Diet and Feeding Behavior of Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) in Eastern Oklahoma
Diet and Feeding Behavior of Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) in Eastern Oklahoma

Author: Mitchell B. East

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13:

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In Oklahoma, the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) has experienced declines and recent efforts to conserve the species have focused on reintroducing captive-reared juveniles. The effect of the reintroduction on other aquatic turtles is not known and feeding behavior of juvenile M. temminckii is not understood. The following studies were conducted to 1) compare the diet of captive-reared juvenile M. temminckii to that of wild juveniles and investigate the diet overlap of juvenile M. temminckii with adult female Graptemys ouachitensis in the Caney River, where M. temminckii have been recently reintroduced, in comparison to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) where the two species have co-occurred indefinitely, ; 2) determine if juveniles reared with exposure to a single food item exhibit innate feeding preferences; and 3) define the current status of aquatic turtles at SNWR in comparison to data collected a decade ago. There were noticeable differences between the diet of captive-reared and wild juvenile M. temminckii. There was greater overlap of juvenile M. temminckii and adult female G. ouachitensis diet at the Caney River. Juvenile M. temminckii showed some innate prey preference and foraging capability. There were large declines in trapping rates of all species, composition of the aquatic turtle community changed dramatically, and changes in the M. temminckii population indicate that unknown factors have impacted turtles at SNWR.

Stress and Body Composition of Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii)
Stress and Body Composition of Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii)

Author: Brandon Tappmeyer

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13:

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The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), is a species of conservation concern that is the subject of multiple head-start and reintroduction efforts across its range. In captive propagation programs, producing offspring that are in optimal physiological condition maximizes the likelihood of success after release. The purpose of my study was to compare stress and body composition between one free-ranging reintroduced population and two captive populations. The two captive populations were both housed in southern Oklahoma, but one group was reared indoors whereas the other inhabited outdoor ponds at a national fish hatchery. I used circulating glucocorticoid (corticosterone) concentrations as an indicator of stress level and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to estimate body composition. Corticosterone concentrations did not differ between captive and free-ranging populations, possibly suggesting that corticosterone is a poor predictor of stress in this species or under chronically stressful conditions. DXA accurately and precisely estimated fat mass (FM), lean tissue mass (LTM), and bone mineral mass (BMM). The captive-outdoor and free-ranging populations exhibited greater BMM than the captive-indoor population. However, both captive populations exhibited higher FM and lower LTM than turtles in the free-ranging population. A body condition index calculated by regressing log-transformed mass on length did not correlate with FM or BMM, but did correlate significantly with LTM.

Ecology of Hatchling Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii)
Ecology of Hatchling Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii)

Author: Sarah Spangler

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13:

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Little is known about the first year of life for many of the world’s freshwater turtles. This is due in part to their cryptic nature and the difficulty of locating hatchlings in the wild. The lack of information about this demographically important age group has led researchers to draw conclusions from indirect inferences about survival rates and ecological roles of hatchlings that may or may not be accurate. To begin filling in some of these gaps, I focused on the first year in an alligator snapping turtle’s life. I studied: (1) circadian and circannual patterns of activity, (2) growth rates and how they are related to activity rates, (3) habitat preferences, (4) fall movement patterns, and (5) predation patterns. My study site was within the species’ natural range in southeastern Oklahoma. Unlike adults, hatchlings followed a predominantly diurnal activity pattern for much of the year, with peak activity occurring during the mid-hours of the day. The diurnal habit of hatchlings may be a strategy to temporally partition themselves from nocturnal predators. There were no significant relationships between growth rates and activity rates during any period, potentially due to small sample size. Hatchlings were located in areas of increased cover and shallower water depths, when compared to random locations. Their movement patterns were characterized by an initial movement away from the site of release to a location with suitable habitat characteristics, and they tended to stay at these locations for extended periods. I documented depredation by fish, but not by terrestrial predators such as raccoons.

Effect of Ingestion by Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) on Seeds of Riparian Vegetation
Effect of Ingestion by Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) on Seeds of Riparian Vegetation

Author: Jean Pierre Elbers

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13:

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The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is a large freshwater turtle that inhabits many lotic water bodies in the Southeastern United States. The species consumes primarily fish but also consumes large amounts of vegetation including seeds of common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), tupelos (Nyssa sp.), willow oak (Quercus phellos), and pecan (Carya illinoensis). Captive specimens of M. temminckii were fed samples of the above-mentioned seeds to assess how the species affects ingested seeds in order to evaluate the potential role this species may play as a seed disperser. The proportion of seeds defecated intact varied with species (57-99 %), was lowest in D. virginiana, and highest in N. aquatica. Ingestion reduced the percentage of seeds that germinated in comparison to uneaten controls in all species except Q. phellos where ingestion increased germination percent. Germination percent also decreased the longer seeds remained inside turtles. Ingestion reduced the germination rates of D. virginiana and N. aquatica seeds but increased germination rates for seeds of Q. phellos in comparison to uneaten controls. Due to fungal contamination, conclusions could not be drawn regarding the effect of ingestion on germination percent or rate of C. illinoensis seeds. This study suggests M. temminckii could potentially play some role as a disperser of Q. phellos and N. aquatica but is less likely for D. virginiana. Information regarding post-dispersal fates of seeds ingested by M. temminckii and other freshwater turtles is needed to evaluate the importance of freshwater turtles as dispersers of riparian and wetland vegetation.

Alligator Snapping Turtles
Alligator Snapping Turtles

Author: Julie Murray

Publisher: ABDO

Published: 2022-08-01

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 1098229584

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This emerging reader title looks at alligator snapping turtles and the very clever way they trick their prey. The title also covers where these animals can be found, what they look like, and what they like to eat. This series is at a Level 2 and is written specifically for emerging readers. Aligned to the Common Core standards & correlated to state standards. Dash! is an imprint of Abdo Zoom, a division of ABDO.

Survival, Movements, and Habitat Selection of Introduced Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) in the Wolf River Drainage, Fayette County, Tennessee
Survival, Movements, and Habitat Selection of Introduced Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) in the Wolf River Drainage, Fayette County, Tennessee

Author: Joshua T. Ream

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13:

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We used marked-recapture and radiotelemetry to monitor non-native juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles, Macrochelys temminckii, following release at the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area, Fayette County, Tennessee. This species, endemic to the Southeastern United States, is North America's largest freshwater turtle and considered of conservation concern in Tennessee and throughout much of its historical range ... Our study aimed to augment the efforts of the (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) by monitoring the post-release movements and habitat selection of introduced juveniles in two types of palustrine habitats (a cypress/tupelo dominated slough and the main river channel).