Habitat Use by Five Turtle Species in the Middle Mississippi River

Braun, Andrew P.; Phelps, Quinton E.

doi:10.2744/ccb-1156.1

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This is the best resolution available and, although smaller water bodies might not be directly detected, nonetheless polygons encompass the maximum extension of different kinds of water bodies (e.g., marshes, flooding areas). Importantly, this distance to the nearest freshwater body is an indirect measure of water availability—not a measure of dispersal—hence it defines a characteristic of the fundamental niche (Anderson, Gutierrez & Romano, 2002; Braun & Phelps, 2016).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The environmental variable reported more often and consistently was temperature for the following five features: during eggs incubation, hatching, growth, basking, and activity periods. The proximity to freshwater bodies is another critical limit, a fundamental factor for the turtles’ survival which they depend upon to complete their life cycles, feeding and reproduction (Anderson, Gutierrez & Romano, 2002; Braun & Phelps, 2016); thus, we used the Euclidian distance to the nearest freshwater body (NearDist) as an indirect measure of water availability, as explained above. We defined a 10 km buffer for distance to water availability, considering the general 5–10 km average distance reported where turtles can explore (Cagle, 1944) and, therefore, reach freshwater bodies.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fundamental niche unfilling and potential invasion risk of the slider turtle Trachemys scripta

Espindola

Parra

Vázquez‐Domínguez

2019

PeerJ

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Background How species colonize new environments is still a fundamental question in ecology and evolution, assessable by evaluating range characteristics of invasive species. Here we propose a model approach to evaluate environmental conditions and species features to predict niche changes in non-equilibrium contexts. It incorporates potentially range-limiting processes (fundamental niche), hence allowing for better predictions of range shifts, differentiation of analog and non-analog conditions between the native and non-native (invaded) ranges, and identification of environmental conditions not currently available but likely in the future. We apply our approach with the worldwide invasive slider-turtle Trachemys scripta. Methods We estimated the native and non-native realized niches of T. scripta and built its fundamental niche based on key features of the turtle’s temperature physiological tolerance limits and survival-associated factors. We next estimated response functions adjusted to the physiological predictor variables and estimated habitat suitability values, followed by a comprehensive set of analyses and simulations to compare the environmental conditions occupied by T. scripta (at its native and non-native ranges). Results Climatic space analysis showed that the T. scripta’s non-native realized niche is 28.6% greater than the native one. Response curves showed that it does not use its entire range of temperature tolerances (density curves for native: 5.3–23.7 °C and non-native: 1.7–28.4 °C ranges). Whether considering the mean temperature of the warmest or the coldest quarter, it occupies a wider range of temperatures along its non-native distribution. Results of the response curves for worldwide (global) and across Mexico (regional) comparisons showed it occupies analog and non-analog conditions between its native and invaded ranges, exhibiting also unoccupied suitable climatic conditions. Discussion We demonstrate that T. scripta occupies a wider subset of its fundamental niche along its non-native range (within its physiological tolerances), revealing that the species observed niche shift corresponds to a different subset of its fundamental niche (niche unfilling). We also identified suitable environmental conditions, globally and regionally, where the slider turtle could potentially invade. Our approach allows to accurately predict niche changes in novel or non-equilibrium contexts, which can improve our understanding about ecological aspects and geographic range boundaries in current and potential invasions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamental niche unfilling and potential invasion risk of the slider turtle Trachemys scripta

Espindola

Parra

Vázquez‐Domínguez

2019

PeerJ

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“…Trapping effort was consistent among sites and seasons, ranging from 27-30 trap days per trapping session. In 2020, we sampled 10 wetlands in spring (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) and summer (30 June to 15 July), but we did not conduct fall surveys due to low fall capture success in 2019. For each sampling session, we set 10 traps ≥ 10 m apart and sampled for 3 consecutive days, with traps checked every 24 hours.…”

Section: Turtle Abundance Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wetland-level factors such as turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and vegetative cover can directly in uence assemblages of biotic communities such as sh (Brazner and At the local scale, wetland-level factors such as size (i.e., perimeter, depth, and surface area) and structure (e.g., herbaceous cover and substrate) affect turtle populations as they can provide habitat for food (Zadnik et al 2009, Anderson et al 2013a, Hughes et al 2016), temperature regulation (DonnerWright et al 1999), and predator evasion (Ernst and Lovich 2009). Canopy cover can also in uence turtle abundance (Braun and Phelps 2016), where regularly basking species such as painted turtles tend to favor habitats with decreased canopy cover (Cosentino et al 2010). Although snapping turtles are less likely to bask, changes in canopy cover could in uence habitat preferences (Rizkalla and Swihart 2006, Attum et al 2008, Aresco 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Wetland and Landscape Characteristics on Freshwater Turtle Relative Abundance and Movement Patterns in West Virginia, USA

Becker

Brown

Anderson

2023

Preprint

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Wetland management practices often alter habitat characteristics to improve the function of the wetland (e.g., removing emergent vegetation for aesthetics or dredging for fish stocking), potentially at the cost of reducing habitat quality for wetland-dependent species such as freshwater turtles. We identified wetland and surrounding landscape characteristics related to painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) relative abundance and snapping turtle movement among wetlands. We surveyed turtles at 36 wetland sites (0.04–7.45 ha) in a mixed-use watershed in north-central West Virginia, USA, where hardwood forests and wetlands have been heavily fragmented by agriculture and roads. We also applied radio transmitters to 40 adult snapping turtles (20 females and 20 males) across 20 wetlands. Snapping turtle relative abundance was positively associated with wetland perimeter, mean substrate depth, mean wetland vegetation cover, and minimum distance from roads, while painted turtle relative abundance was positively related to herbaceous wetland cover. We documented movement among wetlands for 25 snapping turtles (63%), including 12 females and 13 males. The probability of inter-wetland movement decreased with wetland perimeter length and distance to the nearest wetland. Our results suggest that large wetlands with deep substrate and abundant herbaceous vegetation provide high-quality habitat for our focal turtle species and that increasing the density of wetlands could increase snapping turtle population connectivity.

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Influence of Wetland and Landscape Characteristics on Freshwater Turtle Relative Abundance and Movement Patterns in West Virginia, USA

Becker,

Brown,

Anderson

2024

Wetlands

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Wetland management practices often alter habitat characteristics to improve the function of the wetland (e.g., removing emergent vegetation for aesthetics or dredging for fish stocking), potentially at the cost of reducing habitat quality for wetland-dependent species such as freshwater turtles. We identified wetland and surrounding landscape characteristics related to painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) relative abundance and snapping turtle movement among wetlands. We surveyed turtles at 29 wetland sites (0.04–1.71 ha) in a mixed-use watershed in north-central West Virginia, USA, where hardwood forests and wetlands have been heavily fragmented by agriculture and roads. We also applied radio transmitters to 33 adult snapping turtles (17 females and 16 males) across 17 wetlands. Snapping turtle relative abundance was best estimated with mean substrate depth, mean wetland depth, and minimum distance from roads. Painted turtle relative abundance was best estimated with the null model. We documented movement among wetlands for 22 snapping turtles (67%), including 10 females and 12 males. The probability of inter-wetland movement decreased with increased minimum distance from wetlands. Our results suggest that the focal turtle species readily used shallow, mucky wetlands with deep substrate and that increasing the density of wetlands could increase snapping turtle population connectivity. Managers could consider restoring a diversity of wetland types that result in reduced travel distance between wetlands and that collectively have characteristics conducive to multiple species.

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Habitat Use by Five Turtle Species in the Middle Mississippi River

Cited by 4 publications

References 33 publications

Fundamental niche unfilling and potential invasion risk of the slider turtle Trachemys scripta

Fundamental niche unfilling and potential invasion risk of the slider turtle Trachemys scripta

Influence of Wetland and Landscape Characteristics on Freshwater Turtle Relative Abundance and Movement Patterns in West Virginia, USA

Influence of Wetland and Landscape Characteristics on Freshwater Turtle Relative Abundance and Movement Patterns in West Virginia, USA

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