for a special case of the age-dependent model (Chapter 6) where there are only 2 age classes. In Chapter 9 a description of the different versions of the 2 programs is given. Chapter 10 gives a description of some alternative approaches that were not considered in this monograph. -from Authors
For decades conservation biologists have proposed general rules of thumb for minimum viable population size (MVP); typically, they range from hundreds to thousands of individuals. These rules have shifted conservation resources away from small and fragmented populations. We examined whether iteroparous, long‐lived species might constitute an exception to general MVP guidelines. On the basis of results from a 10‐year capture‐recapture study in eastern New York (U.S.A.), we developed a comprehensive demographic model for the globally threatened bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), which is designated as endangered by the IUCN in 2011. We assessed population viability across a wide range of initial abundances and carrying capacities. Not accounting for inbreeding, our results suggest that bog turtle colonies with as few as 15 breeding females have >90% probability of persisting for >100 years, provided vital rates and environmental variance remain at currently estimated levels. On the basis of our results, we suggest that MVP thresholds may be 1–2 orders of magnitude too high for many long‐lived organisms. Consequently, protection of small and fragmented populations may constitute a viable conservation option for such species, especially in a regional or metapopulation context.
Reexaminando el Concepto de Población Mínima Viable para Especies Longevas Resumen
We studied a population of Florida Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina bauri, from September 2002 to December 2003, in the Florida Keys at the southernmost limit of its range. Population structure was estimated to be 7.5% juvenile, 58.75% female, and 33.75% male, resulting in a female biased sex ratio (1 male:1.74 females). Population size was estimated at 39.9–114.4 turtles/6 ha in a pine rockland forest, with an estimated density of 4.8–10.2 turtles/ha. Males had significantly longer carapace and plastron lengths than did females. Comparison of data with other populations of T. c. bauri revealed similar morphological characteristics among populations although this southern population had higher mean body mass than did populations in the central parts of its range.
In the mid-Atlantic region, urban sprawl and development have resulted in habitat alterations and fragmentation; however, the effects on eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) populations are unclear. To investigate the status of eastern box turtle populations in a fragmented landscape, we used mark—recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate population density, sex ratio, age structure, and survival on 4 study areas with differing degrees of isolation and human disturbance in northern New Castle County, Delaware, USA. We estimated adult population densities ranging from 0.81 turtles/ha to 3.62 turtles/ha among our 4 study areas. Sex ratios were male-biased at 2 study areas and balanced at 2 study areas. Proportion of juveniles ranged from 0% to 31%. Estimated annual survival rate ranged from 0.813 to 0.977. Mortality of radiotagged and marked turtles was primarily due to natural causes, but mowing was the primary cause of human-induced mortality. We found evidence of population decline at one study area due to low survival and recruitment. Human disturbances, isolation, and habitat composition appear to have the greatest influence on the box turtle populations we studied. To minimize mortality from human disturbance, we suggest planting crops adjacent to forest habitat that require no mowing or mowing at a height ≥15 cm. (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(3):745–753; 2008)
A survey conducted in 1995 investigated long term declines reported in a population of box turtles Terrapene carolina monitored each decade since 1945 in bottomland hardwood forest at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland. Methods duplicated past surveys in most respects, but were supplemented by radiotelemetry and a survey of dominant vegetation. Seventy different turtles were found on the 11.8 ha study area, a decline of >75% since peak populations were recorded in 1955. Searchers were less efficient in 1995 than in 1945–1975 for a variety of possible reasons. Among turtles recorded, approximately equal numbers persisted from each of the past five decades, with some individuals surviving >70 years. A sex ratio strongly favoring males was first recorded in 1975 and continued in 1995, but juveniles and subadults were found in greater proportion in 1995 than in any other survey. Six of nine radio-marked turtles left the bottomland study area and migrated to the adjoining bluffs to hibernate, suggesting more extensive movements and perhaps less stable home ranges than formerly thought. Age structure of trees indicated a gradual change to more shade-tolerant species. Examination of rates of change from survey data suggested that major losses probably resulted from changes in hydrology that exacerbated flooding in 1972, with recovery only beginning in 1995 and perhaps limited both by repeated flood events and successional changes in the forest. Slow recovery from losses may indicate that populations of this species would respond poorly to exploitation. ©
Using 28 topographic profiles, air-photo interpretation, and historical shoreline-change data, coastal processes were evaluated along the Chenier Plain to explain the occurrence, distribution, and geomorphic hierarchy of primary landforms, and existing hypotheses regarding Chenier-Plain evolution were reconsidered. The Chenier Plain of SW Louisiana, classified as a low-profile, microtidal, storm-dominated coast, is located west and downdrift of the Mississippi River deltaic plain. This Late-Holocene, marginal-deltaic environment is 200 km long and up to 30 km wide, and is composed primarily of mud deposits capped by marsh interspersed with thin sand- and shell-rich ridges (“cheniers”) that have elevations of up to 4 m.
Cheniere forest as stopover habitat for migrant landbirds: immediate effects of Hurricane Rita
- U S Dept
- Forest Of Agriculture
- Service
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, California.
---, p. chAdWicK, B. couviLLion, t. doyLe, s. FAuLKner, c. JesKe, t. Michot, L. rAndALL, c. WeLLs, And s. WiLson. 2007. Cheniere forest as
stopover habitat for migrant landbirds: immediate effects of Hurricane Rita. U.S. Geological Survey 1306:147-156.
Guidelines for use of live amphibians and reptiles in field and laboratory research
- S J Beaupre
- . B Jacobson
- K Zamudio Lillywhite
BeAupre, s. J., e. r. JAcoBson, h. B. LiLLyWhite, And K. zAMudio. 2004.
Guidelines for use of live amphibians and reptiles in field and
laboratory research. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Available at: http://www.asih.org/sites/default/files/
documents/resources/guidelinesherpsresearch2004.pdf.
Accessed 21 Nov 2023.
A long-term study of eastern box turtles (Terrapene c. carolina) in a suburban neighborhood: survival characteristics and interactions with humans and conspecifics
- I L Brisbin
- . A Kennamer
- . L Peters
- And D J Karapatakis
BrisBin, i. L., r. A. KennAMer, e. L. peters, And d. J. KArApAtAKis. 2008. A
long-term study of eastern box turtles (Terrapene c. carolina) in a
suburban neighborhood: survival characteristics and interactions
with humans and conspecifics. Herpetol. Conserv. Bio. 3:367-380.
A. e. dunhAM, And r. c. vAn LoBen seLs. 1994. Demographics of common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina): implications for conservation and management of long-lived organisms
- J D Congdon
- J W Gibbons
conGdon, J. d. And J. W. GiBBons. 1990. The evolution of turtle life histories. In J. W. Gibbons (ed.), Life History and Ecology of the Slider
Turtle, pp. 45-54. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
---, A. e. dunhAM, And r. c. vAn LoBen seLs. 1994. Demographics of
common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina): implications for
conservation and management of long-lived organisms. Integr.
Comp. Biol. 34:397-408.
Activity patterns and habitat use of box turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri) on a Florida island, with recommendations for management
- M L And
- Griffey
---And r. FrAnz. 1993. The need for status information on common herpetofaunal species. Herpetol. Rev. 24:47-49.
---And M. L. GriFFey. 2005. The conservation of box turtles on
public lands in Florida. In W. E. Meshaka, Jr,. and K. J. Babbit (eds.),
Amphibians and Reptiles: Status and Conservation in Florida, 1st
ed., pp. 103-110. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.
---, r. FrAnz, And L. L. sMith. 1994. Activity patterns and habitat
use of box turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri) on a Florida island,
with recommendations for management. Chelonian Conserv.
Biol. 1:97-106.
Leiden, s. poppy, and c. t. Winne. 2000. The global decline of reptiles
- J W Gibbons
- . J Ryan
- K A Buhlmann
- B S Tuberville
- J L Metts
- Greene
- Mills
giBBons, J. W., d. e. scott, t. J. ryAn, K. A. BuhLMAnn, t. d. tuBerviLLe,
B. s. Metts, J. L. Greene, t. MiLLs, y. Leiden, s. poppy, and c. t. Winne.
2000. The global decline of reptiles, déjà vu amphibians. BioScience 50:653-666.
Louisiana Wildlife Action Plan. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- S R Holcomb
- A A Bass
- M A Reid
- . F Seymour
- B B Lorenz
- . M Gregory
- K F Javed
- Balkum
hoLcoMB, s. r., A. A. BAss, c. s. reid, M. A. seyMour, n. F. Lorenz, B. B.
GreGory, s. M. JAved, And K. F. BALKuM. 2015. Louisiana Wildlife Action Plan. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. xlii + 661 pp.
Terrapene carolina (Linnaeus 1758) -eastern box turtle, common box turtle
- A R Kiester
- L L Willey
Kiester, A. r., And L. L. WiLLey. 2015. Terrapene carolina (Linnaeus
1758) -eastern box turtle, common box turtle. Chelon. Res.
Monogr. 5:1-25.
RMark: An R interface for analysis of capture-recapture data with MARK. AFSC Processed Rep. 2013-01. Alaska Fisheries Science Center
- J L Laake
LAAKe, J. L. 2013. RMark: An R interface for analysis of capture-recapture data with MARK. AFSC Processed Rep. 2013-01. Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service,
Seattle, Washington. 25 pp.
Louisiana Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- G Lester
- Faulkner
- And I Reid
- Maxit
Lester, G., s. sorensen, p. FAuLKner, c. reid, And i. MAxit. 2005. Louisiana Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. xx
+ 451 pp.