Work

Home range, seasonal movement patterns, and overwintering ecology in two Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) populations in northwest Indiana

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Land-use change has resulted in natural habitats becoming fragmented and disjunct. Wetland ecosystemsin the United States are one example that has impacted wetland-adapted species. One species, the Spotted Turtle(Clemmys guttata), lives and relies on freshwater wetland habitats. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about thespatial and habitat requirements for C. guttata, especially in fragmented habitats. Using ground-based radio-telemetryand thermal ecology, we calculated seasonal home ranges and examined overwintering ecology for 30 adult turtlesfrom April 2022 to January 2023 at two sites in northern Indiana. We then calculated annual and seasonal (seasonalmovement areas, SMA) home ranges using 100% Minimum Convex Polygons (MCP) and annual 95%, 90%, and50% kernel density estimates (KDs). Our results show MCPs were not significantly different between sexes or sitesbut differed significantly across seasons (highest in spring). Annual KDs (95%, 90%, and 50%) did not differ betweensites. Daily mean air temperatures prior to overwintering were 12.01 °C and no turtle was recorded to have a carapacialtemperature below 0.5 °C. Results of this study show that even in these highly fragmented areas Spotted Turtles canoperate similar to other populations in more natural habitats. These data can be used to help develop managementplans for Spotted Turtle populations in disjunct and/or urban areas.

Source: Reptiles & Amphibians

DOI: 10.17161/randa.v32i1.22349