Terrestrial Flight Response: A New Context for Terrestrial Activity in Sonoran Mud Turtles

Stone, Paul A.; Stone, Marie E. B.; Stanila, Brian D.; Locey, Kenneth J

doi:10.1674/0003-0031-165.1.128

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Spring loss was partially mitigated by the construction of impoundments in canyons, creating new intermittent and permanent aquatic habitat. However, impoundment Kinosternidae -Kinosternon sonoriense 119.15 maintenance has been generally poor, and silt accumulation and dam failure are common, particularly in the Madrean Sky Islands (Stone et al 2014). For example, in a 250 km 2 region of the Peloncillo Mountains, all 9 natural springs have been modified for livestock use, with only 2 retaining enough integrity to support mud turtle populations, and 15 of 21 impoundments have structural or siltation problems, including 9 that do not hold water (Stone et al 2015 and unpubl.…”

Section: 13mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Terrestrial flight responses did not occur in deep water habitats and movements from shallow habitats were interpreted to be a defensive behavior (Stone et al 2011). Adults were more likely to undergo terrestrial flight responses (Stone et al 2011), employ head retraction and shell closure (Peno et al 2016), and less likely to bite (Peno et al 2016) than juveniles, suggesting ontogenetic differences in defensive behavior. All size classes produce musk, which has long been regarded as a defensive behavior (Ehrenfeld and Ehrenfeld 1973).…”

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confidence: 95%

“…Kinosternids in general (Beissinger 1990;Iverson et al 1991), including K. sonoriense (Stone 2001;Stone et al 2011), are susceptible to terrestrial predators while on land or in shallow water. Sonora Mud Turtles were present in less than 1% of identifiable prey items in the diets of mountain lions (McCain 2008) and bald eagles (Grubb 1995).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such mortality suggests that exiting streams to find terrestrial concealment may reduce risks compared to staying in shallow pools. When disturbed by humans in aquatic habitats, Sonora Mud Turtles undergo terrestrial flight responses, leaving the water to enter a terrestrial refuge (Stone et al 2011). Terrestrial flight responses did not occur in deep water habitats and movements from shallow habitats were interpreted to be a defensive behavior (Stone et al 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When disturbed by humans in aquatic habitats, Sonora Mud Turtles undergo terrestrial flight responses, leaving the water to enter a terrestrial refuge (Stone et al 2011). Terrestrial flight responses did not occur in deep water habitats and movements from shallow habitats were interpreted to be a defensive behavior (Stone et al 2011). Adults were more likely to undergo terrestrial flight responses (Stone et al 2011), employ head retraction and shell closure (Peno et al 2016), and less likely to bite (Peno et al 2016) than juveniles, suggesting ontogenetic differences in defensive behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kinosternon sonoriense (LeConte 1854) – Sonora Mud Turtle, Desert Mud Turtle, Sonoyta Mud Turtle, Casquito de Sonora

Stone,

Congdon,

Stone

et al. 2022

Chelonian Research Monographs

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The Sonora Mud Turtle, Kinosternon sonoriense (Family Kinosternidae), is a medium-sized kinosternid (females to 175 mm SCL, males to 168 mm SCL) found in lentic and lotic aquatic habitats in desert and montane regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Two allopatric subspecies are currently recognized, K. s. sonoriense and K. s. longifemorale. Although primarily aquatic, individuals frequently move along aquatic corridors, make extensive overland movements, and estivate on land. Kinosternon sonoriense is omnivorous, matures in 5-9 yrs, and exhibits considerable geographic variation in growth and maturation. Average clutch size is usually related to female body size and ranges from 3 to 11 eggs. Eggs average 28-33 mm in length, 14-19 mm in width, and weigh 5-6 g. Females produce one to two clutches per year (potential maximum of four), and embryos exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination. The loss and degradation of natural aquatic habitats, including streams, spring runs, and ciénegas, is a primary threat to conservation of K. sonoriense, particularly to the very small, isolated populations of K. s. longifemorale. The loss of natural habitats has been partially mitigated by the widespread construction of impoundments; however, many impoundments are now experiencing dam failure and siltation, further contributing to habitat loss. In addition, the establishment of non-native predator species, particularly Virile Crayfish and American Bullfrogs, are known threats to juvenile K. s. sonoriense. The status and ecology of both subspecies have been studied in recent years, mainly in the United States, and conservation efforts have been focused primarily on the declining populations of K. s. longifemorale. distribution. -Mexico, USA. Kinosternon sonoriense occurs from southwestern New Mexico and western Chihuahua west through much of Arizona and Sonora. Historically known populations in the lower Colorado River basin of southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, and possibly northern Baja California and southern Nevada have apparently been extirpated.

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Section: 13mentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 95%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kinosternon sonoriense (LeConte 1854) – Sonora Mud Turtle, Desert Mud Turtle, Sonoyta Mud Turtle, Casquito de Sonora

Stone,

Congdon,

Stone

et al. 2022

Chelonian Research Monographs

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Defensive responses of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are influenced by risk assessment and level of habituation to humans

Bateman

Fleming

Jones

et al. 2014

Behav

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Species that are either sessile or too slow to resort to flight may instead rely on defences such as natural armour or protective structures, but they will still face the same economic decisions as do more mobile species about when to re-emerge from cover. The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a species of conservation significance due to its important role as an ecosystem engineer and habitat loss due to human activities. In this study, we examined escape responses of gopher tortoises approached by a human observer. Our data supported our prediction that the level of disturbance would influence escape responses, with animals that were picked and handled taking longer to emerge and move off than animals that had simply been approached or approached and walked around. We also found that tortoises took half as long to extend their heads at our study site, where tortoises exposed to a high level of benign human activity over a long period, compared with an adjacent site where there had been minimal human interaction with tortoises. These data suggest that gopher tortoises adjust their escape responses according to the level of risk they are exposed to. Over the long-term, this plasticity in escape responses can potentially result in some level of habituation to human presence.

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The Spring–Summer Nesting and Activity Patterns of the Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria)

McKnight

Harmon

McKnight

et al. 2015

Copeia

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Terrestrial Flight Response: A New Context for Terrestrial Activity in Sonoran Mud Turtles

Cited by 5 publications

References 26 publications

Kinosternon sonoriense (LeConte 1854) – Sonora Mud Turtle, Desert Mud Turtle, Sonoyta Mud Turtle, Casquito de Sonora

Kinosternon sonoriense (LeConte 1854) – Sonora Mud Turtle, Desert Mud Turtle, Sonoyta Mud Turtle, Casquito de Sonora

Defensive responses of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are influenced by risk assessment and level of habituation to humans

The Spring–Summer Nesting and Activity Patterns of the Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria)

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