Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska
Aquatic habitats in the Great Plains of North America have increased risk of droughts under climate forecasts. Droughts have the potential to influence the population dynamics of pond turtles, and long-term studies are useful to assess the impact of climatic variation on turtles. We compiled twelve...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/597 |
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| author | Allyson N. Beard Larkin A. Powell |
| author_facet | Allyson N. Beard Larkin A. Powell |
| author_sort | Allyson N. Beard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aquatic habitats in the Great Plains of North America have increased risk of droughts under climate forecasts. Droughts have the potential to influence the population dynamics of pond turtles, and long-term studies are useful to assess the impact of climatic variation on turtles. We compiled twelve years of mark-recapture data for painted turtles (<i>Chrysemys picta</i>) captured in a pond in Keith County, Nebraska during 2005–2016 that included two periods of drought. We used a robust design analysis to investigate influences on population size, annual survival, temporary immigration, and capture probability. Estimates of the annual population size ranged from 92 (CI: 90–94) to 180 (CI: 175–186) but did not vary with drought conditions. Despite a relatively stable depth of water in our study pond, the probability of annual survival was reduced by 0.07 in females and 0.10 in males during drought years. Approximately one-fifth (temporary emigration probability: 0.19, CI = 0.16–0.23) of the population was outside the study pond at any given time. Our long-term research provides insights into the potential challenges to turtles in aquatic habitats undergoing prolonged changes in long-term climate conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:47:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8503ceaafd8b40749a4ce0c78c9c8879 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:47:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-8503ceaafd8b40749a4ce0c78c9c88792023-11-18T01:06:06ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-04-0115559710.3390/d15050597Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western NebraskaAllyson N. Beard0Larkin A. Powell1School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583-0974, USASchool of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583-0974, USAAquatic habitats in the Great Plains of North America have increased risk of droughts under climate forecasts. Droughts have the potential to influence the population dynamics of pond turtles, and long-term studies are useful to assess the impact of climatic variation on turtles. We compiled twelve years of mark-recapture data for painted turtles (<i>Chrysemys picta</i>) captured in a pond in Keith County, Nebraska during 2005–2016 that included two periods of drought. We used a robust design analysis to investigate influences on population size, annual survival, temporary immigration, and capture probability. Estimates of the annual population size ranged from 92 (CI: 90–94) to 180 (CI: 175–186) but did not vary with drought conditions. Despite a relatively stable depth of water in our study pond, the probability of annual survival was reduced by 0.07 in females and 0.10 in males during drought years. Approximately one-fifth (temporary emigration probability: 0.19, CI = 0.16–0.23) of the population was outside the study pond at any given time. Our long-term research provides insights into the potential challenges to turtles in aquatic habitats undergoing prolonged changes in long-term climate conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/597aquatic ecology<i>Chrysemys picta</i>climate changelong-term studymark-recapturemovement |
| spellingShingle | Allyson N. Beard Larkin A. Powell Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska Diversity aquatic ecology <i>Chrysemys picta</i> climate change long-term study mark-recapture movement |
| title | Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska |
| title_full | Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska |
| title_fullStr | Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska |
| title_short | Drought Influences Annual Survival of Painted Turtles in Western Nebraska |
| title_sort | drought influences annual survival of painted turtles in western nebraska |
| topic | aquatic ecology <i>Chrysemys picta</i> climate change long-term study mark-recapture movement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/597 |
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