Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec
The effects of agricultural development on wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) were investigated in Quebec during 1994 and 1995. Age structures, growth, and mutilation rates were compared between an agricultural population and a reference site in an undisturbed forest. Turtles in the 0-4 year age class...
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McGill University
1997
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ndltd-LACETR-oai-collectionscanada.gc.ca-QMM.274032014-02-13T04:06:49ZGrowth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern QuébecSaumure, Raymond A.Wood turtle -- Habitat -- Québec (Province).Wood turtle -- Growth.Wood turtle -- Wounds and injuries -- Québec (Province).Wood turtle -- Age.The effects of agricultural development on wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) were investigated in Quebec during 1994 and 1995. Age structures, growth, and mutilation rates were compared between an agricultural population and a reference site in an undisturbed forest. Turtles in the 0-4 year age class were absent from samples taken at the agricultural site. Overall, 23% less juveniles were encountered at the agricultural site. In addition, relatively fewer adults were captured from the 20+ age class. Shell injuries were twice as common at the agricultural site when compared to the forest site; whereas, limb amputations were twice as frequent at the forest site. Although shell injuries inflicted by predators occurred with similar frequencies at both sites, there were 2.7 times more fractures resulting from anthropogenic sources at the agricultural site. Multiple limb loss occurred only at the forest site. Tail amputations occurred with similar frequencies at both sites. Casts of pleural scute annuli revealed that turtles at the agricultural site had significantly lower growth rates during their second decade of life. Females at the forest site were significantly larger for all measurements recorded; whereas, males differed only with respect to carapace and plastron lengths. Agricultural development may have resulted in reduced growth, recruitment, and predation rates, as well as increased adult mortality.McGill UniversityBider, J. Roger (advisor)1997Electronic Thesis or Dissertationapplication/pdfenalephsysno: 001574898proquestno: MQ29779Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.Master of Science (Department of Natural Resource Sciences.) http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=27403 |
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en |
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Wood turtle -- Habitat -- Québec (Province). Wood turtle -- Growth. Wood turtle -- Wounds and injuries -- Québec (Province). Wood turtle -- Age. |
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Wood turtle -- Habitat -- Québec (Province). Wood turtle -- Growth. Wood turtle -- Wounds and injuries -- Québec (Province). Wood turtle -- Age. Saumure, Raymond A. Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec |
description |
The effects of agricultural development on wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) were investigated in Quebec during 1994 and 1995. Age structures, growth, and mutilation rates were compared between an agricultural population and a reference site in an undisturbed forest. Turtles in the 0-4 year age class were absent from samples taken at the agricultural site. Overall, 23% less juveniles were encountered at the agricultural site. In addition, relatively fewer adults were captured from the 20+ age class. Shell injuries were twice as common at the agricultural site when compared to the forest site; whereas, limb amputations were twice as frequent at the forest site. Although shell injuries inflicted by predators occurred with similar frequencies at both sites, there were 2.7 times more fractures resulting from anthropogenic sources at the agricultural site. Multiple limb loss occurred only at the forest site. Tail amputations occurred with similar frequencies at both sites. Casts of pleural scute annuli revealed that turtles at the agricultural site had significantly lower growth rates during their second decade of life. Females at the forest site were significantly larger for all measurements recorded; whereas, males differed only with respect to carapace and plastron lengths. Agricultural development may have resulted in reduced growth, recruitment, and predation rates, as well as increased adult mortality. |
author2 |
Bider, J. Roger (advisor) |
author_facet |
Bider, J. Roger (advisor) Saumure, Raymond A. |
author |
Saumure, Raymond A. |
author_sort |
Saumure, Raymond A. |
title |
Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec |
title_short |
Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec |
title_full |
Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec |
title_fullStr |
Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec |
title_full_unstemmed |
Growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in southern Québec |
title_sort |
growth, mutilation, and age structure of two populations of wood turtles (clemmys insculpta) in southern québec |
publisher |
McGill University |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=27403 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT saumureraymonda growthmutilationandagestructureoftwopopulationsofwoodturtlesclemmysinsculptainsouthernquebec |
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1716645387949834240 |