Blanding's Turtles Research Articles

Dietary Habits of the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) in Northeastern Illinois

Dietary Habits of the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) in Northeastern Illinois

A Radiotelemetric Study of Activity and Movements of the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) in Northeastern Illinois

A Radiotelemetric Study of Activity and Movements of the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) in Northeastern Illinois

Growth and body size in Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingi): relationships to reproduction

Growth and reproduction in Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingi) were studied in southeastern Michigan from 1975 through 1988. Average body sizes of both sexes of adults were similar; however, shapes of males were different from those of females. The average size of a group of females with a mean minimum age of 47 years was not significantly different from a younger group with a mean age of 21 years. Clutch size ranged from 3 to 19 ([Formula: see text], N = 280) eggs over 11 years. Clutch wet mass ranged from 60.4 to 183.4 g ([Formula: see text], N = 17), and relative clutch mass of nine females averaged 0.12. Clutch size, and to a lesser degree egg size, showed a significant positive relationship with body size, but not with age of females. Hatchlings averaged 31.0 mm in plastron length, 35.3 mm in carapace length, and 9.2 g in body wet mass. Differences in juvenile growth rates and age at sexual maturity appear to be the major cause of variation in body size of adult Blanding's turtles and the related reproductive output per clutch.

Habitat Use, Movements, and Nesting of Emydoidea blandingi in Central Wisconsin

Eight radio-tagged Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingi), monitored from June 1983 to January 1984, used ponds more often than predicted on the basis of available habitat while marsh habitats were used less than their availability. Most wetlands used by the turtles had water 0.5 m. The activity centers of two males (0.57 ha and 0.94 ha) did not differ significantly in size from those of six females (x = 0.56 ha, SD = 0.293). Male and female activity centers overlapped (x = 12%, SD = 14.7), and female activity centers overlapped with those of other females (i = 26%, SD = 16.5). Two males did not share activity centers, although other males were captured within them. Distances between activity centers of two males (260 m and 635 m) were not significantly different from those among centers of six females (x = 489 m, SD = 338 m). Females moved significantly greater distances per day (N = 56, 1 = 95.1 m, SD = 79.0) than did males (N = 21, x = 48.4 m, SD = 41.2). Mean nest distances from water, and nonnesting activity centers, were 168 m (SD = 90.8 m) and 620 m (SD = 144.0 m), respectively. At least four nests were destroyed by predators within 24 h of completion, and all nests were eventually destroyed. Fourteen of 16 nests were in grasslands. Life history data and the habitat requirements for Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) are poorly known (McCoy, 1973; Graham and Doyle, 1977; Congdon et al., 1983). Yet, wetland alteration or elimination by humans is believed to be an important factor in the decline of many E. blandingi populations (Smith, 1961; Minton, 1971; Christiansen, 1981). We here provide quantitative data on the nesting ecology, movements, and habitat use of this species to provide baseline information enabling development of conservation strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected from June 1982 to January 1984 on the Petenwell Wildlife Area (PWA), a 291 ha protected wildlife area in Adams County, Wisconsin (TI8N, R4E, Sections 1 and 4), that is managed by the Wisconsin River Power Company. The PWA is located on the southern edge of an ecologic tension zone (Curtis, 1959), an area of transition (ca. 15-50 km wide) between northern and southern vegetation in Wisconsin. The study area is a complex of wetlands, including speckled alder (Alnus rugosa) swamps, marshes, small ( 4.5 m in height (tree) were determined with a measuring tape. A 0.5 m squ re frame was centered on the nest site to visually estimate coverage and frequency of occurrence of vegetation (Daubenmire, 1959). All statistical tests are Students t-test unless stat-

Freeze tolerance in animals

Freeze tolerance in animals

The Influence of Temperature on Eggs and Hatchlings of Blanding's Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii

The Influence of Temperature on Eggs and Hatchlings of Blanding's Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii

An experimental analysis of the water relations of eggs of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii)

Eggs of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) were incubated in the laboratory under hydric conditions eliciting different patterns of net water exchange between eggs and surrounding air and substrate. Eggs incubated on wet and intermediate substrates increased in mass during the first half of incubation and decreased in mass during the second half, and their mass just before hatching was slightly lower than at oviposition. Eggs incubated on dry substrates and on platforms above substrates declined in mass throughout incubation, with a rate of decline greater in the second half of incubation than in the first. The size of hatchlings was related to the hydric environment in which eggs were incubated and, possibly, to the net flux of water across eggshells. However, variation in size of hatchlings was not as great as has been reported for other species with flexible-shelled eggs, owing presumably to the constraints on water exchange imposed by the more complex eggshells of Blanding's turtles.

Dimorphism, Courtship, Eggs, and Hatchlings of the Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii (Reptilia, Testudines, Emydidae) in Massachusetts

Dimorphism, Courtship, Eggs, and Hatchlings of the Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii (Reptilia, Testudines, Emydidae) in Massachusetts

A Range Extension and Basking Observation of the Blanding's Turtle in Nova Scotia

A Range Extension and Basking Observation of the Blanding's Turtle in Nova Scotia

Skin allograft and xenograft rejection in the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina.

AbstractThe immune response of the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, to skin allografts and xenografts at several environmental temperatures was studied. Xenografts were supplied by the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta, and the Blanding turtle, Emys blandingii. Gross and microscopic manifestations of rejection were observed. Beginning of graft death and total graft death marked two survival end points. The first of these events was used in statistical comparisons of mean survival times of grafts of the various series, which included a total of 107 host animals involving 74 allografts and 76 xenografts.Skin autografts survived through the periods of observation with no morphological evidence of incompatibility. Using gross and histological survival end points, which indicated the beginning of graft death, first‐set allografts were rejected in about 40 days; second‐set in about 21 days, at 25 ± 1°C. Allografts from young snappers survived slightly longer.Xenografts from both donor species were rejected after nearly the same survival times. First‐set xenografts were rejected in about 24 days; second‐set xenografts in about 16 days, at 25 ± 1°C. Painted turtle skin xenografts on snappers which had previously received painted turtle tissue in transplantation between embryos, survived significantly longer, about 36 days.There was no morphological evidence of rejection of first‐set allografts of xenografts for the observation period of 100 days, at 10 ± 1°C. Allografted snappers that were transferred to 25 ± 1°C, rejected the grafts about 30 days after the transfer.First‐set allografts were rejected much faster at 33 ± 1°C, in about 24 days, as were first‐set xenografts, in about 17 days.

Observations on the ecology and population dynamics of the Blanding's turtle, Emydoidea blandingi

Ecological studies were made on the Blanding's turtle, Emydoidea blandingi, in southwestern Michigan. Observations were made regarding population size and structure, seasonal activity, and reproductive potential and cycles. Reproductive cycles and periods of terrestrial activity were found to be coincident with those of the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta.

Natural Selection, the Costs of Reproduction, and a Refinement of Lack's Principle

Natural Selection, the Costs of Reproduction, and a Refinement of Lack's Principle

A Maine Record for Blanding's Turtle

A Maine Record for Blanding's Turtle

Observations on Some Helminths Parasitic in Ohio Turtles

The distribution of Ohio reptiles was worked out by Conant (1938), and the host names used below are those given by him. Ten species of turtles have been recorded from Ohio. Of these, the Cumberland terrapin, Pseudemys scripta troostii (Holbrook), and the brown soft-shelled turtle, Amyda mutica (Le Sueur), are rare, and local in distribution. In addition to these, we were unable to obtain specimens of the musk turtle, Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille), which, while not common, is rather widely distributed over the State. The seven species of turtles examined were as follows: spiny soft-shelled turtle, Amyda spinifera (Le Sueur); snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, (Linne); painted turtle, Chrysemys bellii marginata Agassiz; spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata (Schneider); Blanding's turtle, Emys blandingii (Holbrook); geographic terrapin, Graptemys geographica Le Sueur; and the land turtle Terrapene carolina (Linne). The number of host specimens examined of certain species is not adequate, but since there is no probability that additional specimens will be obtained from this area, the data are presented with these inadequacies. A summary of the results is shown in table 1. While we realize that our material cannot be considered sufficient in amount to allow for an ecological study, it seems desirable, nevertheless, to present short descriptions of the major habitats from which the animals were collected. This may be of value to someone doing work of a similar nature in the future. It is hoped that future workers will attempt to correlate distribution of the parasite with the ecology of the host, since little is known of the epidemiology of the helminths parasitic in wildlife. The locations from which collections were made are indicated by number on the map (Fig. 1.), and descriptions of these habitats are given below.

A New Record for Blanding's Turtle in Eastern New York

A New Record for Blanding's Turtle in Eastern New York

Further Studies on Incubation of Turtle (Malaclemys centrata Lat.) Eggs

Previous article No AccessShorter Articles and DiscussionFurther Studies on Incubation of Turtle (Malaclemys centrata Lat.) EggsBert Cunningham, M. W. Woodward, and Janis PridgenBert Cunningham Search for more articles by this author , M. W. Woodward Search for more articles by this author , and Janis Pridgen Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 73, Number 746May - Jun., 1939 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/280839 Views: 3Total views on this site Citations: 6Citations are reported from Crossref PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Andrew M. Grosse, Brian A. Crawford, John C. Maerz, Kurt A. Buhlmann, Terry Norton, Michelle Kaylor, Tracey D. Tuberville Effects of Vegetation Structure and Artificial Nesting Habitats on Hatchling Sex Determination and Nest Survival of Diamondback Terrapins, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 6, no.11 (Oct 2014): 19–28.https://doi.org/10.3996/082014-JFWM-063GARY C. PACKARD, MARY J. PACKARD, THOMAS J. BOARDMAN An experimental analysis of the water relations of eggs of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 75, no.11 (May 2008): 23–34.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1982.tb01940.xJane Thompson Uptake of inorganic ions from the maternal circulation during development of the embryo of a viviparous lizard, Sphenomorphus quoyii, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 71, no.11 (Jan 1982): 107–112.https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-9629(82)90374-7G. C. PACKARD, M. J. PACKARD, T. J. BOARDMAN, M. D. ASHEN Possible Adaptive Value of Water Exchanges in Flexible-Shelled Eggs of Turtles, Science 213, no.45064506 (Jul 1981): 471–473.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.213.4506.471GARY C. PACKARD, C. RICHARD TRACY, JAN J. ROTH THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF REPTILIAN EGGS AND EMBRYOS. AND THE EVOLUTION OF VIVIPARITY WITHIN THE CLASS REPTILIA, Biological Reviews 52, no.11 (Feb 1977): 71–105.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1977.tb01346.x Bert Cunningham Effect of Temperature Upon the Developmental Rate of the Embryo of the Diamond Back Terrapin (Malaclemys centrata Lat.), The American Naturalist 73, no.747747 (Sep 2015): 381–384.https://doi.org/10.1086/280848

Water Absorption by Reptile Eggs during Incubation

Previous articleNext article No AccessShorter Articles and DiscussionWater Absorption by Reptile Eggs during IncubationBert Cunningham, and Arnold P. HurwitzBert Cunningham Search for more articles by this author , and Arnold P. Hurwitz Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 70, Number 731Nov. - Dec., 1936 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/280700 Views: 6Total views on this site Citations: 22Citations are reported from Crossref PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Joshua M. HALL, Jocelyn MIRACLE, Cindy D. SCRUGGS, Daniel A. WARNER Natural nest substrates influence squamate embryo physiology but have little effect on hatchling phenotypes, Integrative Zoology 17, no.44 (Jun 2021): 550–566.https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12553Amanda K Pettersen, Lukas Schuster, Neil B Metcalfe The Evolution of Offspring Size: A Metabolic Scaling Perspective, Integrative and Comparative Biology 191 (Jun 2022).https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac076Shawn Dsouza, Chetan Rao Demographics and reproductive biology of Hydrophis schistosus may make it more resilient to bycatch effects than other sea snakes, Regional Studies in Marine Science 47 (Sep 2021): 101948.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101948Jérémie SOUCHET, Eric J. GANGLOFF, Gaëlle MICHELI, Coralie BOSSU, Audrey TROCHET, Romain BERTRAND, Jean CLOBERT, Olivier CALVEZ, Albert MARTINEZ‐SILVESTRE, Elodie DARNET, Hugo LE CHEVALIER, Olivier GUILLAUME, Marc MOSSOLL‐TORRES, Laurent BARTHE, Gilles POTTIER, Hervé PHILIPPE, Fabien AUBRET High‐elevation hypoxia impacts perinatal physiology and performance in a potential montane colonizer, Integrative Zoology 15, no.66 (Jul 2020): 544–557.https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12468Kirsty J. MacLeod, Nicole A. Freidenfelds, Gavin M. Leighton, Tracy Langkilde Tree selection is linked to locomotor performance and associated noise production in a lizard, Journal of Zoology 307, no.33 (Nov 2018): 195–202.https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12632Taylor A. Stewart, David T. Booth, Mohd Uzair Rusli Influence of sand grain size and nest microenvironment on incubation success, hatchling morphology and locomotion performance of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at the Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary, Redang Island, Malaysia, Australian Journal of Zoology 66, no.66 (Jan 2018): 356.https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO19025M.R. Sartori, E.W. Taylor, A.S. Abe Nitrogen excretion during embryonic development of the green iguana, Iguana iguana (Reptilia; Squamata), Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 163, no.22 (Oct 2012): 210–214.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.06.004Mary J. Packard, Gary C. Packard, Jeffrey D. Miller, Menna E. Jones, William H. N. Gutzke Calcium mobilization, water balance, and growth in embryos of the agamid lizardAmphibolurus barbatus, Journal of Experimental Zoology 235, no.33 (Sep 1985): 349–357.https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1402350306Gary C. Packard, Mary J. Packard Coupling of physiology of embryonic turtles to the hydric environment, (Jan 1984): 99–119.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6536-2_7GARY C. PACKARD, MARY J. PACKARD, THOMAS J. BOARDMAN An experimental analysis of the water relations of eggs of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 75, no.11 (May 2008): 23–34.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1982.tb01940.xDavid L. Cox, Robert P. Mecham, Owen J. Sexton Lysine derived cross-links are present in a non-elastin, proline-rich protein fraction of Iguana iguana eggshell, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry 72, no.44 (Jan 1982): 619–623.https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-0491(82)90515-6G. C. PACKARD, M. J. PACKARD, T. J. BOARDMAN, M. D. ASHEN Possible Adaptive Value of Water Exchanges in Flexible-Shelled Eggs of Turtles, Science 213, no.45064506 (Jul 1981): 471–473.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.213.4506.471 Gary C. Packard , Mary J. Packard , and Thomas J. Boardman Patterns and Possible Significance of Water Exchange by Flexible-Shelled Eggs of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta), Physiological Zoology 54, no.11 (Sep 2015): 165–178.https://doi.org/10.1086/physzool.54.1.30155815Jane Thompson A study of the sources of nutrients for embryonic development in a viviparous lizard, Sphenomorphus quoyii, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 70, no.44 (Jan 1981): 509–518.https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-9629(81)92562-7 C. Richard Tracy , Gary C. Packard , and Mary J. Packard Water Relations of Chelonian Eggs, Physiological Zoology 51, no.44 (Sep 2015): 378–387.https://doi.org/10.1086/physzool.51.4.30160963Owen J. Sexton, Kathren M. Brown The reproductive cycle of an Iguanid lizard Anolis sagrei , from Belize, Journal of Natural History 11, no.33 (Jun 1977): 241–250.https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937700770171GARY C. PACKARD, C. RICHARD TRACY, JAN J. ROTH THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF REPTILIAN EGGS AND EMBRYOS. AND THE EVOLUTION OF VIVIPARITY WITHIN THE CLASS REPTILIA, Biological Reviews 52, no.11 (Feb 1977): 71–105.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1977.tb01346.xN.K. Jenkins, K. Simkiss The calcium and phosphate metabolism of reproducing reptiles with particular reference to the adder (vipera berus), Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 26, no.33 (Sep 1968): 865–876.https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-406X(68)90006-6Wilbur W. Mayhew BIOLOGY OF DESERT AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES, (Jan 1968): 195–356.https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-4831-9868-2.50014-1 Bert Cunningham , M. W. Woodward , and Janis Pridgen Further Studies on Incubation of Turtle (Malaclemys centrata Lat.) Eggs, The American Naturalist 73, no.746746 (Sep 2015): 285–288.https://doi.org/10.1086/280839 Bert Cunningham , and Elizabeth Huene Further Studies on Water Absorption by Reptile Eggs, The American Naturalist 72, no.741741 (Sep 2015): 380–385.https://doi.org/10.1086/280791 Richard Goldschmidt A Note Concerning the Adaptation of Geographic Races of Lymantria dispar L. to the Seasonal Cycle in Japan, The American Naturalist 72, no.741741 (Sep 2015): 385–386.https://doi.org/10.1086/280792

Blanding's Turtle, Emys blandingii (Holbrook), in Pennsylvania

Blanding's Turtle, Emys blandingii (Holbrook), in Pennsylvania

A Blanding's Turtle Lays Its Eggs

A Blanding's Turtle Lays Its Eggs

Some Observations on Blanding's Turtle

Some Observations on Blanding's Turtle