Use of Radiotelemetry and GIS to Distinguish Habitat Use Between Graptemys Ouachitensis and G. Geographica in the Scioto River
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Use of Radiotelemetry and GIS to Distinguish Habitat Use Between Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica in the Scioto River A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Kathleen G. Temple-Miller August 2008 2 This thesis titled Use of Radiotelemetry and GIS to Distinguish Habitat Use Between Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica in the Scioto River by KATHLEEN G. TEMPLE-MILLER has been approved for the Program of Environmental Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences by Willem M. Roosenburg Assosciate Professor of Biological Sciences Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT TEMPLE-MILLER, KATHLEEN G., M.S., August 2008, Environmental Studies Use of Radiotelemetry and GIS to Distinguish Habitat Use Between Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica in the Scioto River (57 pp.) Director of Thesis: Willem M. Roosenburg A disjunct population of G. ouachitensis co-exists and interacts with G. geographica a more abundant and geographically widespread riverine species. Visual surveys in the spring of 2008 from Commercial Point to Portsmouth, OH (200km), show patchy distribution of G. ouachitensis whereas G. geographica appears more widespread. G. ouachitensis prefers wider river areas and habitats closer to shallow bars than G. geographica. However, G. geographica prefers habitats closer to tributaries than G. ouachitensis. I monitored both species during 2007 using radiotelemetry in a four-mile river reach by evaluating their habitats and species distribution using quantitative methods in GIS. Results show that G. ouachitensis prefers finer substrate and deeper water than G.geographica and random points. The habitat range examined by the adaptive local convex-hull (LoCoH) method reveals that the two species marginally overlap. Population estimates appear stable but may need monitoring should this environment change in subsequent years. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Willem M. Roosenburg Assosciate Professor of Biological Sciences 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I sincerely appreciate Dr. Willem Roosenburg’s patience, time, and guidance as my advisor throughout this adventure. I will remember this challenge and its lessons for a lifetime. Thank you to Dr. Matthew White, Dr. Willem Roosenburg, and to ODNR, Division of Wildlife, for securing funding for this project. My completion would not have been possible without the dedication of my lab partner and friend Ashley Smith. I thank you Ashley for all of your insight in the field and your patience. I have great appreciation for the time and especially the support from my committee members Dr. Michele Morrone, Dr. Matthew White, and Dr. Jeff Ueland. Additionally I would like to thank Michael Hughes from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs for his time and insight into the fluvial components of the project. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and enthusiasm from all of the graduate and undergraduate students in this study: Alanna Silva, Leah Graham, Brooks Kohli, Natalie Boydston, Scott Clark, and Dan Kovar. I have heartfelt gratitude for my husband Doug Miller, my parents Ken and Martha Temple, my grandparents Robert and Beulah Temple, and my siblings, Sarah and Steve Temple for all of their ongoing support, housing, advice, and technical assistance. Additionally, I would like to honor both sets of grandparents, Winfred and Grace Dumm and Robert and Beulah Temple, for their inspiration and encouragement to pursue a career in science. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgments................................................................................................................4 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................6 List of Figures......................................................................................................................7 Introduction..........................................................................................................................9 Materials and Methods.......................................................................................................14 Study site................................................................................................................14 Graptemys distribution throughout the lower Scioto River...................................18 Habitat selection among G. geographica and G. ouachitensis..............................18 Results................................................................................................................................25 Graptemys distribution throughout the lower Scioto River...................................25 Graptemys sp. habitat preference...............................................................34 Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica habitat comparison and partitioning38 Discussion..........................................................................................................................45 Graptemys distribution throughout the lower Scioto River...................................45 Habitat preferences and partitioning......................................................................46 Future directions ....................................................................................................48 Management implications......................................................................................50 References..........................................................................................................................53 6 LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Previous Habitat Studies of G. ouachitensis and G. geographica....................... 13 Table 2 Summary of Habitat Parameters Included in the Graptemys Survey and the Graptemys radiotelemetry study on the Scioto River.............................................. 24 Table 3 Spring Survey 2008 Bank Aspect of G. ouachitensis and G. geographica Locations on the Scioto River................................................................................... 44 7 LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 Scioto River watershed including locations of radiotelemetry site and the survey range including Pickaway, Ross, Pike, and Scioto counties............................................. 16 Figure 2 USGS Land Cover classification of the lower Scioto River Valley................... 17 Figure 3.Spring 2007 visual survey results indicating the Graptemys sp. distribution throughout the Scioto River from Circleville to Portsmouth, OH............................ 26 Figure 4 Fall 2007 visual survey results indicating the Graptemys sp. distribution throughout the Scioto River from Chillicothe to Portsmouth, OH ........................... 27 Figure 5 Spring 2008 visual survey results indicating the distribution of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica on the Scioto River from Commercial Point to Circleville, OH.......................................................................................................... 28 Figure 6 Spring 2008 visual survey results indicating the distribution of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica on the Scioto River from Circleville to Chillicothe, OH............................................................................................................................. 29 Figure 7 Spring 2008 visual survey results indicating the distribution of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica on the Scioto River from Chillicothe to Waverly, OH............................................................................................................................. 30 Figure 8 Spring 2008 visual survey results indicating the distribution of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica on the Scioto River from Waverly to Lucasville, OH............................................................................................................................. 31 8 Figure 9 Spring 2008 visual survey results indicating the distribution of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica on the Scioto River from Lucasville to Portsmouth, OH............................................................................................................................. 32 Figure 10 Spring 2008 Survey Distribution...................................................................... 33 Figure 11Radiotelemetry study of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica water depth on the scioto river, oh...................................................................................... 35 Figure 12 Radiotelemetry study of Graptemys ouachitensis and G. geographica substrate preference within the Scioto River, OH.................................................................... 36 Figure 13 12 Radiotelemetry habitat study of G. ouachitensis and G. geographica distance to the nearest alcove/bar on the Scioto River, OH...................................... 37 Figure 14 Summer and fall 2007 radiotelemetry study of Graptemys range near Kellenberger Rd., Kingston, OH. ............................................................................ 39 Figure 15 Graptemys core habitat near Kellenberger Rd., Kingston, OH........................ 40 Figure 16 Spring 2008 visual survey of G. geographica and G. ouachitensis throughout the 200km