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The Freshwater Turtle Community at Blue Spring State Park, Volusia County, Florida, Usa

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The Freshwater Turtle Community at Blue Spring State Park, Volusia County, Florida, Usa Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11(2):362–372. Submitted: 11 August 2015; Accepted: 2 May 2016; Published: 31 August 2016. THE FRESHWATER TURTLE COMMUNITY AT BLUE SPRING STATE PARK, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, USA 1 2 3,4,10 4,5 J. DAREN RIEDLE , EMILY H. KUHNS , ERIC C. MUNSCHER , ANDREW D. WALDE , NICOLE 6 7 8 9 SALVATICO , MEGAN KESERAUSKIS , BRIAN P. BUTTERFIELD , AND J. BRIAN HAUGE 1Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism, 512 SE 25th Avenue, Pratt, Kansas 67124, USA 2North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA 3SWCA Environmental Consultants, 206 Bursca Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15017, USA 4Turtle Survival Alliance - North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110, USA 5Walde Research & Environmental Consulting, 8000 San Gregorio Rd., Atascadero, California 93422, USA 6Florida Department of Health, 315 West Main Street, Tavares, Florida 32778, USA 7Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, 601 West Woodward Avenue, Eustis, Florida 32726, USA 8Freed-Hardeman University, 158 East Main Street, Henderson, Tennessee 38334, USA 9 Peninsula College, 1502 East Lauridsen Boulevard, Port Angeles, Washington 98362, USA 10Corresponding author, email: [email protected] Abstract.—Since 2007 the Turtle Survival Alliance - North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (NAFTRG) has surveyed aquatic turtles in Volusia Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida, USA. Here, we provide population parameters for the three most common freshwater turtle species, the Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis), Florida Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni), and the Loggerhead Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor minor), estimated from six years of mark and recapture data at Blue Spring State Park. The population estimates for the 1.9 ha study area were P. nelsoni 62 ± 2, P. peninsularis, 240 ± 6, and S. m. minor, 252 ± 7. Although, the turtle population densities at Volusia Blue Spring appear robust for the habitat size, use of reverse-time capture-recapture models suggest that recruitment is minimal and recapture rates declined between sampling periods. Specific stressors that may be influencing population growth rates include bank erosion and lack, or loss, of nesting habitat, increasing winter use by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) and subsequent loss of aquatic vegetation, and additional competition with invasive fish and turtle species. Key Words.—Pseudemys nelsoni; Pseudemys peninsularis; St. Johns River; Sternotherus m. minor; Volusia Blue Spring; West Indian Manatee INTRODUCTION springs (Toth and Fortich 2002; Wetland Solutions, Inc. 2007; Robert A. Mattson et al., unpubl. report). Most Freshwater springs of Florida have been revered, springs are also home to invasive flora and fauna, worshipped, explored, and enjoyed by the peoples of including the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta Florida for over 2,000 y (Stamm 2008). Today, these elegans), Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), Vermiculated springs appreciably contribute to the economy of Florida Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus), and and provide recreational opportunities for millions of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) that, in some cases, are people every year (Stamm 2008). Likewise, the displacing native species (Gibbs et al. 2008). freshwater springs of Florida are vital to many To combat the declining environmental quality of freshwater organisms, including several rare, threatened, Volusia Blue Spring, the St. Johns River Water and endangered species (Hubbs 1995). These springs Management District (SJRWMD) adopted a strategic that are so integral to the economic, recreational, and plan that includes a minimum flow regime (MFR; environmental health of Florida are currently Wetland Solutions, Inc. 2007). According to the MFR, experiencing a variety of stressors. Over the past 30 y, the minimum average long-term flow of Volusia Blue the water table of Floridian springs has declined due to a Spring will be increased 20% by 2016. Along with the reduction in recharge water (Shoemaker et al. 2004). set MFR, the SJRWMD plan includes monitoring This reduction is largely due to increased pavement and indicators of the health and flow of the spring including increased water consumption by residents (St. Johns water quality, aquifer levels, West Indian Manatee River Water Management District 2006). Other (Trichechus manatus) spring use, human use, and flora anthropogenic influences include increased introduction and fauna populations within the spring habitat (Wetland of nitrites from farming and septic systems into many Solutions, Inc. 2007). Because Florida freshwater Copyright © 2016. J. Daren Riedle 362 All Rights Reserved. Herpetological Conservation and Biology Both of the previously mentioned studies occurred at sites that are a part of the Wekiva River drainage basin (Fig. 1), a small spring-fed river complex that feeds into the St. Johns River. Despite its proximity to Orlando, the area is highly regarded as high quality protected habitat (Wetland Solutions, Inc. 2007). The Wekiva River is one of two designated wild and scenic rivers in Florida. Volusia Blue Spring is the largest spring in regards to water flow located within the St. Johns River Basin. However, the spring environment itself is relatively small and devoid of typical wetland / aquatic vegetation that are normally associated with freshwater spring habitats like Wekiwa Springs (Munscher et al. 2015 a, b). We have been monitoring the freshwater turtle assemblage inhabiting Volusia Blue Spring since 2007. Our goal was to assess the turtle community and draw inferences on the quality and suitability of the spring habitat. Our objectives were to: (1) estimate the number of individuals in the populations for the three dominant species present in this spring: P. peninsularis, P. nelsoni, and S. m. minor; (2) quantify survivorship, biomass, recruitment, and sex ratios; and (3) identify key factors that may affect the turtle community and its use of the Volusia Blue Spring habitat to make management recommendations. FIGURE 1. Map of St. Johns River watershed and associated study sites in Florida, USA. MATERIALS AND METHODS springs are home to a myriad of organisms, monitoring Study site.—The study area encompasses the spring the flora and fauna is a complex task. run of Volusia Blue Spring, located in Blue Spring State Freshwater turtles are among the most conspicuous Park (BSSP), Orange City, Volusia County, Florida and ecologically important components of many (28°56'N, 81°20'W; Fig. 2). The study area consists of a freshwater spring ecosystems in Florida (Meylan 2006). 0.72 km long spring run approximately 30 to 46 m wide Turtle populations in spring ecosystems have been encompassing 1.9 ha of protected aquatic habitat with studied throughout the state of Florida for over 70 y depths up to 3 m. The very large boil at the head of the (Marchand 1942; Meylan et al. 1992; Jackson and spring is over 24 m deep (Marella 2004). Volusia Blue Walker 1997; Chapin and Meylan 2011; Munscher et al. Spring is a first magnitude spring that expels 2015a). Long-term mark and recapture studies (Meylan approximately 394 million L of water each day with an et al. 1992; Huestis and Meylan 2004; Chapin and average temperature of 23.0° C (Saint Johns River Water Meylan 2011) have documented shifts in species Management. 2010. Water Supply, Blue Spring, Volusia composition, age structure, survivorship, and sex ratios County, Minimum Flow Regime, Available at in turtle assemblages in the Suwannee River drainage http://www.sjrwmd.com/technicalreports/spubs1.html basin. However, knowledge of turtle species and [Wetland Solutions, Inc: Accessed 8 August 2016), and population structure of turtles that inhabit other has the highest discharge of all of freshwater springs on watersheds, including the St. Johns River watershed, are the St. Johns River. The area that surrounds the spring scarce or nonexistent. Only two studies have occurred boil has been modified over time with wooden retention here. At Rock Springs Run State Reserve (Fig. 1), walls to combat erosion. Steep forested banks 3–6 m Kramer (1995) studied the home range of Florida Red- high surround the spring boil except to the south, where bellied Cooters (Pseudemys nelsoni). He found that this the spring opens into the approximately 0.72 km long species tends to reside in areas that offer ample food spring run. The confluence with the St. Johns River is resources and basking sites. Hrycyshyn (2006) studied the boundary between protected State Park habitat and the turtle assemblage at Wekiwa Springs State Park (Fig. the unprotected public waterway. 1), approximately 9.3 km from Kramer’s (1995) study site and preliminary findings suggest a very large, Methods.—We sampled the turtle assemblage of robust, turtle assemblage present at this site. BSSP in March, August, and October 2007–2014; 363 Riedle et al.—Volusia Blue Spring turtle community. top loading scales (Ohaus Corp., Parsippany, New Jersey, USA) depending on the size and the species. We then released turtles back into the spring run at their approximate capture location. Data analysis.—Due to the proximity to the St. Johns River, the largest river in Florida, and the relatively small size of Blue Spring, we treated it as an open system. We calculated population abundance for adults using POPAN parameterization of Jolly-Seber models (Jolly 1965; Seber 1965) in Program MARK (White and Burnham 1999). We calculated apparent
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