Literaturdatenbank
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Calichio, A. M., Burke, R. L., & Hazard, L. C. , Analysis of diamondback terrapin (malaclemys terrapin) hatchling adaptations to marine and terrestrial habitats. Unpublished paper presented at 6th Symposium on the Ecology, Status & Conservation of Diamondback Terrapins.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:10:34 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: Calichio2013 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Geoemydidae, Heosemys annandalii, Heosemys depressa, Heosemys grandis, Heosemys spinosa, Physiologie - physiology, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, Siebenrockiella leytensis Creators: Burke, Calichio, Hazard Collection: 6th Symposium on the Ecology, Status & Conservation of Diamondback Terrapins |
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| Abstract |
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The Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are a threatened keystone turtle that inhabits salt marshes of the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Knowledge of the early life history, especially salinity tolerance and terrestrial overwintering, are vital to conservation efforts. Previous research has produced anecdotal evidence of hatchling terrestrial overwintering, occurring perhaps more frequently than any other aquatic turtle. Terrapins and other emydid turtles have lachrymal glands used in osmotic regulation; however the ability of hatchlings to survive in various salinity environments is poorly understood. Immediately after hatching terrapin hatchlings were raised in six laboratory treatments of differing salinities (0.0, 1.0, 4.5, 9.0, 12.0, 18.0ppt) and others in a terrestrial habitat. Over the subsequent year hatchlings were tested for desiccation tolerance, salinity tolerance, and habitat preferences to detect ontogenetic changes. The hatchlings in moderately brackish water (4.5 and 9.0 ppt) experienced the greatest growth. Hatchlings in the terrestrial habitat had the lowest mortality, while those in the 0.0 ppt treatment were the highest. Both the desiccation and salinity tolerances were influenced by treatment; the terrestrial hatchlings being more desiccation-tolerant and the 18ppt hatchlings were more salinity-tolerant. The other treatments developed tolerance with age; however tolerance did not drastically increase overall for the hatchlings. Habitat preferences indicated a high affinity for terrestrial habitats across all treatments and a tendency for specimens from lower salinity treatment to prefer higher salinities and vice-versa. Our results suggest that terrapin hatchlings are physiologically flexible and can readily acclimate to a variety of diverse habitats.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |