Latitudinal Variation in Egg and Clutch Size in Turtles
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The Ecology and Evolutionary History of Two Musk Turtles in the Southeastern United States
The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Dissertations Spring 2020 The Ecology and Evolutionary History of Two Musk Turtles in the Southeastern United States Grover Brown Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations Part of the Genetics Commons Recommended Citation Brown, Grover, "The Ecology and Evolutionary History of Two Musk Turtles in the Southeastern United States" (2020). Dissertations. 1762. https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1762 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF TWO MUSK TURTLES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES by Grover James Brown III A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Approved by: Brian R. Kreiser, Committee Co-Chair Carl P. Qualls, Committee Co-Chair Jacob F. Schaefer Micheal A. Davis Willian W. Selman II ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Dr. Brian R. Kreiser Dr. Jacob Schaefer Dr. Karen S. Coats Committee Chair Director of School Dean of the Graduate School May 2020 COPYRIGHT BY Grover James Brown III 2020 Published by the Graduate School ABSTRACT Turtles are among one of the most imperiled vertebrate groups on the planet with more than half of all species worldwide listed as threatened, endangered or extinct by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature. -
Movement and Habitat Use of Australias Largest Snakenecked Turtle
bs_bs_bannerJournal of Zoology Journal of Zoology. Print ISSN 0952-8369 Movement and habitat use of Australia’s largest snake-necked turtle: implications for water management D. S. Bower1*, M. Hutchinson2 & A. Georges1 1 Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2 South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, Australia Keywords Abstract freshwater; radio-telemetry; home range; weir; tortoise; river; sex differences. Hydrological regimes strongly influence ecological processes in river basins. Yet, the impacts of management regimes are unknown for many freshwater taxa in Correspondence highly regulated rivers. We used radio-telemetry to monitor the movement and Deborah S. Bower, School of Environmental activity of broad-shelled river turtles Chelodina expansa to infer the impact of and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, current water management practices on turtles in Australia’s most regulated river Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. – the Murray River. We radio-tracked C. expansa to (1) measure the range span Tel: +61 02 49212045; and examine the effect of sex, size and habitat type on turtle movement, and (2) Fax: +61 02 49 216923 examine habitat use within the river channel and its associated backwaters. C. Email: [email protected] expansa occupied all macro habitats in the river (main channel, backwater, swamp and connecting inlets). Within these habitats, females occupied discrete home *Present address: School of Environmental ranges, whereas males moved up to 25 km. The extensive movement of male and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, turtles suggests that weirs and other aquatic barriers may interfere with movement Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. and dispersal. Turtles regularly move between backwaters and the main river channel, which highlights the likely disturbance from backwater detachment, a Editor: Virginia Hayssen water saving practice in the lower Murray River. -
Diets of Freshwater Turtles Often Reflect the Availability of Food Resources in the Environment
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8(3):561−570. HerpetologicalSubmitted: 26 March Conservation 2013; Accepted: and Biology 21 October 2013; Published: 31 December 2013. RazoR-Backed Musk TuRTle (SternotheruS carinatuS) dieT acRoss a GRadienT of invasion carla l. atkinSon1,2, 3 1Oklahoma Biological Survey, 111 E. Chesapeake St., Norman, OK 73019 2Department of Biology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Ok 73019 3Present Address: Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 e-mail: [email protected] abstract.—diets of freshwater turtles often reflect the availability of food resources in the environment. accordingly, bottom- feeding turtles’ diets are typically composed of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna (e.g., insects and mollusks). However, the composition of benthic systems has changed because many freshwater ecosystems have been invaded by non-native species, including bivalve species such as the asian clam, corbicula fluminea. i studied the diet of Sternotherus carinatus, the Razor- backed Musk Turtle, in southeastern oklahoma across three zones of corbicula abundances: no corbicula, moderate corbicula densities, and high corbicula densities. i hypothesized that the composition of corbicula in the diet would increase with increased abundance of corbicula in the riverine environment. Turtles were caught by snorkel surveys in the little and Mountain fork rivers and kept overnight for the collection of fecal samples. The diet was similar to that found in previous studies on S. carinatus except that corbicula is a new component of the diet and composed the majority of the diet in high-density corbicula areas. an index of Relative importance (iRi) showed that corbicula was the most important prey item in the areas with high corbicula density, was equally as important as gastropods in the areas with moderate corbicula density, and was absent from the diet in areas without corbicula. -
Sternotherus Depressus)
UC Irvine UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title Phylogenetic distinctiveness of a threatened aquatic turtle (Sternotherus depressus) Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/207246m8 Journal Conservation Biology, 12(3) ISSN 0888-8892 Authors Walker, D Ortí, G Avise, JC Publication Date 1998 DOI 10.1111/j.1523-1739.1998.97056.x License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 4.0 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Phylogenetic Distinctiveness of a Threatened Aquatic Turtle (Sternotherus depressus) DEETTE WALKER,* GUILLERMO ORTÍ,* AND JOHN C. AVISE Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A. Abstract: The musk turtle (Sternotherus minor) is common throughout the southeastern United States. In 1955 a morphologically atypical form confined to the Black Warrior River System in Alabama was discov- ered and accorded full species status as S. depressus, the “flattened musk turtle.” Questions remain about the taxonomic status and evolutionary history of the flattened musk turtle because (1) the geographic distribu- tion of S. depressus is nested within the range of S. minor; (2) the flattened shell might be a recently evolved anti-predator adaptation; and (3) reports exist of intergrades between S. depressus and S. minor. We gener- ated and employed sequence data from mitochondrial DNA to address the phylogenetic distinctiveness and phylogeographic position of S. depressus relative to all other musk and mud turtles (Kinosternidae) in North America. The flattened musk turtle forms a well-supported monophyletic group separate from S. minor. Ge- netic divergence observed between S. depressus and geographic populations of S. -
In AR, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MO, OH, OK, SC, TN, and TX): Species in Red = Depleted to the Point They May Warrant Federal Endangered Species Act Listing
Southern and Midwestern Turtle Species Affected by Commercial Harvest (in AR, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MO, OH, OK, SC, TN, and TX): species in red = depleted to the point they may warrant federal Endangered Species Act listing Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) – AR, GA, IA, KY, MO, OH, OK, SC, TX Florida common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina osceola) - FL Southern painted turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis) – AR Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) – IA, MO, OH, OK Spotted turtle (Clemmys gutatta) - FL, GA, OH Florida chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia chrysea) – FL Western chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) – AR, FL, GA, KY, MO, OK, TN, TX Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) - FL, GA Cagle’s map turtle (Graptemys caglei) - TX Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti) – FL Common map turtle (Graptemys geographica) – AR, GA, OH, OK Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) – AR, GA, OH, OK, TX Sabine map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis) – TX False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) – MO, OK, TX Mississippi map turtle (Graptemys pseuogeographica kohnii) – AR, TX Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) – GA Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa) - TX Striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii) – FL, GA, SC Yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) – OK, TX Common mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) – AR, FL, GA, OK, TX Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) – AR, FL, GA, LA, MO, TX Diamond-back terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) – FL, GA, LA, SC, TX River cooter (Pseudemys concinna) – AR, FL, -
Testudines: Chelidae) of Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 134, 401–421. With 7 figures Electrophoretic delineation of species boundaries within the genus Chelodina (Testudines: Chelidae) of Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia ARTHUR GEORGES1*, MARK ADAMS2 and WILLIAM McCORD3 1Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia 2Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia 3East Fishkill Animal Hospital, 285 Rt 82, Hopewell Junction NY 12533, USA Received February 2001; revised and accepted for publication June 2001 A total of 281 specimens of long-necked chelid turtles (Chelodina) were obtained from drainages of Australia, Papua New Guinea and the island of Roti in Indonesia. Ten diagnosable taxa were identified using allozyme profiles at 45 presumptive loci. Chelodina expansa, C. parkeri, C. rugosa and C. burrungandjii are in a Group A clade, C. longi- collis, C. novaeguineae, C. steindachneri, C. pritchardi and C. mccordi are in a Group B clade, and C. oblonga is in a monotypic Group C clade, with each clade thought to represent a distinct subgenus. Chelodina siebenrocki is syn- onymised with C. rugosa. An eleventh taxon, C. reimanni, could not be distinguished from C. novaeguineae on the basis of allozyme profiles, but it is morphologically distinct. Its status is therefore worthy of further investigation. Three instances of natural hybridization were detected. Chelodina rugosa and C. novaeguineae hybridize in the Gulf country of Queensland, with evidence of backcrossing to C. novaeguineae. Chelodina longicollis and C. novaeguineae hybridize in central coastal Queensland, and C. rugosa and C. burrungandjii hybridize along their zone of contact in the plateau escarpment streams and pools. -
Recent Evolutionary History of the Australian Freshwater Turtles Chelodina Expansa and Chelodina Longicollis
Recent evolutionary history of the Australian freshwater turtles Chelodina expansa and Chelodina longicollis. by Kate Meredith Hodges B.Sc. (Hons) ANU, 2004 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Biological Sciences Department of Genetics and Evolution The University of Adelaide December, 2015 Kate Hodges with Chelodina (Macrochelodina) expansa from upper River Murray. Photo by David Thorpe, Border Mail. i Declaration I certify that this work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. In addition, I certify that no part of this work will, in the future, be used in a submission for any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution without the prior approval of the University of Adelaide and where applicable, any partner institution responsible for the joint-award of this degree. I give consent to this copy of my thesis when deposited in the University Library, being made available for loan and photocopying, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. The author acknowledges that copyright of published works contained within this thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of those works. I also give permission for the digital version of my thesis to be made available on the web, via the University’s digital research repository, the Library catalogue and also through web search engines, unless permission has been granted by the University to restrict access for a period of time. -
Status Review, Disease Risk Analysis and Conservation Action Plan for The
Status Review, Disease Risk Analysis and Conservation Action Plan for the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (Myuchelys georgesi) December, 2016 1 Workshop participants. Back row (l to r): Ricky Spencer, Bruce Chessman, Kristen Petrov, Caroline Lees, Gerald Kuchling, Jane Hall, Gerry McGilvray, Shane Ruming, Karrie Rose, Larry Vogelnest, Arthur Georges; Front row (l to r) Michael McFadden, Adam Skidmore, Sam Gilchrist, Bruno Ferronato, Richard Jakob-Hoff © Copyright 2017 CBSG IUCN encourages meetings, workshops and other fora for the consideration and analysis of issues related to conservation, and believes that reports of these meetings are most useful when broadly disseminated. The opinions and views expressed by the authors may not necessarily reflect the formal policies of IUCN, its Commissions, its Secretariat or its members. The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Jakob-Hoff, R. Lees C. M., McGilvray G, Ruming S, Chessman B, Gilchrist S, Rose K, Spencer R, Hall J (Eds) (2017). Status Review, Disease Risk Analysis and Conservation Action Plan for the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle. IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Cover photo: Juvenile Bellinger River Snapping Turtle © 2016 Brett Vercoe This report can be downloaded from the CBSG website: www.cbsg.org. 2 Executive Summary The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) (Myuchelys georgesi) is a freshwater turtle endemic to a 60 km stretch of the Bellinger River, and possibly a portion of the nearby Kalang River in coastal north eastern New South Wales (NSW). -
Geographical Distribution Patterns of South American Side-Necked Turtles (Chelidae), with Emphasis on Brazilian Species
Rev. Esp. Herp. (2005) 19:33-46 Geographical distribution patterns of South American side-necked turtles (Chelidae), with emphasis on Brazilian species FRANCO LEANDRO SOUZA Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Biologia, 79070-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil (e-mail: [email protected]) Abstract: The Chelidae (side-necked turtles) are the richest and most widespread turtle family in South America with endemic patterns at the species level related to water basins. Based on available literature records, the geographic distribution of the 22 recognized chelid species from South America was examined in relation to water basins and for the 19 Brazilian species also in light of climate and habitat characteristics. Species-distribution maps were used to identify species richness in a given area. Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was employed to verify the species-areas similarities and relationships among the species. For Brazilian species, annual rainfall in each water basin explained 81% of variation in turtle distribution and at a regional scale (country-wide) temperature also influenced their distribution. While rainfall had a significant positive relationship with species number in a given area, a negative but non-significant relationship was identified for temperature. Excepting an unresolved clade formed by some northern water basins, well-defined northern-northeastern and central-south groups (as identified for water basins) as well as biome differentiation give support to a hypothesis of a freshwater turtle fauna regionalization. Also, a more general biogeographical pattern is evidenced by those Brazilian species living in open or closed formations. -
Sternotherus Depressus) in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama
Home Range, Activity, Movement, and Habitat Selection of the Flattened Musk Turtle (Sternotherus depressus) in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama by Arthur Joseph Jenkins A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama August 3, 2019 Keywords: Flattened Musk Turtle, Sternotherus depressus, Habitat Selection, Home Range, Movement, Activity Copyright 2019 by Arthur Joseph Jenkins Approved by Daniel Warner, Chair, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences John Feminella, Professor of Biological Sciences David Steen, Research Ecologist, Georgia Sea Turtle Center Todd Steury, Associate Professor of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Abstract The Flattened Musk Turtle, Sternotherus depressus, is an imperiled aquatic species endemic to the Upper Black Warrior watershed in Alabama. As one of the most understudied turtles in the United States, little is known about its habits. This is especially true of their spatial ecology, one of the most important fields of ecological knowledge to inform management and conservation practices. To fill this information gap, this study employs radio telemetry, trapping, habitat, and wading (visual encounter) surveys to explore aspects of S. depressus spatial ecology in Bankhead National Forest (BNF) by describing home range and areas of core use, identifying factors that affect activity and movement, and modeling habitat selection on multiple levels (second-order, or population level; third-order, or patch level; and fourth-order, or microhabitat level). Home ranges, quantified as stream length inhabited, of 21 individuals averaged 332 m, ranging from 22 to 957 m. Areas of core stream use were also quantified as stream length by kernel density estimation using the Sheather-Jones plug-in method for individual bandwidth selection. -
WILDLIFE TRADE in AMAZON COUNTRIES: an ANALYSIS of TRADE in CITES-LISTED SPECIES Note by the Executive Secretary 1
CBD Distr. GENERAL CBD/SBSTTA/21/INF/8 17 November 2017 ENGLISH ONLY SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE Twenty-first meeting Montreal, Canada, 11-14 December 2017 Item 4 of the provisional agenda* WILDLIFE TRADE IN AMAZON COUNTRIES: AN ANALYSIS OF TRADE IN CITES-LISTED SPECIES Note by the Executive Secretary 1. The Executive Secretary is circulating herewith, for the information of participants in the twenty-first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, a report presenting a comprehensive overview of international trade in wildlife species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in the Amazon countries: Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; Guyana; Peru; Suriname; and Venezuela. The analysis provides a baseline of information on trade levels and trends in these countries for the 10-year period 2005-2014, in order to inform trade management in the region. It has been produced in close collaboration with national experts, presenting contextual information and insights into the management of wildlife trade in the region. 2. The report is relevant to the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular with regard to decision XIII/8, paragraph 5(d), in which the Conference of the Parties requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with other members of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management, to continue to support efforts by Parties to combat illicit trafficking in wildlife, in line with United Nations General Assembly resolution 69/314 of 30 July 2015, and to enhance institutional capacities on wildlife conservation and law enforcement with relevant law enforcement bodies, such as the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime. -
Flattened Musk Turtle US Fish & Wildlife Service Recommended Sampling Protocol
Flattened Musk Turtle US Fish & Wildlife Service Recommended Sampling Protocol The flattened musk turtle (FMT) is a secretive cryptic species that is restricted to the Black Warrior River system, presently believed to occur upstream of the Bankhead Dam in portions of Blount, Cullman, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marshall, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties. It is seldom observed at the water surface because of its ability to augment its respiration subcutaneously, although it basks occasionally. It generally inhabits streams with drainage areas greater than 8 square miles, relatively clean substrates, and low turbidity, but may be found in suboptimal habitats. FMT may also be found in the lower reaches of smaller streams that flow into larger streams known to harbor FMT, and headwaters and margins of impounded lakes. Its primary food sources are macroinvertebrates, particularly snails, mussels, and insects. A general sampling protocol for this species should include the following considerations: 1. Determine if the aquatic habitat is suitable for this species. Optimal habitat is permanent oligotrophic streams from one to five feet deep containing abundant rocky ledges, slabs, logs, debris, and pools. Generally, aquatic habitats that lack flowing water, relatively clean substrates, benthic macroinvertebrates, and low turbidity are unsuitable. Adequate quantitative and photographic documentation of unsuitable habitat must be presented to the Daphne Field Office if a field survey that includes trapping is thought to be unnecessary by the consultant. 2. Visual searches in lieu of trapping are not acceptable unless a FMT is found and the consultant wishes to report that the FMT is present at a site. In this case, trapping would not be required unless the FMT must be held during construction activities.