Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Wood, R. H., & Hernandez, D. , Ecology and behavior of the mangrove terrapin (malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum) in key west national wildlife refuge, fl (usa). Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (01 Jan 2009 23:10:50 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Wood2007 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat = habitat, Malaclemys, Malaclemys terrapin, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Hernandez, Wood Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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Mangrove terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum) have by far the smallest range of any of the seven described subspecies of diamondback terrapin. This subspecies was first described by H.W. Fowler in 1906 on the basis of a single adult female discovered on the island of Boca Grande (now part of Key West National Wildlife Refuge) in the southwestern most Florida Keys. No further scientific studies were undertaken until the early 1980’s, when a comprehensive survey of islands in the lower Florida Keys provided the first reliable information about the distribution and abundance of mangrove terrapins. Hundreds of terrapins were marked during the surveys of the early 1980’s, especially at the eastern end of Barracouta Key, which supports the densest population in the lower Keys. Field work has since continued on an intermittent basis. The region took a direct hit from Hurricane Georges in 1998, and then again by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005. For the past three years, a team from the Wetlands Institute has returned to Key West National Wildlife Refuge to revisit all the islands where terrapins had previously been discovered. Hurricane damage has been severe on the islands (Barracouta and Boca Grande) where the greatest numbers of mangrove terrapins have been found. Nonetheless, the population of mangrove terrapins in the lower Keys does not appear to have been significantly altered since the early 1980’s. Terrapins originally marked then have continued to be recovered, thus establishing the best longevity data for any population of diamondback terrapins range wide.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |