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Effects of Vegetation Structure and Artificial Nesting Habitats on Hatchling Sex Determination and Nest Survival of Diamondback Terrapins Andrew M

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Effects of Vegetation Structure and Artificial Nesting Habitats on Hatchling Sex Determination and Nest Survival of Diamondback Terrapins Andrew M Articles Effects of Vegetation Structure and Artificial Nesting Habitats on Hatchling Sex Determination and Nest Survival of Diamondback Terrapins Andrew M. Grosse,* Brian A. Crawford, John C. Maerz, Kurt A. Buhlmann, Terry Norton, Michelle Kaylor, Tracey D. Tuberville A.M. Grosse, K.A. Buhlmann, T.D. Tuberville Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29802 Present address of A.M. Grosse: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412 B.A. Crawford, J.C. Maerz D. B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 T. Norton, M. Kaylor Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527 Abstract It is often the case that multiple factors contribute to wildlife population declines such that management will require simultaneous, integrated interventions to stabilize and recover populations. Diamondback terrapins Malaclemys terrapin are a species of high conservation priority, and local populations can be threatened by multiple factors, including bycatch in commercial and recreational crab pots, vehicle strikes on coastal roads, nest depredation from subsidized and introduced predators, and terrestrial habitat alteration. Mitigation of just one of these factors will often be insufficient for recovering at-risk populations; thus, information to manage multiple threats is needed. We measured the effects of natural vegetation structure and constructed (artificial) nesting habitat on hatchling sex ratios and nest depredation for a declining terrapin population on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Nest temperatures were highest on constructed nesting mounds, intermediate in open grass areas, and coolest under the shrub-dominated hedgerows. Higher nest temperatures led to shorter incubation times for nests on mounds and open habitat, such that all surviving nests on nesting mounds and open areas produced female hatchlings. In contrast, surviving nests under hedge produced 85% male hatchlings. Raccoon Procyon lotor predation rates of simulated (chicken egg) nests were highest on nesting mounds (95.3%), followed by hedge (84.4%) and open habitats (45.2%). Our results demonstrate that vegetation management can positively affect both production of female hatchlings and nest survival. Artificial nest mounds were successful at producing female hatchlings, but we documented high predation of simulated (chicken egg) nests despite structures to exclude predators. Further modifications to nest boxes atop constructed nesting mounds are needed for these devices to effectively contribute to population management. We suggest the relatively low cost and maintenance associated with removing shrubs and trees can be a viable strategy to manage large areas of nesting habitat for the increased production of female turtles, and to reduce the impacts of subsidized predators. Keywords: diamondback terrapin; nesting habitat; nest survival; predation; sex determination Received: August 26, 2014; Accepted: October 9, 2014; Published Online Early: October 2014; Published: June 2015 Citation: Grosse AM, Crawford BA, Maerz JC, Buhlmann KA, Norton T, Kaylor M, Tuberville TD. 2014. Effects of vegetation structure and artificial nesting habitats on hatchling sex determination and nest survival of diamondback terrapins. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 6(1):19–28; e1944-687X. doi: 10.3996/082014-JFWM-063 Copyright: All material appearing in the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission unless specifically noted with the copyright symbol ß. Citation of the source, as given above, is requested. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. * Corresponding author: [email protected] Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management | www.fwspubs.org June 2015 | Volume 6 | Issue 1 | 19 Effects of Nesting Habitats on Sex Determination and Nest Survival A.M. Grosse et al. Introduction lotor predation is the biggest determinant of terrapin nest success, and in many studies at sites with high raccoon In many cases there are multiple factors that densities throughout the species’ range, raccoons rou- contribute to wildlife population declines such that tinely depredate as many as 95% of nests (Burger 1976, management will require simultaneous, integrated inter- 1977; Roosenburg 1991; Goodwin 1994; Roosenburg and ventions to stabilize and recover populations. In the case Place 1995; Feinberg and Burke 2003; Ner 2003; Butler et of diamondback terrapins Malaclemys terrapin (Figure 1), al. 2006; Munscher et al. 2012; Crawford et al. 2014a). populations are perceived to be declining due to With the loss of suitable nesting habitat, terrapins may multiple factors, including crab-trap mortality (Dorcas nest in suboptimal habitats, or concentrate nests into et al. 2007; Grosse et al. 2011), vehicle-induced mortality smaller areas, which can lead to higher nest predation (Wood and Herlands 1997; Szerlag and McRobert 2006), rates (Roosenburg and Place 1995). In particular, high nest predation from subsidized and introduced vegetation cover may interact with predator abundance predators (Feinberg and Burke 2003; Szerlag and to affect terrapin nest success. Burger (1977) reports high McRobert 2006), and habitat degradation and alteration mammalian depredation of terrapin nests in wooded (Seigel 1993; Gibbons et al. 2001). shrub and edge habitats, and Hackney (2010) found that Numerous studies have shown that bycatch in crab terrapin nests in shrub or edge habitats closer to marshes pots is associated with local and regional declines in had a higher probability of being depredated compared terrapin populations (Dorcas et al. 2007; Grosse et al. with nests in open sandy areas farther from the marsh. 2011; Chambers and Maerz, in review). In addition, The interactive effects of vegetation on terrapin hatch- terrapin populations are affected by a suite of factors, ling sex ratios and nest predation have the potential to including high nest depredation and high mortality of negatively impact terrapin populations, but afford gravid females along roads that bisect marsh habitats, a potential management intervention opportunity to both of which can independently and collectively reduce these threats and potentially compensate for contribute to terrapin population declines (Wood and other sources of mortality. Herlands 1997; Crawford et al. 2014a; Maerz et al. in The objectives of this study were to measure the effects review). Prior management strategies have focused on of vegetation structure and constructed nesting mounds reducing bycatch rates (Grosse et al. 2011; Hart and on hatchling sex determination and nest survival of Crowder 2011; Chambers and Maerz, in review) and road terrapins in the field. Specifically, we evaluated nest mortality (Crawford et al. 2014b). However, addressing temperatures, hatchling sex ratios, and nest predation those two threats may be insufficient to stabilize or rates in areas of managed open grass versus dense shrub recover some terrapin populations (Crawford et al. (hedgerows) where terrapins nested naturally. We also 2014a). Management interventions to address nest measured nest temperatures and hatchling sex ratios on survival and performance are also needed as part of an constructed nesting mounds (Buhlmann and Osborn integrated approach to terrapin management. 2011) and measured nest predation rates in presumed Major factors affecting terrapin nest success include predator-proof nest boxes on nesting mounds. We loss and degradation of nesting habitats and high nest hypothesized that nests on artificial mounds and open depredation by subsidized mammalian predators. Nest- grass areas would have higher incubation temperatures ing habitat may be lost to bulkheading, constructing than those in shrub areas and, as a result, nests on the nest protective barriers to stabilize the shoreline (Roosenburg mounds and grassy habitat would produce a greater 1991, 1994; Winters 2013), and land conversion degraded proportion of female hatchlings. In addition, we hypoth- by soil modification (Roosenburg 1994; Wnek 2010) and esized that the presence of predator guards on nest the succession of woody vegetation or invasive plants mounds and the absence of shrub cover would result in that increase shade (Roosenburg 1991; Wnek 2010). Like higher nest survival of simulated nests. many turtles, terrapins exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination, with cooler incubation temperatures Study Site (,28uC) producing predominantly males and warmer temperatures (.30uC) producing predominantly females Jekyll Island is a 2,306-ha (5,698-acre) barrier island (Jeyasuria and Place 1997). Terrapins prefer to nest in located in Glynn County, Georgia. Access to Jekyll Island areas of patchy, short vegetation; nests in open habitat is along an 8.7-km, paved causeway that bisects the develop faster and tend to produce a higher proportion marsh. The shoulder of the Downing–Musgrove Cause- of female hatchlings (Burger and Montevecchi 1975; way (aka Jekyll Island Causeway: JIC) is a raised, dredge- Goodwin 1994; Roosenburg 1994; Feinberg and Burke spoil–deposited area, above the high tide line, that 2003; Ner 2003; Scholz 2006; Hackney 2010). Dense provides attractive nesting habitat for female
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