Spatial use and selection of habitat in a reintroduced population of alligator snapping turtles (<i>Macrochelys temminckii</i>)

Moore, Daniel B.; Ligon, Day B.; Fillmore, Brian M.; Fox, Stanley F.

doi:10.1894/f05-nbf-05.1

Cited by 14 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In addition, the relatively larger MCP of subadults, compared to juveniles, may reflect the greater requirements (e.g., food and refugia) of subadults, and probably adults, than of juveniles. These variations in habitat use and movement patterns were anticipated because numerous turtle species exhibit such ontogenetic shifts (Okuyama et al, 2009;Howell et al, 2016;Pate, Jessica and Salmon, 2017;Burgett et al, 2018), including prior results on M. temminckii (Moore et al, 2014). However, our study was the first to statistically confirm these changes between hatchling and subadult M. temminckii from the same cohort.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…We calculated home-range size (ha) as 100% minimum convex polygons (MCP). All analyses are commonly used in turtle and wildlife movement ecology research (Ream, 2008;Lichti and Swihart, 2011;Moore et al, 2013;Townsend, 2016;Wood, Brunnick, and Milton, 2017). We calculated MCP in ArcMap using the minimum bounding geometry tool with the convex hull selection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Oklahoma and Arkansas, M. temminckii used shallower depths and higher canopy cover than occurred at random locations (Howey and Dinkelacker, 2009;Moore et al, 2014). In addition, Oklahoma juveniles (i.e., 2-4 years old) used shallower depths than adults (Moore et al, 2014). However, Townsend (2016) detected age variation in depth used by two, three, or four year old turtles.…”

Section: Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The movement ecology and habitat use of M. temminckii at various age classes is well studied in Louisiana (Harrel, Allen, and Hebert, 1996;Bass, 2007;Bogosian, 2010;Townsend, 2016), Arkansas (Trauth et al, 1998(Trauth et al, , 2016Howey and Dinkelacker, 2009), and Oklahoma (Riedle et al, 2006;Moore et al, 2014;Anthony et al, 2015;Spangler, 2017). Several studies highlight that preferred water depth use may differ between age classes (i.e., juveniles and adults; Ream, 2008;Moore et al, 2014;Townsend, 2016;Spangler, 2017). Generally, shifts in home-range size and habitat use are associated with turtle body size, so one can expect differences in habitat use and home ranges from juveniles to subadults and adults (Harrel, Allen, and Hebert, 1996;Howey and Dinkelacker, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In response to population declines of M. temminckii, several state agencies initiated translocation or hatchling release programs to augment existing populations or possibly repopulate extirpated populations, respectively (Ream, 2008;Bogosian, 2010;Moore et al, 2013;Townsend, 2016). Historically (e.g., 1800s and1900s;Scott and Redmond, 2008), this species has been documented in Tennessee along the Tennessee River drainage, but few records occur in West Tennessee Rivers (Scott and Redmond, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ontogenetic and seasonal shifts in movement and habitat selection of the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

2021

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We aimed to discern the seasonal movement patterns, home range sizes, and microhabitat associations of subadult Macrochelys temminckii in a West Tennessee population. Because this population was previously monitored (i.e., telemetry and habitat use) as juveniles after the initial release in 2005, studying the movement ecology and habitat use of the same released cohort 12 years later allows for unique comparisons between hatchling and subadult ecology. We used radio telemetry to collect movement and microhabitat data of 16 subadult M. temminckii during one year. Our results suggest that seasonal and ontogenetic variation in movement patterns and habitat selection occur within a cohort of M. temminckii. Compared to juveniles, subadults used deep slough areas with high overstory tree cover and had larger home ranges (100% minimum convex polygons [MCP]). Additionally, as subadults, the mean distance moved (m) varied among seasons and furthest during summer. Subadults used deeper water, with higher temperatures and significantly more tree canopy cover, than random locations. Overall, the home range estimate for subadults (mean MCP ± SE; 1.64 ± 0.57 ha) was greater than for juveniles (0.044 ± 0.021 ha). These home-range estimates and habitat usage patterns were similar to subadults in other studies. The seasonal and ontogenetic variations suggest that habitat heterogeneity is critical to sustain populations of introduced M. temminckii.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ontogenetic and seasonal shifts in movement and habitat selection of the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

2021

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Detection, occupancy, and abundance of the alligator snapping turtle in Texas

et al. 2023

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The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a long‐lived species that is widely distributed across the southeastern United States. Both these characteristics make monitoring its occupancy and abundance particularly challenging. In 2020 and 2021, we conducted hoop trap surveys at 51 permanent water bodies across the Texas, USA, range of the species to estimate occupancy and average abundance with site occupancy models and multinomial N‐mixture models, respectively. We confirmed the species to be present at 61% of surveyed locations. Mean detection probability was 0.77, and was influenced methodologically by the spacing of traps, and environmentally by lunar phase and water flow velocity. Mean occupancy probability was 0.82, and mean estimated abundance was 7.57 turtles/site. Our data provided evidence that the species has a higher occurrence probability in waters of highly forested catchments, and is most probable to occur in highest abundances at median latitudes within its Texas range. Despite known microhabitat preferences of the species, instream habitat characteristics (e.g., canopy coverage, depth, sinuosity) did not strongly influence its occupancy or abundance. Spatial dynamics of the occupancy and abundance of the species in Texas are influenced by landscape features more than local habitat. These results further corroborate the importance of watershed land cover to aquatic organisms, and our methods provide a standardized template for monitoring and quantifying important demographic parameters of the species across multiple locations while accounting for imperfect detection.

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Movement behavior and passive dispersal of a reintroduced population of alligator snapping turtles

Kessler,

Dreslik

2023

J Wildl Manag

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Maladaptive movement behavior is a leading cause of failure for reptile reintroductions, thus characterizing movement for translocated populations is important to project success. From 2014–2016 we radio‐tracked 183 immature reintroduced alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) using very high frequency telemetry in a stream in southern Illinois, USA. We assessed environmental, temporal, morphometric, and microhabitat factors influencing movement, including post‐release dispersal from reintroduction sites, movement probability, and step length. We used directional statistics to investigate the effects of precipitation and age on directional movement in the stream. Numerous factors influenced active movement, including ambient temperatures, time since release, use of log jams, turtle size, and age. Precipitation had an age‐biased effect on movement. Directional analyses suggested that movement was largely passive as turtles were swept downstream with increased discharge. Overall, the behavior of reintroduced alligator snapping turtles was similar to that reported in wild populations. Passive downstream transport has implications for reintroduced and natural populations as a force for unintentional emigration in channelized streams under current conditions and future high flow regimes.

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Spatial use and selection of habitat in a reintroduced population of alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii)

Cited by 14 publications

References 40 publications

Ontogenetic and seasonal shifts in movement and habitat selection of the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

Ontogenetic and seasonal shifts in movement and habitat selection of the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

Detection, occupancy, and abundance of the alligator snapping turtle in Texas

Movement behavior and passive dispersal of a reintroduced population of alligator snapping turtles

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