Basking Activity is Modulated by Health State but is Constrained by Conspicuousness to Predators in Male Spanish Terrapins

Ibáñez, Alejandro; Marzal, Alfonso; González-Blázquez, Manuel; López, Pílar; Martı́n, José

doi:10.1111/eth.12342

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…If warmer ponds also had fewer basking spots than cooler ponds, the costs of finding a basking location would increase while the benefit of basking would decrease. Not basking may also have the added benefit of reducing predation risk to terrestrial predators (Ibáñez et al ). Having fewer basking sites coupled with reduced need to bask could thus increase the proportion of adult females by reducing predation associated with basking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of urbanization on the population structure of freshwater turtles across the United States

Bowne

Cosentino

Anderson

et al. 2018

Conservation Biology

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Landscape-scale alterations that accompany urbanization may negatively affect the population structure of wildlife species such as freshwater turtles. Changes to nesting sites and higher mortality rates due to vehicular collisions and increased predator populations may particularly affect immature turtles and mature female turtles. We hypothesized that the proportions of adult female and immature turtles in a population will negatively correlate with landscape urbanization. As a collaborative effort of the Ecological Research as Education Network (EREN), we sampled freshwater turtle populations in 11 states across the central and eastern United States. Contrary to expectations, we found a significant positive relationship between proportions of mature female painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and urbanization. We did not detect a relationship between urbanization and proportions of immature turtles. Urbanization may alter the thermal environment of nesting sites such that more females are produced as urbanization increases. Our approach of creating a collaborative network of scientists and students at undergraduate institutions proved valuable in terms of testing our hypothesis over a large spatial scale while also allowing students to gain hands-on experience in conservation science.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of urbanization on the population structure of freshwater turtles across the United States

Bowne

Cosentino

Anderson

et al. 2018

Conservation Biology

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“…Basking promotes a number of health parameters in ectotherms. Male Spanish terrapins ( Mauremys leprosa ) infected with Hepatozoon were more likely to be found basking (Ibáñez et al, 2015). Basking, however, is a more vulnerable position from a predation standpoint.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality in Zoo-Hatched Blanding’s Turtles Affects Behavior and Survival After Reintroduction Into the Wild

Allard¹,

Fuller²,

Torgerson-White³

et al. 2019

Front. Psychol.

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Reintroduction programs in which captive-bred or reared animals are released into natural habitats are considered a key approach for conservation; however, success rates have generally been low. Accounting for factors that enable individual animals to have a greater chance of survival can not only improve overall conservation outcomes but can also impact the welfare of the individual animals involved. One such factor may be individual personality, and personality research is a growing field. We designed a project to ascertain the presence of personality traits in Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), a species of special concern in the state of Michigan, and to assess potential links between traits and post-release success. As hypothesized, the Blanding’s turtles in this study displayed behavioral responses to modified open field tests indicative of distinct personality traits: exploration, boldness, and aggression. Additionally, the personality traits were correlated differently with survival and behavior patterns when the turtles were released into the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. More exploratory turtles had higher survival rates, while neither boldness nor aggression was related to survival. Exploratory turtles were also more likely to travel longer distances after release. The use of muskrat dens was related to increased survival, and both bolder and more exploratory turtles made higher use of this feature. Exploratory and aggressive turtles were found basking outside of water more often, while bold turtles were more likely to be found at the water surface. Both these basking behaviors may increase the risk of predation and may be reflective of a trade-off between the risk and behaviors related to physiological health. Understanding how personality affects behavior and survival post-release can be a critical tool for improving reintroduction success. Zoo animal welfare scientists and practitioners can implement approaches that improve the welfare of individuals within the context of conservation initiatives.

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“…Hepatozoon (Coccidia: Hepatozoidae) demonstrate higher levels of basking activity and have lower leukocyte volumes than unparasitized individuals. Ibáñez et al (2015) suggested that increased basking may serve to strengthen immune systems in parasitized individuals; they further noted that males with bright limb stripe coloration bask less than those more conspicuously colored, and suggest that color conspicuity may increase predation risk for parasitized individuals.…”

Section: 11mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mauremys leprosa (Schoepff in Schweigger 1812) – Mediterranean Pond Turtle, Spanish Terrapin, Mediterranean Stripe-necked Terrapin

Bertolero¹,

Busack²

2017

Chelonian Research Monographs

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The Mediterranean Pond Turtle, Mauremys leprosa (Family Geoemydidae) is a small to medium-sized freshwater turtle (carapace length up to ca. 210 mm in males, 240 mm in females), widely distributed in North Africa and across the Strait of Gibraltar to the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. Our current understanding of the species' evolutionary history involves complex patterns of population origination, dispersion, extinction, evolution into two major lineages (each with three sublineages), and human-assisted transport. Populations in North Africa are often isolated from one another by intervening arid terrain, and a complex pattern of local variation in shell markings has occurred. Mauremys leprosa tolerates salt water, and has a high tolerance for polluted freshwater habitats, reduced water levels, and elevated ambient temperatures; carnivorous by preference, it will also feed freely upon vegetation and has been reported ingesting nitrogenous animal and human waste. Nesting occurs once annually in most populations, with mean clutch size ranging from 3.8 to 9.6 eggs, depending on the population, with the incubation period also variable, from 55-108 days in Europe to 25-30 days in Africa, the shorter period there perhaps as a response to irregular and brief pluvial periods under very arid conditions.diStribution.

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Basking Activity is Modulated by Health State but is Constrained by Conspicuousness to Predators in Male Spanish Terrapins

Cited by 13 publications

References 65 publications

Effects of urbanization on the population structure of freshwater turtles across the United States

Effects of urbanization on the population structure of freshwater turtles across the United States

Personality in Zoo-Hatched Blanding’s Turtles Affects Behavior and Survival After Reintroduction Into the Wild

Mauremys leprosa (Schoepff in Schweigger 1812) – Mediterranean Pond Turtle, Spanish Terrapin, Mediterranean Stripe-necked Terrapin

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