Spatial Ecology and Conservation of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys Insculpta) in a Fragmented Agri-forest Landscape
Spatial Ecology and Conservation of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys Insculpta) in a Fragmented Agri-forest Landscape

Author: Raymond A. Saumure

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13:

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"The impact of agricultural practices on wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) movements and survivorship was investigated in a fragmented agri-forest landscape over two years. Agricultural activities and machinery contributed to the death of 20% of radio-tracked turtles. Annual survivorship of adults was 0.904 and 0.868 and for juveniles it was 0.815 and 0.831 for 1998 and 1999, respectively. Mutilation rates in adults were 90% +/- 3% in both years; in contrast, the maximum rate in juveniles was 57%. Setting the cutting height of disc mowers to 100 mm would increase harvest yields, reduce wear on machinery, decrease soil erosion, and reduce turtle mortality and mutilation rates. The concepts of integral, statistical, and linear range are introduced as distinct estimators of turtle movements. Since integral ranges include all habitats critical to survival, they provide an important contribution to our knowledge of imperiled species. Statistical ranges are stable and easily promote within and between study comparisons. Linear ranges quantify migratory and ranging movements. Thread-trailing techniques were used to record the fine-scale movements of six adult male G. insculpta translocated to an experimental hayfield patch-matrix. Although patch size had no effect on move length or path sinuosity, habitat structure did. Paths were generally straighter and move length longer in the harvested portion of a hayfield. Apparent habitat boundaries were shown to be permeable. Subjects exhibit three movement phases: agitation dispersal, local search, and ranging. Thus, G. insculpta exhibit predetermined movement patterns and move to maximize the likelihood of locating resources, while minimizing the probability of revisiting previously searched areas. Recent changes in agricultural practices and machinery are having a decidedly negative impact on G. insculpta. This study provides new insights into the movements of G. insculpta. Such knowledge will be an es" --

Navigating the Thermal Landscape
Navigating the Thermal Landscape

Author: Geoffrey Norman Hughes

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Thermal ecology studies of ectotherms, like turtles, have typically focused on a species' thermal preferences and tolerances, or on thermoregulation site selections; only recently have landscape-scale thermal ecology studies been performed. I examined the spatial and nesting ecology of wood turtles in Sudbury District of Ontario, Canada, in a thermal context. I also measured the thermal impacts of natural resource extraction on wood turtle habitat. Wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) cover a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats during their annual cycle, making them ideal for thermo-spatial studies. I tracked movements and thermal use of 15 radio-tagged adult turtles during the active season, comparing their selections to temperature monitoring stations spread in an array across the study area, to determine if the turtles are navigating a thermal landscape. Temperature had minimal influence on home range-scale movements, but possibly influenced movements at a smaller spatial scale. I compared the thermal landscape (using thermal imagery), soil moisture, and grain size distribution of 3 nesting beaches to determine the strongest predictor of nest-searching behaviour. Temperature range appeared to be an important cue, but females were apparently using a suite of cues to select their nest sites. I mapped the thermal landscapes of six sites: two relatively undisturbed wood turtle habitat sites, two recently-harvested forestry sites, and two active gravel pits, to find the effects of resource harvesting on wood turtle habitat. The undisturbed sites were cooler and less variable than the disturbed sites, and provided higher-quality thermal habitat. My results support the findings of previous studies: that temperature is a stronger driver of turtle behaviour at the micro-habitat scale than the home range scale, and that soil temperature co-varies with soil structural variables at the micro-habitat scale. The data from the habitat mapping provide useful information for conservation efforts when mitigating or rehabilitating wood turtle habitat.

Status Report on the Wood Turtle, Clemmys Insculpta, in Canada
Status Report on the Wood Turtle, Clemmys Insculpta, in Canada

Author: Jacqueline Danielle Litzgus

Publisher:

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13:

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Assesses the conservation status of Clemmys insculpta, the wood turtle, which ranges discontinuously in north-eastern North America and is confined to specific habitats associated with streams. Information is included on the turtle's geographic distribution in Canada and the United States, population size and trends, protection status, habitat, general biology, factors limiting the turtle population size and distribution, and the special significance of the species. Concludes with brief discussion of the current consensus regarding the status of the species and a recommendation for designation of the species as vulnerable.