Landscape Ecology Approaches to Wetland Species Conservation: a Case Study of Two Turtle Species in Southern Maine

Abstract

Abstract: We investigated the habitat use and movements of two turtle species to assess the importance of conserving multiple wetlands and the upland matrix in which they occur. Spotted turtles ( Clemmys guttata) and Blanding's turtles ( Emydoidea blandingii) are considered threatened and endangered, respectively, in Maine where they are near the northeastern periphery of their geographic range. We used resightings of marked individuals (69 spotted, 16 Blanding's) and radiotelemetry (13 spotted, 9 Blanding's, radiotagged for one or two seasons) to investigate the movements and habitat use of both species. Individuals of both species used multiple wetlands throughout the year, including permanent and seasonal pools, forested swamps, and wet meadows. Pools occupied by spotted and Blanding's turtles were small (<0.4 ha), and they were less isolated from other wetlands than pools that did not contain turtles. Both species used uplands extensively for nesting, dormancy, and traveling between wetlands. Turtles traveled 70–570 m (spotted) and 100–1620 m ( Blanding's) to nest, and nests were located 1–120 m (spotted) and 70–410 m ( Blanding's) from the nearest wetland. Spotted and Blanding's turtles entered relatively dormant stages for 15–89 and 3–21 consecutive days, respectively, and upland dormancy sites were 12–80 m (spotted) and 30–110 m ( Blanding's) from the nearest wetland. Total distance traveled overland throughout a season was 0–1680 m and 0–6760 m for radiotagged spotted and Blanding's turtles, respectively. Most spotted turtles followed a seasonal pattern of habitat use: pools for spring activity, upland forest for relative dormancy during part of the summer, and wet meadows or forested swamps for overwintering. A seasonal pattern in the habitat use of Blanding's turtles was not as evident. Our study suggests that protecting small wetlands, maintaining generous terrestrial buffers around individual wetlands, and conserving wetlands in groups are important components of a landscape approach to species conservation.