CHARACTERIZING THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HISTORIC AND NOVEL PATHOGENS IN BLANDING'S TURTLES (EMYDOIDEA BLANDINGII)

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Winter ◽  
Lauren Mumm ◽  
Laura A. Adamovicz ◽  
Kirsten E. Andersson ◽  
Gary A. Glowacki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emydoidea Blandingii

scholarly journals Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook 1838) – Blanding’s Turtle

2008 ◽  
pp. 015.1-015.12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Congdon ◽  
Terry Graham ◽  
Tom Herman ◽  
Jeffrey Lang
Keyword(s):  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Blanding's Turtle ◽  
Blanding’S Turtle

PREVALENCE OF INTRAERYTHROCYTIC PARASITES IN MAROCHELYS TEMMINCKII, EMYDOIDEA BLANDINGII, TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA, AND TERRAPENE ORNATA ORNATA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Doke ◽  
Kara Hiebert ◽  
Melanie Repella ◽  
Megan Stuart ◽  
Lauren Mumm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Classes ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Terrapene Carolina ◽  
Terrapene Ornata ◽  
Blood Smears ◽  
Box Turtles ◽  
Eastern Box Turtles ◽  
Specific Species ◽  
Terrapene Carolina Carolina ◽  
Free Ranging

Few studies have characterized the prevalence of intraerythrocytic parasites in free-ranging chelonian populations or their occurrence across habitats. It is hypothesized that chelonians in different habitats have different exposures to vectors and thus, differences in hemoparasite presence. This study explored the prevalence and intensity of intraerythrocytic parasites by examining blood smears from four species of Illinois turtles: wild Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) (EBT), and ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) (OBT) and headstarted alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) (AST). Intraerythrocytic parasites were identified in all examined species except for the alligator snapping turtle. For all age classes, Blanding’s turtles had both the highest prevalence of hemoparasites and intensity of infection of all sampled species, while adult Blanding’s turtles had a significantly higher prevalence than juveniles (P<0.05). As this is the first study of hemoparasites in Illinois chelonians, further research is needed to identify the specific species of intraerythrocytic parasite, the potential vectors, and the effect these hemoparasites have on the health of chelonians.

Environmental DNA bioassays corroborate field data for detection of overwintering species at risk Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii)

Genome ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Scott A. Tarof ◽  
Steven Crookes ◽  
Kelsey Moxley ◽  
Jeff Hathaway ◽  
Graham Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Species At Risk ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is gaining traction in conservation ecology as a powerful tool for detecting species at risk. We developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay to detect a DNA amplicon fragment of the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide locus of the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) for detecting overwintering individuals. Seventy-eight water samples were collected from 17 wetland sites in Ontario, Canada. We used traditional field data to identify a priori positive and negative control sites. Fifty percent of positive control sites amplified. Detection was related to the number of individuals estimated from field observations in at least one region surveyed. Positive control sites had lower total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity in relation to negative control sites. Shedding rates were within the same order of magnitude for brumating and active turtles. We recommend collecting additional samples at a larger number of locations to maximize detection. Recommended sampling design changes may overshadow the additional effects of water chemistry and low eDNA shedding rates. eDNA offers tremendous potential to practitioners conducting species at risk assessments in environmental consulting by providing a faster, more efficient method of detection compared with traditional surveys.

scholarly journals Revisiting the hypothesis of sex-biased turtle road mortality

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Carstairs ◽  
Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux ◽  
Christina M. Davy
Keyword(s):  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Road Mortality ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Snapping Turtles ◽  
Turtle Conservation ◽  
Map Turtles ◽  
Graptemys Geographica ◽  
Using Data

Road mortality poses a major threat to turtle populations. Several studies have suggested that the terrestrial movements associated with nesting increase this risk for females. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) is home to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, which admits 900 or more turtles a year, with road injuries the primary cause of admission. We tested the hypothesis that road mortality in turtles is female-biased using data from injured Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata), Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina), Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), and Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) collected over about 126 000 km2 and admitted to OTCC’s hospital from January 2013 to October 2017. There was no difference in the number of male and female admissions of Midland Painted, Blanding’s, or Snapping Turtles (P > 0.05); however, more female Northern Map Turtles than males were admitted (P < 0.001). Admission of female turtles peaked in June during the nesting season, but male admissions were more evenly distributed throughout the season. Our admissions data provide a temporally unbiased and geographically broad snapshot of turtle–vehicle interactions that can directly inform conservation and management policies. Although our data are not equivalent to mortality rates, these results demonstrate that vehicle strikes can have a substantial impact on both female and male turtles.

scholarly journals Over-wintering Characteristics of West-Central Wisconsin Blanding's Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii

2010 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Thiel ◽  
Timothy T. Wilder
Keyword(s):  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Anoxia Tolerance ◽  
Chelydra Serpentina ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Anoxic Conditions ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
West Central ◽  
Remarkable Degree ◽  
Snapping Turtles

Hibernation of adult-sized Blanding's Turtles was studied at two west-central Wisconsin sites between 1991 and 2008. Turtles arrived at hibernacula from mid September to early October, spending 126 to 216 days at these sites, and generally emerged in early April yearly. Sixty percent of females and 30 percent of males hibernated in natural over man-made structures as hibernation sites. Anoxic conditions near five hibernation sites ranged from 78 to 100 days. Shell temperatures of three turtles monitored over five winters remained at <1°C a mean of 2,274 hours each winter. Over the same period, four turtles' temperatures were between 0° and -1°C a mean of 302 hours. During the course of our study, hibernating west-central Wisconsin Blanding's Turtles demonstrated a remarkable degree of both cold and anoxia-tolerance similar to that observed among Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) and Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina).

Compass Orientation During Dispersal of Freshwater Hatchling Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii)

Ethology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin D. Congdon ◽  
Michael J. Pappas ◽  
John D. Krenz ◽  
Bruce J. Brecke ◽  
Meredith Schlenner
Keyword(s):  
Chelydra Serpentina ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Snapping Turtles

Population size and spatial ecology of Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in South March Highlands, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
pp. 509-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caleb T. Hasler ◽  
Kevin Robinson ◽  
Nick Stow ◽  
Shawn R. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Blanding's Turtle ◽  
The Road ◽  
Gravid Females ◽  
Blanding’S Turtle

Between 2010 and 2011, an arterial road was constructed within provincially significant wetlands in the South March Highlands (SMH) located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The wetlands and adjacent upland areas were determined to be sensitive habitat for Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) during the approval and permitting process, and a population study was required as part of the road construction project. The study consisted of a 4-year mark–recapture program and a movement study of radio-tagged adult turtles. General findings included the identification of 27 adult males and 55 females and a population estimate of 93 adults (95% Cl: 86–118). A 1:2.32 male to female sex bias was also found. Mean home-range size was 19.06 ha and tagged turtles moved, on average, more per observation in 2013 (191.40 m compared with 89.75 and 123.04 m in 2011 and 2012, respectively). Previously reported differences in movement patterns between males, females, and gravid females were not observed. The SMH Blanding’s Turtle population should be closely monitored because urban development continues in the area, which may further reduce the population size. Understanding the biology of imperiled populations across species’ ranges is necessary to promote conservation and adaptive wildlife management.

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