Hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) survive exposure to subzero temperatures during hibernation by avoiding freezing

1993 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.C. Packard ◽  
M.J. Packard
Keyword(s):  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Subzero Temperatures

Winter survivorship of hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in Michigan

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy D Nagle ◽  
Owen M Kinney ◽  
Justin D Congdon ◽  
Christopher W Beck
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Freeze Tolerance ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Subzero Temperatures ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
The Impact

Hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) often exhibit delayed emergence by remaining in shallow sub- terranean nest cavities throughout winter. As a result, those at northern latitudes are sometimes exposed to lethal subzero temperatures. Our field study compared survivorship of hatchling C. picta during a winter in which low subzero temperatures coincided with the absence of insulating snow cover (1995-1996) with survivorship during the following three winters (1996-1997, 1997-1998, and 1998-1999), which were characterized by more moderate conditions. Ambient-air and soil temperatures were monitored at a weather station located within ~1 km of all nests. During the first winter of our study (1995-1996), minimum ambient-air temperature reached -25.6°C on 2 February, concomitantly with the complete absence of snow cover, and soil temperatures fell to between -7 and -9°C. Resultant over-winter hatchling mortality was 45%. Because some hatchlings survived temperatures well below the lethal limits described for freeze tolerance (-1 to -4°C), it is likely that hatchlings in Michigan sometimes survive by supercooling. During the following three winters, soil temperatures remained above -2°C, except during brief periods when they fell to -4°C in the absence of snow cover. Over-winter hatchling mortality was <3% during each of these last 3 years. Our study highlights the importance of insulating snow cover to survival of hatchling C. picta. Air temperature and snowfall data from southeastern Michigan over the past 33 years indicate that conditions associated with substantial winter mortality occurred in 3 out of 33 years (9.1%). We demonstrate that the impact of substantial over-winter mortality on hatchling recruitment is dependent on nest survivorship during the preceding nesting season.

Tolerance of hatchling painted turtles to subzero temperatures

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 828-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary C. Packard ◽  
Mary J. Packard ◽  
Paul L. McDaniel ◽  
Leonard L. McDaniel
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Temperature ◽  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
North Central ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Subzero Temperatures

We measured temperatures inside seven natural nests of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at our study site in north central Nebraska during the winter of 1987–1988. Although the lowest temperature recorded in some nests was only slightly below 0 °C, the minimum temperature measured in other nests was as low as −6.2 °C. Viable hatchlings were present in all of the nests at the end of the winter, however, which indicates that hatchling painted turtles can withstand exposure to low temperatures that would kill hatchlings of other species.

Temporal Variation in Growth Rate and Age at Maturity of Male Painted Turtles, Chrysemys picta

1993 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nat B. Frazer ◽  
Judith L. Greene ◽  
J. Whitfield Gibbons
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Age At Maturity ◽  
Painted Turtles

Helminths of Chrysemys picta belli in Manitoba including Polystomoides pauli sp.n. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae)

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1046-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon F. Timmers ◽  
Paul D. Lewis Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Oral Mucosa ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
First Report ◽  
Painted Turtles ◽  
Species Inquirendae

One new monogenean is described and 11 other helminths are reported from painted turtles from eastern Manitoba. Polystomoides pauli sp.n. from the host's oral mucosa most closely resembles P. coronatum (Leidy) and P. oris Paul. It differs from the former in having more and larger genital coronet spines, and possession of anterior cecal diverticula, and from the latter in size, larger number of genital coronet spines, and possession of great hooks with entire, not bifid, roots. Price's emendation of P. coronatum to include five species he held to be its synonyms is rejected; and the five species, P. opacum Stunkard, P. megacotyle Stunkard, P. microcotyle Stunkard, P. albicollis MacCallum, and P. digitatum MacCallum are designated species inquirendae. Polystomoides coronatum is restricted to the redescription given for it by Stunkard. The trematodes Crepidostomum sp., Eustomos chelydrae, Microphallus opacus, Protenes angustus, Spirorchis parvus, S. scripta, Telorchis attenuatus, and T. corti, the cestode Proteocephalus sp., and the nematodes Serpinema trispinosa and Spiroxys contortus are reported from Chrysemys picta belli. Except for P. angustus, all represent first reports from turtles in Canada. This is the first report of E. chelydrae from the host stomach, and the second report of M. opacus from naturally infected turtles.

Patterns and Possible Significance of Water Exchange by Flexible-Shelled Eggs of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta)

1981 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary C. Packard ◽  
Mary J. Packard ◽  
Thomas J. Boardman
Keyword(s):  
Water Exchange ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Painted Turtles

A compass without a map: tortuosity and orientation of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta picta) released in unfamiliar territory

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 1129-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.R. Caldwell ◽  
V.O. Nams
Keyword(s):  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Random Walk ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Reference Stimulus ◽  
Correlated Random Walk ◽  
Specific Mechanism ◽  
Minimal Time ◽  
Painted Turtles

Orientation mechanisms allow animals to spend minimal time in hostile areas while reaching needed resources. Identification of the specific mechanism used by an animal can be difficult, but examining an animal's path in familiar and unfamiliar areas can provide clues to the type of mechanism in use. Semiaquatic turtles are known to use a homing mechanism in familiar territory to locate their home lake while on land, but little is known about their ability to locate habitat in unfamiliar territory. We tested the tortuosity and orientation of 60 eastern painted turtles ( Chrysemys picta picta (Schneider, 1783)). We released turtles at 20 release points located at five distances and in two directions from two unfamiliar lakes. Turtle trails were quite straight (fractal dimension between 1.1 and 1.025) but were not oriented towards water from any distance (V-test; u < 0.72; P > 0.1). Turtles maintained their initially chosen direction but either could not detect water or were not motivated to reach it. Furthermore, paths were straighter at larger spatial scales than at smaller spatial scales, which could not have occurred if the turtles had been using a correlated random walk. Turtles must therefore be using a reference stimulus for navigation even in unfamiliar areas.

Prevalence of Leeches and Algae on Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) in Four Created Ponds in Central Ohio: Effects of Pond, Sex, and Age Class

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley O. Smith ◽  
Jessica E. Rettig ◽  
Logan E. Smith ◽  
Geoffrey R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Age Class ◽  
Painted Turtles
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