Literaturdatenbank
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Louque, I., Huntzinger, C., Lyons, E., & Selman, W. , The sabine map turtle (graptemys sabinensis) in southwestern louisiana: A comparison of populations and morphology in three river systems - abstract. Unpublished paper presented at Program and Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:11:49 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: Louque2013 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises Creators: Huntzinger, Louque, Lyons, Selman Collection: Program and Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles |
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| Abstract |
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Very little knowledge exists of the turtle community in the three major watersheds in southwestern Louisiana. Among the least known of these is the Sabine Map Turtle (Graptemys sabinensis) which has been recorded in the Sabine-Neches river drainage in east Texas and its border with Louisiana, as well as the Calcasieu and Mermentau River drainages in southwestern Louisiana. Due to the need to collect baseline data on G. sabinensis, we initiated fine scale trapping and mark-resight studies at two sites in each river system. Sabine Map Turtles were permanently marked with drill holes and measured. During the fall and spring, at least ten G. sabinensis were pain marked and resighting occurred on the following days. The highest population densities occurred in the lower reaches of the Mermentau River and the West Fork of the Calcasieu while the lowest population densities occurred at the Sabine River near Deweyville, TX and the East Fork of the Calcasieu. Sabine Map Turtles were more numerous at sites with stable water levels than those with rapidly changing ones. Across our sites, G. sabinensis exhibit morphological differences related to different and altered water conditions. Females in the West Fork of the Calcasieu have larger head widths compared to all other sites, likely due to their diet consisting of higher volumes of the False Mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata. Male claw lengths are longer in slower moving rivers and shorter in fast flowing rivers. Graptemys sabinensis seems to have adapted in diet and morphology to a variety of changing river conditions.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |