Demography and Ecology of an Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) Population in South-Central Wisconsin

Doroff, Angela M.; Keith, Lloyd B.

doi:10.2307/1446344

Cited by 78 publications

(77 citation statements)

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“…Previous studies indicated that the population density of ornate box turtle populations is 2.9-13.1 adults/ha (Legler 1960;Doroff and Keith 1990). This finding suggests that the current 150-ha habitat of the IL population might be adequate to support the desirable census population size of 700.…”

Section: Conservation Guidelines For the Il Populationmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…all individuals start with a random age value that is within the longevity limit), dioecy with random mating reproductive system, expected longevity = 30 years, age of reproductive maturation = 10 years (Legler 1960;Blair 1976;Metcalf and Metcalf 1985;Ernst et al 1994), male:female ratio was set to 1:1.5 based on our sex ratio data from the IL population and previous studies of other ornate box turtle populations (Legler 1960;Doroff and Keith 1990), number of years simulated = 200 years, and number of iterations = 1000.…”

Section: Computer Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Legler (1960) reported a 1:1.7 male:female ratio from a population in Kansas, whereas Doroff and Keith (1990) reported a 1:1.56 male:female ratio from a population in Wisconsin. These findings lead us to believe that this biased adult sex ratio might be the norm in this species, and we used this number to set the sex ratio parameter in all our simulations.…”

Section: Genetic Diversity Projections For the Il Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic Effects of a Persistent Bottleneck on a Natural Population of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)

Kuo

Janzen

2004

Conservation Genetics

139

105

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Human activities in the past few hundred years have caused enormous impacts on many ecosystems, greatly accelerating the rate of population decline and extinction. In addition to habitat alteration and destruction, the loss of genetic diversity due to reduced population size has become a major conservation issue for many imperiled species. However, the genetic effects of persistent population bottlenecks can be very different for long-lived and short-lived species when considering the time scale of centuries. To investigate the genetic effects of persistent population bottlenecks on long-lived species, we use microsatellite markers to assess the level of genetic diversity of a small ornate box turtle population that has experienced a persistent bottleneck in the past century, and compare it to a large relatively undisturbed population. The genetic signature of a recent bottleneck is detected by examining the deviation from mutation-drift equilibrium in the small population, but the bottleneck had little effect on its level of genetic diversity. Computer simulations combined with information on population structure suggest that an effective population size of 300, which results in a census population size of 700, would be required for the small population to maintain 90% of the average number of alleles per locus in the next 200 years. The life history of long-lived species could mask the accelerated rate of genetic drift, making population recovery a relatively slow process. Statistical analysis of genetic data and empirical-based computer simulations can be important tools to facilitate conservation planning.

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Section: Conservation Guidelines For the Il Populationmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Computer Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Genetic Diversity Projections For the Il Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic Effects of a Persistent Bottleneck on a Natural Population of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)

Kuo

Janzen

2004

Conservation Genetics

139

105

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“…This species inhabits sand prairies in the central and southern United States and northern Mexico (Ernst and Lovich 2009), but is declining in many parts of its range due to habitat loss (Doroff andKeith 1990, Converse et al 2005) and collection for the pet trade (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1995). In addition to the rarity of this species in many areas, ornate box turtles are difficult to observe.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To evaluate the efficacy of a potential head-start-translocation program, it is important to accurately estimate the size of the source population to determine how removal of adults or juveniles may affect population demography. Similarly, because translocation is a drastic measure that has not been widely successful for reptiles in general (Dodd andSeigel 1991, but see Germano andBishop 2009) or box turtles specifically (Doroff and Keith 1990), it is critical to assess the necessity of translocation by first determining whether any individuals remain at sites from which the species is thought to be extirpated. If individuals are observed at such sites, population estimates should be attempted; if no individuals are observed, it is important to know whether the lack of observations is likely due to nondetection of present individuals, or true absence of the species.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A generalized method to determine detectability of rare and cryptic species using the ornate box turtle as a model

Refsnider

Mitchell

Streby

et al. 2011

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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Estimates regarding population parameters are often based on data from surveys. To ensure that such estimates are as accurate as possible, it is important to know the detectability resulting from the particular survey method used. We used radiotelemetry to measure detectability of ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata), using visual-encounter surveys in a sand prairie in northwestern Illinois, USA. We found that the overall detection probability of visual-encounter surveys was 0.03, and our high frequency of nondetection was due to a failure to detect visible turtles rather than turtles being underground or hidden in dense vegetation. Despite the substantial population density at our study site, visual-encounter surveys failed to detect box turtles on most visits, which resulted in a prohibitively high number of surveys that would be required to accurately estimate population size or to infer absence of the species from a site. Our method of using radiotelemetry to measure detection probability of a survey method could be easily applied to other small, cryptic, or rare species. However, our low detection probability and high frequency of nondetections recommend against use of visual-encounter surveys alone in estimating population parameters for ornate box turtles. © 2011 The Wildlife Society. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. ABSTRACT Estimates regarding population parameters are often based on data from surveys. To ensure that such estimates are as accurate as possible, it is important to know the detectability resulting from the particular survey method used. We used radiotelemetry to measure detectability of ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata), using visual-encounter surveys in a sand prairie in northwestern Illinois, USA. We found that the overall detection probability of visual-encounter surveys was 0.03, and our high frequency of nondetection was due to a failure to detect visible turtles rather than turtles being underground or hidden in dense vegetation. Despite the substantial population density at our study site, visual-encounter surveys failed to detect box turtles on most visits, which resulted in a prohibitively high number of surveys that would be required to accurately estimate population size or to infer absence of the species from a site. Our method of using radiotelemetry to measure detection probability of a survey method could be easily applied to other small, cryptic, or rare species. However, our low detection probability and high frequency of nondetections recommend against use of visual-encounter surveys alone in estimating population parameters for ornate box turtles. ß 2011 The Wildlife Society.

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Physiological ecology of overwintering in hatchling turtles

2008

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Temperate species of turtles hatch from eggs in late summer. The hatchlings of some species leave their natal nest to hibernate elsewhere on land or under water, whereas others usually remain inside the nest until spring; thus, post-hatching behavior strongly influences the hibernation ecology and physiology of this age class. Little is known about the habitats of and environmental conditions affecting aquatic hibernators, although laboratory studies suggest that chronically hypoxic sites are inhospitable to hatchlings. Field biologists have long been intrigued by the environmental conditions survived by hatchlings using terrestrial hibernacula, especially nests that ultimately serve as winter refugia. Hatchlings are unable to feed, although as metabolism is greatly reduced in hibernation, they are not at risk of starvation. Dehydration and injury from cold are more formidable challenges. Differential tolerances to these stressors may explain variation in hatchling overwintering habits among turtle taxa. Much study has been devoted to the cold-hardiness adaptations exhibited by terrestrial hibernators. All tolerate a degree of chilling, but survival of frost exposure depends on either freeze avoidance through supercooling or freeze tolerance. Freeze avoidance is promoted by behavioral, anatomical, and physiological features that minimize risk of inoculation by ice and ice-nucleating agents. Freeze tolerance is promoted by a complex suite of molecular, biochemical, and physiological responses enabling certain organisms to survive the freezing and thawing of extracellular fluids. Some species apparently can switch between freeze avoidance or freeze tolerance, the mode utilized in a particular instance of chilling depending on prevailing physiological and environmental conditions.

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Demography and Ecology of an Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) Population in South-Central Wisconsin

Cited by 78 publications

References 10 publications

Genetic Effects of a Persistent Bottleneck on a Natural Population of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)

Genetic Effects of a Persistent Bottleneck on a Natural Population of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)

A generalized method to determine detectability of rare and cryptic species using the ornate box turtle as a model

Physiological ecology of overwintering in hatchling turtles

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