A POPULATION OF BOG TURTLES IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA: Habitat Preferences, Capture Method Efficacy, Conservation Initiatives, and Site Enhancement by Ann Berry Somers Department of Biology University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina Submitted to Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Institute Abridged Version May 2000 A POPULATION OF BOG TURTLES IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA: Habitat Preferences, Capture Method Efficacy, Conservation Initiatives, and Site Enhancement by Ann Berry Somers Department of Biology University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina Submitted to Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Institute Abridged Version May 2000 In rdr t prtt th rrh bjt, ntv nfrtn h bn ttd. Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ ii List of Tables ............................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .............................................................................................................. List of Appendices ...................................................................................................... vi Preface ............................................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... ix 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background and Purpose ....................................................................... 1 1.2 The Site ....................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Site Description ......................................................................... 6 1.2.2 Photographic History of Site ................................................ 7 1.2.3 Reasons for Choice ................................................................... 8 2. Conservation Initiatives and Site Enhancement ........................................ 10 2.1 Landowner Interactions ......................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Education ..................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Landowner Involvement .......................................................... 10 2.1.3 Lease Agreement ....................................................................... 10 2.2 Seasonal Exclusion of Cattle ............................................................... 12 2.3 Headstarting ............................................................................................... 12 2.4 DNA Collection and Analysis .............................................................. 14 2.5 Workshops and Meetings ...................................................................... 14 3. Population Assessment ...................................................................................... 17 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 17 3.2 Methods ....................................................................................................... 18 3.2.1 Field Methods ............................................................................. 18 3.2.2 Radio-tracking ........................................................................... 20 3.2.3 Headstarting ................................................................................ 21 3.3 Results ........................................................................................................ 21 3.4 Conclusions and Discussion ................................................................ 24 3.4.1 Population Size Increase ........................................................ 24 3.4.2 Demographic Concerns ........................................................... 26 3.4.3 Inbreeding Concerns ................................................................ 27 3.4.4 Size Concerns ............................................................................. 28 3.5 Are Small, Isolated Populations Worth Saving? ........................... 29 3.6 On Considering Augmentation ............................................................ 31 3.6.1 Rationale ..................................................................................... 31 3.6.2 Halfway Technology? ............................................................... 35 3.6.3 Experimental Short-distance Translocation .................... 36 4. btt rfrn ...................................................................................... 37 1 Intrdtn ....................................................................................... 37 4.2 Mthd ............................................................................................... 37 4.2. ld Mthd .................................................................................... 37 4.2.2 n Ettn ............................................................... 3 3 lt ................................................................................................ 3 4.. th rfrn ........................................................................... 3 4..2 btt rfrn ........................................................................ 40 4.. n Sz .............................................................................. 44 4..4 U f Iprvd Ar .................................................................. 44 4.. btt Chn lt f Cttl Exln ............ 5 4.4 Cnln nd n ........................................................... 46 5 Cptr Mthd Eff ............................................................................ 48 51 Intrdtn ....................................................................................... 48 5 Mthd ............................................................................................... 5 .2. Cptr hn ........................................................................ 5 53 rppn v l Srh ............................................................. 51 .. Stttl Mthd ......................................................................... 5 ..2 lt ................................................................................................... 5 5 f Yr ...................................................................................... 5 .4. Stttl Mthd ......................................................................... 5 .4.2 lt ................................................................................................... 55 55 pltn Sz nd rppn S .......................................... 55 .. Stttl Mthd ......................................................................... 55 . .2 lt ................................................................................................... 57 5 lbl ttn f Sll pltn ...................................... 57 .6. Stttl Mthd ......................................................................... 59 .6.2 lt ................................................................................................... 59 57 Cnln nd n ........................................................... 59 6. ndtn ........................................................................................ 62 1 rh St "A" ............................................................................. 62 6.2 trnn th Orrn f rtl In tntl St ................................................................................... 62 7 rthr Std lnnd .............................................................................. 3 trtr Ctd ................................................................................................ 64 Appndx I — Arl Mp f rh St "A" .......................................... 7 Appndx II — ndnr t .................................................................... 7 Appndx III — Spl Arnt ...................................................... 86 Appndx I — rtl tn t rh St "A" 1993 — 199 ....... 9 Appndx — rh St "A" lnt Sp t ................................... 11 t f bl 1 t f Cttl Exln 199 - 199 ........................................................... 1 2. rfl f rtl t rh St "A" n 199 ............................................... 22 3 pltn Sz nd A Strtr f rtl Cptrd t rh St A n 1993 nd 199 ................................................................................ 5 4. th rfrn f rtl t rh St "A" ........................................... 3 5 th rfrn f d-ltrd rtl ............................................. 39 6. btt rfrn f rtl n rh St "A" 1993 — 199 .................... 40 7 btt rfrn f rtl Cprd Wth All Othr rtl ................. 42 8. xd Krnl nt n Ett f rtl t rh St "A" .............................................................................................. 44 t f r 1 Cpt n f th rtl n th Etrn Untd Stt ........................... 4 2. (h r Ottd — Cntt thr fr frthr nfrtn ............................. 5 3 Md f rh St "A" .................................................................... 9 4. ndnr nd rtl .................................................................................. 11 5 ndnr lpn ld Cttl Exln n ............................................... 11 6. Gnrl tr f ttn n Opn th nd vt Exln n ...... 13 7 Mnnt Wrhp M 11 1995 ........................................................ 1