scholarly journals Do diets vary over large spatial or temporal ranges? A test using interannual and interpopulation data on Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) diets

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-257
Author(s):  
Kayleigh Rose Erazmus ◽  
Miranda P. Figueras ◽  
Luca Luiselli ◽  
Russell L. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Taxonomic Resolution ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Geographic Ranges ◽  
Diet Variation ◽  
Diamondback Terrapins

Animal diets may vary spatially or temporally as resource availability vary. Diets of species with extensive geographic ranges often span multiple habitats, thus their diets may vary accordingly. Temporal diet variation is rarely explored because most diet studies are short term; this is problematic for long-lived species where individuals may persist as prey availability changes. We analyzed diet variation in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin (Schoepf, 1793)), which inhabits nearly 70 000 km of United States Atlantic coastline, spanning 16.5°N latitude and 27.4°W longitude and four Köppen climatic zones, and Bermuda. We explored spatially or temporally Diamondback Terrapin diet variation, including populations from Atlantic salt marshes, an Everglades mangrove swamp, the Texas Gulf Coast, and a Caribbean golf course pond. We found remarkably high levels of similarity, indicating that although diets vary according to local prey availability, they are broadly similar at lower taxonomic resolution. Even short-term studies may be sufficient to accurately characterize diets of Diamondback Terrapins. These results are surprising given the geographic range sampled in this study and indicate that Diamondback Terrapin diets are conservative, reflecting local prey availability. Such diets apparently allow Diamondback Terrapins to exploit their extensive range and may allow Diamondback terrapin populations to persist as local prey species wax and wane.

Osmoregulation in the Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys Terrapin Centrata

1967 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. BENTLEY ◽  
W. L. BRETZ ◽  
KNUT SCHMIDT-NIELSEN
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Solute Concentration ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Excess Sodium ◽  
Diamondback Terrapins ◽  
Do So

1. While in hypertonic environment diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys centrata) slowly lose water by osmosis through the integument and as urine through the kidney. 2. Small amounts of sodium are gained, probably largely as a result of diffusion through the integument rather than by drinking, and this sodium is principally excreted extrarenally. Nevertheless, the solute concentration in the blood of such turtles increases. 3. When returned to fresh water the animals rehydrate and excrete accumulated excess sodium. 4. In these ways they could undoubtedly survive for extended periods in the absence of fresh water, but it is not clear whether they could do so indefinitely.

scholarly journals Naive Juvenile Diamondback Terrapins: Kin Recognition in Controlled Encounter Experiments

Elements ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Macdonald ◽  
Alexis Rife
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Kin Selection ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Selection Theory ◽  
Boston College ◽  
Diamondback Terrapins ◽  
Existing Data

Northern diamondback terrapin (<span style="font-family: mceinline;"><em>malaclemys terrapin</em>) turtle </span>hatchlings raised as part of a laboratory headstarting program are the focus of kin recognition studies taking place at Boston College. Experiments examining basking behaviors in 13 trials of familiar kin and 11 trials of unfamiliar non-kin. Familiar kin averaged more aggressive engagements per trial (2.44 vs. 0.36), more displacements per trial (13.36 vs. 3.91), and more instances of climbing on one another (13.36 vs. 2.36). Familiar kin basked in congregations more frequently per trial than unfamiliar non-kin. These data suggest that diamondback terrapins treat each other differently based on either kinship or familiarity-or both. Further research will be conducted on familiar and unfamiliar kin and non-kin groupings to help elucidate the existing data by determining which variable has greater consequence and if Hamilton's kin selection theory can be applied to terrapin juvenile social behavior.

scholarly journals CHARACTERISTICS OF MANGROVE DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN RHIZOPHORARUM) INHABITING ALTERED AND NATURAL MANGROVE ISLANDS

2014 ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
Brian K. Mealey ◽  
John D. Baldwin ◽  
Greta B. Parks-Mealey ◽  
Gregory D. Bossart ◽  
Michael R.J. Forstner
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Mangrove System ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Biased Sex Ratio ◽  
Diamondback Terrapins

The Mangrove Diamondback Terrapin, (Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum) is dependent on a very broad array of the services provided by the mangrove ecosystem. We sought to evaluate both the turtles and their habitat by an integrated assessment of physical, chemical, and physiological parameters. Extreme site fidelity of the turtles to mangrove habitat was evident along with a strong female biased sex ratio. We provide blood serum values and microbial cultures as baselines from these turtles in the wild. Salmonella sp., a potentially zoonotic pathogen, was isolated from one female. Ultimately, the health of these turtle populations may be reflective of the integrity of the mangrove system on which they depend.

Inoculative freezing promotes winter survival in hatchling diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Baker ◽  
J P Costanzo ◽  
R Herlands ◽  
R C Wood ◽  
R E Lee, Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Freeze Tolerance ◽  
Winter Survival ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
High Susceptibility ◽  
Freeze Avoidance ◽  
Inoculative Freezing ◽  
Diamondback Terrapins

We investigated the hibernation ecology and cold hardiness of hatchling diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin (Schoepf, 1793), an estuarine species that reaches 42°N along the Atlantic Ocean. During 3 years of study, about 50% of the nests we monitored harboured hatchlings during winter, and the majority (87%) of these individuals survived despite being intermittently exposed to subfreezing temperatures. Most such exposures were brief (ca. 12 h) and mild (minimum temperature: ca. –1.2 °C); however, turtles were occasionally subjected to longer chilling episodes and lower temperatures. In laboratory experiments, hatchlings supercooled extensively, attaining ca. –15 °C before spontaneously freezing. However, they were highly susceptible to inoculative freezing through contact with external ice and (or) ice-nucleating agents, which occur in nesting soil. Therefore, freeze avoidance through supercooling does not appear to be a viable cold-hardiness strategy in these turtles. Hatchlings subjected to experimental freezing survived exposure to temperatures as low as –3.0 °C, suggesting that freeze tolerance may account for the high winter survival observed in natural nests. We conclude that freeze tolerance in hatchling M. terrapin is promoted by high susceptibility to inoculation, which is known to moderate freezing, allowing cells time to adapt to the attendant physical and osmotic stresses.

Population Size and Structure of the Ornate Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota) on Small Gulf Coast Islands in Florida

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Suarez ◽  
Travis M. Thomas ◽  
William M. Turner ◽  
Ryan L. Gandy ◽  
Kevin M. Enge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Size And Structure

Isolation of Fecal Coliform Bacteria from the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata)

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 865-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie J. Harwood ◽  
Joseph Butler ◽  
Danny Parrish ◽  
Victoria Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Brackish Water ◽  
Fecal Coliform ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Fecal Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Diamondback Terrapins

ABSTRACT Total and fecal coliform bacteria were isolated from the cloaca and feces of the estuarine diamondback terrapin. The majority of samples contained fecal coliforms. Escherichia coli was the predominant fecal coliform species isolated, and members of the genusSalmonella were isolated from 2 of 39 terrapins. Fecal coliform numbers are used to regulate shellfish harvests, and diamondback terrapins inhabit the brackish-water habitats where oyster beds are found; therefore, these findings have implications for the efficacy of current regulatory parameters in shellfishing waters.

scholarly journals Introduced delicacy or native species? A natural origin of Bermudian terrapins supported by fossil and genetic data

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F Parham ◽  
Mark E Outerbridge ◽  
Bryan L Stuart ◽  
David B Wingate ◽  
Helmut Erlenkeuser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Diamondback Terrapin ◽  
Malaclemys Terrapin ◽  
Natural Distribution ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Marine Reptile

Humans have greatly altered the natural distribution of species, making it difficult to distinguish between natural and introduced populations. This is a problem for conservation efforts because native or introduced status can determine whether a species is afforded protection or persecuted as an invasive pest. Holocene colonization events are especially difficult to discern, particularly when the species in question is a naturally good disperser and widely transported by people. In this study, we test the origin of such a species, the diamondback terrapin ( Malaclemys terrapin ), on Bermuda using a combination of palaeontologic (fossil, radiometric and palaeoenvironmental) and genetic data. These lines of evidence support the hypothesis that terrapins are relatively recent (between 3000 and 400 years ago) natural colonizers of Bermuda. The tiny population of Bermudian terrapins represents the second naturally occurring non-marine reptile that still survives on one of the most densely populated and heavily developed oceanic islands in the world. We recommend that they should be given protection as a native species.

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