Literaturdatenbank
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Selman, W., & Qualls, C. P. , The impacts of hurricane katrina on a population of yellow-blotched sawback turtles (graptemys flavimaculata): an aquatic perspective. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 22:23:55 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Selman2006a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Graptemys, Graptemys flavimaculata, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Qualls, Selman Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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The yellow-blotched sawback turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata) is a freshwater aquatic turtle that is endemic to the Pascagoula River system of southern Mississippi, USA. Population declines led to Federal listing as a threatened species in 1991, with the most robust population inhabiting the lower Pascagoula River in the vicinity of Vancleave, MS (approx. 24 river km from the Pascagoula River mouth). During the spring and summer of 2005, this population was the focus of an endocrinological /genetic study. In addition, turtles were paint marked after capture in order to get a current population estimate of G. flavimaculata in the study area. On August 30, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including our study site. This offered a great opportunity to understand the response of G. flavimaculata to one of the most severe natural perturbations in recorded history. This included approximately 190+ kph winds with a 3.6 to 4.5 m storm surge in the study area. In addition to the surge, the river remained at 3.0+ gauge m for 13 days, with normal river levels prior to the storm between 0.9 to 1.2 gauge m. On October 13, 2005, a one hour visual survey by boat through the study area yielded 8 individuals that were paint marked pre- Katrina. These turtles were spotted within the same areas where they were originally marked. For the visual surveys, the Schnabel population estimator was used and indicated a population size of 1203 (2339.1 to 732.0, 95% CI) individuals in a 2 km section of river. We now know that individuals were able to cope throughout the storm, as well as being able to maintain connection to their home range. One issue that is yet to be resolved is the impact of the storm surge (saltwater intrusion) on the food base of G. flavimaculata, which includes gastropods and other aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Added by: Admin |