Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Theses, Dissertations and Capstones 2010 The aN tural History & Distribution of Riverine Turtles in West Virginia Linh Diem Phu Follow this and additional works at: http://mds.marshall.edu/etd Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Phu, Linh Diem, "The aN tural History & Distribution of Riverine Turtles in West Virginia" (2010). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. Paper 787. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Natural History & Distribution of Riverine Turtles in West Virginia Thesis submitted to the Graduate College of Marshall University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biological Sciences By Linh Diem Phu Dr. Thomas K. Pauley, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson Dr. Dan Evans, Ph.D. Dr. Suzanne Strait, Ph.D. Marshall University May 2010 Abstract Turtles are unique evolutionary marvels that evolved from amphibians and developed their protective shelled form more than 200 million years ago. In West Virginia, there are 10 native species of turtles, 9 of which are aquatic. Most of these aquatic turtles feed on carrion and dead plant matter, in the water and essentially "clean" our water systems. Turtles are long-lived animals with sensitive life stages that can serve as both long-term and short-term bioindicators of environmental health. With the increase in commercial trade, habitat fragmentation, degradation, destruction, there has been a marked decline in turtle species. The need for well documented distribution and natural history of “common” aquatic turtles is necessary to help guide management decisions about these turtles and ensure that they remain common. The main objective of this research was to determine distribution and note any changes in the extent of aquatic turtle populations in West Virginia. This was done by surveying major river systems and examining historical records and field notes. There have been few extensive surveys done on aquatic turtles in the state. Much of the data available have been from individual river populations including the New River and the Kanawha River or as incidental findings that are part of a larger scale project and museum collections. Survey techniques included live capture with hoop traps, catfish traps, fyke nets, and basking traps as well as visual surveys on shore, aboard bass boats and canoes. A total of 10 rivers, one lake, one pond, and two wetland areas were surveyed which resulted in 219 new turtle records and 10 new county records of 5 different species in West Virginia. The efficacy of survey techniques and recommendations based on research findings are also included that may will provide insight into the management of the various populations of aquatic turtles in West Virginia. i Acknowledgements This thesis is dedicated in loving memory of my father, Cuong V. Phu (July 4, 1942 – March 19, 2007) who taught me that through hard work and perseverance anything is possible. His courageous 3 year battle with brain cancer was testament to his perseverance and his will to live, despite being told that he only had 3 months to live following major brain surgeries. It is because of this perseverance that I found the will power and strength to finish this thesis after a long hiatus. I would like to express deep gratitude towards my advisor Dr. Thomas K. Pauley for his guidance, support, and patience as I completed my thesis. He has inspired and encouraged me more than he would ever realize. I am also thankful to my committee members, Dr. Dan Evans and Dr. Suzanne Strait for their time and support. This research would not have been possible without the help of Vanessa Dozeman, who traveled with me throughout the state in her trusty Chevy Silverado hauling bass boats, canoes, traps, and turtles. Her ability to balance on wet logs to set traps, live in tents for 4 excruciatingly wet months, survive on MREs and PBJ sandwiches, and provide me with unwavering friendship has meant the world to me. For all of her help, I am deeply thankful. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank many of the people I had the privilege to do field work with and who made my time at Marshall University enjoyable and productive including: Adam Mann, Melissa Mann, Seth Myers, Mike Osbourn, Cody Lockhart, Bill Sutton, Robert Makowsky, and Liz Fet. I would like to thank the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources that provided me with a grant for my research. And last by not least I would like to thank my family. My mom’s love and bravery through life’s personal struggles are inspirational and have provided me so much guidance. I would like to thank my brothers Long and Lanny who are constant sources of humor and whose love has helped me through some very hard times. Finally, I would also like to thank my husband Andy, whose unwavering love and support (and nagging) has helped me to finally finish this thesis. ii Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgments ii List of Figures iv List of Maps v 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Objectives 1 1.2 Turtles and the Ecosystem 1 1.3 Conservation Issues 3 2.0 Natural History of Riverine Turtle Species in West Virginia 4 2.1 Family Chelydridae 4 2.2 Family Emydidae 7 2.2.1 Genus Chrysemys 7 2.2.2 Genus Graptemys 10 2.2.3 Genus Pseudemys 13 2.2.4 Genus Trachemys 16 2.3 Family Kinosternidae 19 2.4 Family Trionychidae 22 3.0 Study Area and Data Collection Methods 25 3.1 Historical Records Search 25 3.2 Study Area 25 3.3 Methods 26 4.0 Results 31 4.1 Historical Records Findings 31 4.2 Survey Efforts 31 4.3 Site Accounts 32 4.4 Turtle Species Accounts 48 4.5 New Records Based on Counties & Watersheds 52 5.0 Discussion & Conclusions 54 5.1 Trapping Response and Behaviors 54 5.2 Species Not Found 56 5.3 Sexual Dimorphism in Select Species 59 5.4 Trapping Efficiency & Effectiveness 61 5.5 Trapping Recommendations 62 5.6 Conclusions 64 Distribution Maps 65 Bibliography 86 Appendix 91 Vita 103 iii List of Figures Figure 1.1-1.2: Chelydra s. serpentina 5 Figure 2.1: Chrysemys p. picta 5 Figure 2.2: Chrysemys p. marginata 8 Figure 2.3: Basking Chrysemys p. marginata 9 Figure 3.1: Graptemys o. ouachitensis 11 Figure 3.2: Graptemys geographica 11 Figure 4.1: Pseudemys concinna 14 Figure 4.2: Pseudemys rubriventris 15 Figure 5.1: Trachemys scripta elegans sub-adult 17 Figure 5.2-5.3: Trachemys scripta elegans variations 18 Figure 6.1-6.4: Sternotherus odoratus 20-21 Figure 7.1-7.3: Apalone s. spinifera 23-24 Figure 8.1-8.2: Photos of Basking Traps 28 Figure 9: Images of Traps Used 29 Figure 10: Images of Deployed Traps 30 Figure 11: Table of Study Areas & Trapping Dates 32 Figure 12: Drainage of the Guyandotte & Mud River 33 Figure 13: Photo of Mud River 33 Figure 14: Trap Locations on the Mud River 34 Figure 15: Trap Locations on the Guyandotte River 35 Figure 16: Drainage of the Monongahela Watershed; Photo of Buckhannon River 36 Figure 17: Trap Locations on the Buckhannon River 36 Figure 18: Drainage of the Little Kanawha River; Photo of Little Kanawha River 37 Figure 19: Trap Locations on the Little Kanawha 38 Figure 20: Aerial Photo of Crab Creek 38 Figure 21: Trap Locations Near Ohio River (Mason & Cabell County) 39 Figure 22: Aerial Map of Crooked Creek 40 Figure 23: Deformed C.p.marginata from Crooked Creek 40 Figure 24: Aerial Photo of Greenbottom WMA 41 Figure 25: Aerial Photo of Mill Creek 42 Figure 26: Photo of Mill Creek 42 Figure 27: Trap Locations of Mill Creek & Turkey Run 43 Figure 28: Photo of Turkey Run 44 Figure 29: Drainage of Greenbrier River, photo of Greenbrier River 45 Figure 30: Trap Locations of the Greenbrier River 45 Figure 31 Drainage of Tygart River, photos of Tygart River 46 Figure 32: Trap Locations of the Tygart River 47 Figure 33: Photos Upper Pleasant Creek Wetland Complex 47 Figure 34: Photos of Tygart River near Phillipi 48 Figure 35: Basking Behaviors of Apalone s. spinifera 49 Figure 36: Basking behaviors of Chelydra s. serpentina 49 Figure 37: Basking behaviors of Chrysemys p. marginata 50 Figure 38: Basking behaviors of Sternotherus odoratus 51 Figure 39: Basking behaviors of Trachemys scripta elegans 51 Figure 40: Table of new county records for individual species 52 Figure 41: Table of new watershed records for individual species 52 Figure 42: Table of turtle records and percent increase 53 Figure 43: Table of species caught & method 54 Figure 44: Graph of species caught & method 55 Figure 45: Distribution of Graptemys o. ouachitensis 58 iv Figure 46: Approximate route of the ancient Teays River 59 Figure 47: Graphs of carapace length and width Chelydra s. serpentina 60 Figure 48: Graphs of carapace length and width Chrysemys p. picta 60 Figure 49: Graphs of carapace length and width Chrysemys p. marginata 61 Figure 50: Graph of trapping efficiency rate 62 Figure 51: Recommended survey techniques 64 List of Maps Map 1: Trap Sites by River Systems 65 Map 2: Historical Records 66 Map 3: Historical vs. New County Records 67 Map 4: Trap Sites by County 68 Map 5: Apalone s.