(Photo by Adam Mann)

    Overview

For the past 50 years, there has been little research done on the genus Graptemys in West Virginia.  In fact there is not a single published research paper on this genus in the state, even though there are populations in at least 7 river systems in West Virginia (Green & Pauley, 1987) A juvenile specimen of Graptemys o. ouachitensis, the Ouachita Map Turtle was recently found in the Kanawha River (T. Pauley, Marshall University).  This is the only the second known occurrence of this species statewide.  The first recorded occurrence was in the 1950s in the Little Kanawha River (T. Pauley, Marshall University).  Whether this was a natural dispersal, a relict population or a release from another state has yet to be determined.  One of the goals of this study is to determine whether there is indeed a population of G. o. ouachitensis in West Virginia, and if so, its distribution, basic life history and behavior.  Additionally, I will also examine the distribution, life history and behavior of populations of G. geographica in West Virginia. 

    Objectives

The primary objective of this research project is to study the natural history, distribution, and behavior of the Graptemys genus in West Virginia.  One goal is to determine whether there is indeed a population of G. o. ouachitensis in the state and if so, then to elucidate its range and basic life history.  Additionally, information regarding basking behaviors and habitat preferences of the genera will be studied and recorded.  This proposed research will elucidate some basic questions pertaining to the natural history and ecology of Graptemys and will help to provide insight into the management of this genus in West Virginia. 

    Study Area

The proposed study area will include major representative rivers of West Virginia, including the Guyandotte River, Kanawha River, Little Kanawha River, Gauley River, New River, Bluestone River, Greenbrier River, West Fork River, Cheat River and Monongahela River.  These rivers were selected for several factors: 1) They are large with sections of slow moving water that may be ideal habitat for Map Turtles, 2) they flow through counties with known records of Graptemys occurrences, 3) the availability of public boat launching sites and 4) combined overall distribution throughout the state. 

    Methods

During March of 2003, time will be spent surveying sites to determine their feasibility in the study and final site selections will be based on ease of river access, suitable habitat and time constraints.  Surveying will begin on these sites by April of 2003.  Survey techniques include live capture with traps such as fyke nets, hoop traps and basking traps according to the methods described in available literature (Chaney, 1950, Frazer, Gibbons, Owens, 1989, Vogt, 1980).  Hoop traps will be baited with canned sardines.  Four days will be allotted for each survey site, with the first day spent selecting optimal sites and setting traps.  Traps will be left overnight for 3 consecutive nights and checked once a day for a total of 72 hours of trapping effort for each trap.  Care will be taken to allow for air space in each trap to prevent accidental drowning of turtles. Traps will be dismantled and removed on the fourth day.  In addition to traps, live capture will also be attempted using large dip nets from the boat, by wading in shallow water and with the aid of snorkeling and/or diving gear in deeper waters (Carr, 1942, Chaney, 1950, Lindeman, 1999, Pluto & Bellis, 1988). 

            Measurements of size, weight, sex, and age class will be recorded for all Graptemys species captured.  Environmental parameters will be taken from each site turtles are captured.  These parameters will include, but are not limited to: water pH, turbidity, cloud cover, wind velocity, relative humidity, water and air temperature, water depth, stream width, predominant vegetation, basking object, occurrence of other animals on the same basking object and distance of the basking object from shore.  These measurements will be statistically analyzed in an effort to understand habitat preferences and interspecific and intraspecific behaviors of Graptemys in the state.

    Citations

Boyer, D.R. 1965. Ecology of the basking turtle. Ecology 46(1/2): 99-118.

Burke, V.J., et al. 2000.  Conservation of freshwater turtles. Pages 156-179 in M.W. Klemens (ed.).

Turtle Conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

 

Carr, A., L.T. Marchand. 1942. A new turtle from the Chipola River, Florida. Proceedings of the New

England Zoological Club, 20: 95-100.

 

Chaney, A. 1950. Methods for collecting map turtles. Copeia 4: 323-324.

 

Dundee, H. A. 1974. Evidence for the specific status of Graptemys kohni  and Graptemys

 pseudogeographica. Copeia 2: 540-542.

 

Ernst, C.H, J.E. Lovich, R.W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian

Institution Press, Washington, DC. 

 

Frazer, N.B., Gibbons, J.W. Owens, T.J. 1990. Turtle trapping: Preliminary test of conventional wisdom.

            Copeia 4: 1150-1152. 

 

Fuselier, L, D. Edds. 1994. Habitat partitioning among three sympatric species of map turtles, genus

Graptemy. Journal of Herpetology 28(2): 154-158.

 

Jenkins, J. D. 1978. Notes on the courship of the map turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica (Gray)

(Reptilia, testudines, emydidae) Journal of Herpetology 13(1): 129.131.

 

Kirkpatrick, D.T. 1993. An overview of the map turtle of the United States. Reptile & Amphibian

Magazine. November/December: 6-17.

 

Klemens, M.W. 2000. From information to action: Developing more effective strategies to conserve

turtles. Pages 239-258 in M.W. Klemens (ed.). Turtle Conservation. Smithsonian Institution

Press, Washington, DC.

 

Lindeman, P.V. 1999.  Of deadwood and Map Turtles (Graptemys): An analysis of species status for five

            species on 3 river drainages using replicated spotting-scope counts of basking turtles.  Chelonian

            Conservation and Biology 3(1). 

 

Lindeman, P.V. 1999. Aggressive interactions during basking among four species of Emydid turtle.

Journal of Herpetology 33(2): 214-219.

 

Mitchell, J.C., M.W. Klemens. 2000. Primary and secondary effects of habitat alteration. Pages 5-

32 in M.W. Klemens (ed.). Turtle Conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

 

Mitchell, J.C. 1994. The reptiles of Virginia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Pages 98-100.  

 

Moll, E. O., D. Moll. 2000. Conservation of river turtles.  Pages 126-155 in M.W. Klemens (ed.). Turtle

Conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

 

Pauley, T.K., M.B. Watson. 2000. Amphibian, reptiles and birds of the Great Kanawha River.  Report to

the US Army Corp of Engineers. 

 

Pluto, T.G., E.D. Bellis. 1986. Habitat utilization by the turtle, Graptemys geographica, along a river.

Journal of Herpetology 20(1): 22-31.

 

Pluto, T.G. E.D. Bellis. 1988. Seasonal and annual movements of riverine Map Turtles, Graptemys

geographica. Journal of Herpetology 22(2): 152-158.

 

Thorbjarnarson, J., et al. 2000.  Human uses of turtles: A worldwide perspectives.  Pages 33-84 in

M.W. Klemens (ed.). Turtle Conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

 

Vogt, R.C. 1980. New methods for trapping aquatic turtles. Copeia 2: 368-371.

 

Vogt, R.C. 1981. Food partitioning in three sympatric species of map turtle, genus Graptemys

(Testudinata, Emydidae). The American Midland Naturalist 105(1): 101-111.

 

Vogt, R.C. 1984. Ecology of hatchling sex ratio in map turtles. Ecology 65(2): 582-587.

 

Vogt, R.C. 1974. Observation on the courtship of male Graptemys pseudogeographica. Journal of

Herpetology 8(4): 376-377.

   For more information, please e-mail: phu1@marshall.edu     

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Field Pictures of Past Research

Herpetofauna Inventory of Fire Island National Seashore, Wildlife Conservation Society

Long Island, New York, Summer 2002

 

Sea Turtle Index Nesting Beach Surveys, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

North Palm Beach, Florida, Summer 2001