Movement of Red-bellied turtles (Pseudemys rubriventris) throughout Lake Marburg at Codorus

State Park, Hanover, PAStephanie Rice, Department of Biology, York College of Pennsylvania

INTRODUCTION

Red-bellied turtles are a fresh water species, located in the coastal plain of the mid-Atlantic region (Ernst et al. 2009). Red-bellied turtles are listed as a threatened species in the state of Pennsylvania, due to habitat destruction and pollution (Swarth 1999)

Red-bellied turtles are mostly active during the end of April until mid October (Ernst et al 2009). A study on painted turtles activity may not be constant throughout the season. This study showed that during the warmer months turtles were observed basking in the water and their movement decreased as the season progressed (Rowe 2003)

Ernst et al. (2009) reviewed the movement of closely related species and showed that they have the ability to move large distances• Pseudemys suwanniensis- One individual

was recaptured 5km from original capture site during the turtle’s active season. Although the authors observed the turtle moving long distances within the river, they did not observe movement over land to closely located ponds.

• Pseudemys peninsularis – Six male turtles were recaptured more than1km from original capture site. A juvenile turtle was also recaptured around 1km from its original site. Both of these occurred during active season. This suggests that turtles have the ability to wander great distances from their original capture site.

Movement of red-bellied turtles is especially important due to their limited numbers. Determining their movement could allow the State Park to protect the areas of the lake where these turtles spent most of their time or areas used for mating or nesting.

OBJECTIVES

Initial Objective: Track the movement of female red- bellied turtles intensively in June ,during nesting season, to locate and determine nesting sites

Revised Objective: Since we were only able to capture one red-bellied male our revised objective was to see how a red-bellied turtle moved throughout Lake Marburg during active season from May to September

 

http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Turtles/arbt.cfm

METHODS

Research was done at Lake Marburg in Codorus State Park Hanover, Pa.Turtles were captured both by hand an by the use basking traps• Basking traps were modeled after Gambel

(2006)• Placed in water 1 week per month• First traps placed in the water in April of

2011Once captured, the turtle was tracked using radio telemetry

Captured and tagged male red bellied turtle

Tracked turtle 1-2 times a week

Triangulated the location of the turtle and recorded both air and

water temps

Once per month the movement was tracked throughout the course of

the day

10 A.M.

12 P.M.

3 P.M.

RESULTSCONCLUSION

Red-bellied turtles have the ability to move throughout the lake. The turtle moved a minimum of 6 km in less than a week.•This agrees with previous review of movement in Pseudemys by Ernst et al (2009).

Dr. Nolan (2009)•Recaptured a female red-bellied turtle 6/21/09 (Chapel Cove)- 6/25/09 (Black Rock)•This supports our findings and shows turtles have the ability to move throughout the lake

Freshwater turtles may decrease activity as the summer progresses because of declining resources or increases in temperature•This was seen in a study done on painted turtles (Rowe 2003).•Noticed that during the late summer, movement began to decline

Josh Axe’s study•Performed a similar study at the same time on red-eared sliders and his turtles did not move at all in September either•This finding supports our results of the turtles movement in September

FUTURE STUDIES

RADIO TELEMETRY

Acknowledgements

References•Ernst, C.H. J.E. Lovich and R.W. Barbour. 2009. Turtles of the United States

and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington•Gamble, T. 2006. The relative efficiency of basking and hoop traps for painted turtles (Chrysemys picta). Herpetological Review. 37(3):308-312.•Swarth, W., Christopher. 1999. Natural History and Reproductive Biology of the Red-bellied Turtle(Pseudemys rubriventris).Conservation and Ecology of turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region: A Symposium. 73-83.•Rowe, W. John. 2003. Activity and Movements of Midland Painted Turtles living in a small march system of Beaver Island, Michigan. Journal of Herpelology. 37(2):342-353.

I would like to give special thanks to Dr. Nolan for all the help and support she has given me throughout this entire process

•Track the movement of female red-bellied turtles using radio telemetry, in order to obtain the location of their nesting sites, their behavior and how far they travel to nest

•This study will be useful in allowing the park to protect the areas that these turtles are commonly found nesting

•25g transmitter was attached to the coastal scute of the turtle using a quick drying putty epoxy•Flexible plastic tubing was epoxied to each of the first 4 vertebral scutes and the antennae was threaded through these loops•This was used to triangulate the approximate position of the turtle in the lake

Fig. 1 The red-bellied male was captured in Chapel Cove on May 10th and remained there until May 17th. He then traveled ~4 km to Marburg Flats on May 21st and remained there until June 24th. He then traveled ~2 km to the Marina Launch on June 30th where he remained for a two days and then traveled another ~ 4 km to Black rock where he remained for the rest of the season.

http://www.k9electronics.com/field-marshall-1000-dog-tracking-receiver.html