Ecological Aspects of a Wood Turtle, Glyptemys insculpta, Population at the Northern Limit of its Range in Québec

Authors

  • Andrew D. Walde St. Lawrence Valley Natural History Society, 21125 chemin Ste.-Marie, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3Y7
  • J. Roger Bider St. Lawrence Valley Natural History Society, 21125 chemin Ste.-Marie, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3Y7
  • Claude Daigle Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec, Direction de la recherche sur la faune, 675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, Québec, Québec G1R 5V7
  • Denis Masse Parcs Canada, Parc national de la Mauricie, 2141, chemin Saint-Paul, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc, Québec G0X 1N0
  • Jean-Claude Bourgeois Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec, Direction de l'aménagement de la faune de la Mauricie, 5575, rue Saint-Joseph, Trois-Rivières, Québec G8Z 4L7
  • Jacques Jutras Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec, Direction du développement de la faune, 675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, Québec, Québec G1R 5V7
  • Rodger D. Titman Department of Natural Resources, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v117i3.739

Keywords:

Wood Turtle, Glyptemys insculpta, Emydidae, morphology, density, ecology, Québec

Abstract

As part of a conservation research initiative, a population of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) at the northern limit of its range was studied to ascertain characteristics of its demographics, morphometrics, density, mortality, feeding, and mating activities. Turtles were captured and marked during the activity period in 1996 and 1997. In addition, 20 individuals were radio-tracked weekly. A total of 188 turtles was captured and the size of the population in the study area was estimated at 238 turtles. The estimated population density based on this calculation is 0.44 turtles/ha. This is less than other studies indicating that population densities are greater in southern populations. Turtles from this population were large (carapace length of males=214.5 ± 4.21 mm, females=201.1 ± 10.88 mm) which supports the hypothesis that turtle size is negatively correlated with number of frost free days. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. Juvenile turtles accounted for 31.4% of the population. Observations of feeding habits support the claim that Wood Turtles are opportunistic omnivores. Of the 35 mating or courtship events observed, 77 % occurred in the fall and half of them between 11:00 and 13:00. Although limb and tail injuries and parasites were observed on many turtles, no dead turtles were observed. This last result, combined with the high rate of recruitment and even sex ratio suggests that this population is stable, making it an ideal population with which to make comparisons with other studies in areas where the species could be in decline.

Author Biography

Andrew D. Walde, St. Lawrence Valley Natural History Society, 21125 chemin Ste.-Marie, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3Y7

Department of Natural Resources, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue,
Québec H9X 3V9 Canada

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