Flattened Musk Turtle FMT12202016

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Flattened Musk Turtle FMT12202016 IDENTIFICATION: The flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus) is a small freshwater turtle less than 5 inches in total length with a distinctly flattened top shell (carapace) that is dark brown to orange in color with dark bordered seams. The bottom shell or plastron is pink to yellowish. The head is greenish with a network of dark markings. The flattened musk turtle is only found in the Black Warrior River system above the Bankhead Dam. Optimal habitat includes free-flowing large creeks or small rivers where it feeds on invertebrates such as snails and mussels. It can also be found upstream, downstream or around the margins of impoundments in the upper Black Flattened Musk Turtle Warrior River system. Blackwater Creek, Walker County It was listed as a threatened species and provided protection under the Endangered Species Act on 6- 11-1987. Three studies conducted from 1981 thru 1986 indicated heavy silt accumulations were limiting turtle populations, especially juveniles. Changes in agriculture, forestry, and surface mining have significantly reduced the amount of silt loads being added to the Black Warrior River basin during recent decades. The recovery plan published in 1990 states the flattened musk turtle will be considered for delisting when there is evidence of a viable population over a 10-year period in at least 12 streams. Hopefully, the turtle’s habitat can begin to slowly recover from past degradation activities so populations may increase to a point where delisting is considered. FORESTRY CONSIDERATIONS: These animals are sensitive to changes in streambed and water quality, especially siltation. Following Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry will protect them from any negative impact of forestry activities. Read and adhere to label directions when using any herbicides on property adjacent to potential habitat. DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTY: The 11 Alabama counties included in its range are Blount, Cullman, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marion, Marshall, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston. Photo Credit: Mark Bailey, Conservation Southeast Inc. Text Credit: Threatened and Endangered Species of Alabama: A Guide to Assist with Forestry Activities, 2nd Edition, USFWS This information is provided by the Alabama Forestry Commission For more information, please visit: www.forestry.alabama.gov .

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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.
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