Drought-Related Responses of Aquatic Turtle Populations

Abstract

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Disruptive Influences of Drought on the Activity of a Freshwater Turtle

“…Large fluctuations in environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature alter resource distributions and often disrupt survival and fecundity as well as the composition, abundance, and population structure of animal species (Blair, 1957;Gibbons et al, 1983;Stiles, 1992;Dunham, 1994;Dodd and Dreslik, 2008;Sperry and Weatherhead, 2008;Winne et al, 2010). During extreme stochasticity, resources such as water, food, mates, and refugia become limited and can create ecological challenges; thus compelling individuals to adjust their behavior (Sapolsky, 1986).…”

“…During drought conditions, freshwater turtle species either immigrate to other aquatic habitats (Gibbons et al, 1983;Christiansen and Bickham, 1989;Kennett and Georges, 1990;Buhlmann and Gibbons, 2001;Roe and Georges, 2008;Rees et al, 2009) or estivate in drying pockets of wetland or terrestrial refugia (Cagle, 1944;Gibbons et al, 1983;Christiansen and Bickham, 1989;Buhlmann and Gibbons, 2001;Joyal et al, 2001;Ligon and Stone, 2003;Roe and Georges, 2008;Buhlmann et al, 2009;Rees et al, 2009). Response to drought conditions depends largely on whether a species evolved in an arid or a humid environment; species with arid climate evolutionary histories have behavioral adaptations, such as estivation, to cope with dry conditions, whereas those that did not evolve in an arid or xeric climate must emigrate (Gibbons et al, 1983;Christiansen and Bickham, 1989). In addition populations of long lived species, such as turtles, may also learn to adjust behavior during dry periods from repeated exposure to drought conditions.…”

Spectral reflectance and substrate color-induced melanization in immature and adult Midland painted turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata)

“…Following emergence from a terrestrial nest, hatchling turtles could encounter a number of aquatic habitats with bottom substrates that range from light-colored sand or algae to black muck-bottoms (Rowe et al, 2006a(Rowe et al, , 2009. As adults, color convergence of the carapace with a background might reduce prédation as individuals move among aquatic habitats with variable substrate colors throughout their lives (Rowe et al, 2009) in response to drought (Gibbons et al, 1983), or during the course of seasonal migrations (McAuliffe, 1978;Bodie and Semlitsch, 2000). However, throughout most of its range, aquatic predators that would be large enough to consume adult C. picta are likely to be rare and so the adaptive value of substrate color convergence may be rather low for adults.…”

Comportamiento en cautiverio del morrocoy (geochelone carbonaria) durante la época reproductiva

“…Complementariamente se afirma que G. carbonaria durante la sequía prolongada sufre estrés fisiológico, lo que desencadena una atrofia de todo el proceso de formación de los folículos preovulatorios, alterando así la conducta reproductiva a tal punto que cesa la reproducción (GIBBONS et al, 1983).…”