This year’stheme, Resilience: Protecting Turtles in a Changing World,speakstoboththeenduranceofturtlesin the face of mounting environmental threats andthedeterminationofthepeopleworkingtosafeguardtheirfuture. As threats such ashabitatdestruction,climatechange,illegaltrade,andemergingdiseasescontinuetoreshapethe landscapes turtles inhabit, resilience becomes not justatraitofthespecieswestudy,butaqualitythatdefinesour conservationcommunityaswell.
During our Annual Awards Banquet, we’ll celebrate Arthur Georges, recipient of the 2025 Behler Turtle Conservation Award, for his pioneering work through the University of Canberra and across Australasia.We’ll also honor our 2025 Pritchard Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, including John Carr, Dave Collins, and Ross Kiester from theUnitedStates,andTintLwinfromMyanmar,fortheirenduringcontributionstoturtle biologyandconservation.
Don’t miss our special screening of The Last Spotted Turtles of New England,followedbyaQ&Asessionwith its acclaimedfilmmakerAriTaub.Forhands-onlearning,joinourseriesoffourback-to-backworkshopsledby Dave Collins, Scott Trageser, Nathan Haislip,andtheHumanNatureGroup.Andforthoseinterestedinfield veterinary techniques, Zoe Mack and Bonnie Raphael will lead a wet lab on field necropsies and sample handling.
When it’s time to unwind, take a scenic walk through the Tennessee Aquarium’s River Journey or enjoy a Friday afternoon visit to the Chattanooga Zoo. And don’t forget to connect with colleagues old and new at the IcebreakerSocial.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our presenting sponsor, the Tennessee Aquarium, as well as all of our sponsors and contributors. We’re also gratefultoourhostvenues,theChattanoogaMarriottDowntownandthe ChattanoogaConventionCenter,forhelpingmakethisgatheringpossible.
Author. 2025. Title. In J. Gray and C. Rinn (Eds.). Program and Abstracts of the Twenty-third Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles. Turtle Survival Alliance, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. pp. xx–xx.
OurProgramCommitteehascuratedanexceptionallineupofspeakers,blendingexperiencedauthoritieswithpromising youngscholarstoofferbothestablishedknowledgeandfreshperspectivesonresearchandconservationstrategies.A highlightisthekeynoteaddress, Working with Animals,byNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorandwildlifeadvocateBradley TrevorGreive.Hispresentationwillexplorethecomplexchallengesconservationistsface,includingthepersonalitiesthat shape,andattimestest,ourfield.
Unexpected,butmostwelcome,thisyear’ssymposiumwillhavequitethe“Aussie”influence,withtenoralpresentations focusingonresearchandconservationeffortsforAustralia’sturtles.Amongthemis Conservation Ecology and Research Priorities for Australian Freshwater Turtles,co-presentedbyrenownedAustralianturtlebiologistsDeborahBowerand ArthurGeorges.Furthermore,weareexcitedtohostabook-signingeventfeaturinganincrediblelineupofauthors,including renownedturtleconservationistsAnthonyPierloni,WhitGibbons,JeffreyLovich,TraceyTuberville,andKurtBuhlmann, alongsiderisingyoungadvocatesParkerGibbonsandElijahMackey.We’reconfidentyou’llwanttoseizethisopportunityto addautographedcopiesoftheirbookstoyourcollection.
Inadditiontothisyear’sexcitinglineup,thesymposiumfeaturesthenewlyreleased Turtles in Trouble: The World’s Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles.PublishedbytheTurtleConservationCoalition,thisglobalreport,last releasedin2018,spotlightsspeciesfacingcriticalthreatstotheirsurvivalandservesasapowerful2025calltoactionfor theirconservation.
Forthefirsttimeinthehistoryofthe Annual Symposium on the Biology and Conservation of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles,wegatherinChattanooga,Tennessee,thefirstcityinNorthAmericatobedesignatedaNationalParkCity.Nestled alongtheTennesseeRiverinthefoothillsoftheSouthernAppalachians,Chattanoogaisavibrantcityknownforitsnatural beauty,outdooradventure,andrevitalizeddowntown.WithscenicviewsfromLookoutandSignalmountains,arichhistory, andathrivingartsandtechscene,ChattanoogablendsSoutherncharmwithaprogressivespirit.
ArthurisalsoamemberoftheAdvisoryReviewBoardfortheTurtleTaxonomyFund,amemberoftheTurtleTaxonomy WorkingGroup,andaco-authorofrecenteditionsofthe Turtles of the World Checklist and Atlas.Hewasrecentlyelecteda FellowoftheAustralianAcademyofScience.Heisawell-respectedmemberofourglobalchelonianconservationand biologycommunity,highlydeservingoftheBehlerTurtleConservationAward,andweareproudtohonorhimwiththis majorrecognition.
The Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN SSC TortoiseandFreshwaterTurtleSpecialistGroup(TFTSG)arecommittedto providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all volunteers and Symposium participants at both in-person meetings and onvirtualplatforms.IndividualsattendingtheSymposiumandassociatedeventshavearighttoanenvironment free from discrimination, bullying, inappropriate behavior, and harassment. These behaviors will not be tolerated at Symposium activities, including field trips associated with the Symposium (whether onsite or at a different venue), social events and those held at public or private facilities (including banquets). Each participant, including any speaker, poster presenter, exhibitor, or volunteer, any guest of a participant, any service provider and any Turtle Survival Alliance director, officer, employee, contractor or intern, and any TFTSG member will receive and must agree to abide by the terms of this Symposium Code of Conduct (Symposium Code) when registering for the Symposium. Participantsmayalsoberequiredto abidebyanyotherpoliciesorrulesinfurtheranceoftheSymposiumCodeannouncedattheSymposium.
Turtle Survival Alliance, the TFTSG, and the Symposium venue host reserve the right to change or alter the Symposium program or to remove a speaker, poster presenter, vendor and/or sponsor at any time. Anyone who has violated this Symposium Code in the past or who is violating this Symposium Code may be denied, or removed immediately from a speakingorpresentationopportunityandmaybesubjecttoothersanctionssetoutinthisCode.
This Symposium Code defines expected and unacceptable behavior at the Symposium and Symposium-associated events, both in-person and virtual, and the procedures for reporting and addressing unacceptable behavior (i.e., violations of the Symposium Code), including potential outcomes and consequences of unacceptable conduct. A violation of this Code may alsoconstituteaviolationofTurtleSurvivalAlliance’sCodeofEthics.
The Turtle Survival Alliance and TFTSG have zerotoleranceforanyformofdiscrimination,objectification,bullying or harassment, including without limitation sexual, sexual identity, and racial/ethnic harassment. Behavior that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another, so participants intheSymposiumandeventsmustusediscretion to ensure that their words and actions communicate respect for others. This is especially important for those in positionsof
Code of Conduct
seniority, as thoseinmorejuniororsubordinatepositionsmaybereluctanttoexpresstheirobjectionsordiscomfortregarding unwelcomebehaviorduetoarealorperceivedimbalanceofpower.
Participation in, or facilitation or promotion of, harassment, intimidation, or discriminatory behaviors at the Symposium in person, on virtual platforms or social media associated with the Symposium, or during other associated activities organized by Turtle SurvivalAllianceorTFTSGwillnotbetolerated.TheTurtleSurvivalAllianceandTFTSGreservetherighttotake any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including the immediate removal or blocking of individuals from virtual or socialmediaplatformsandthedeletionofcommentsfromthesame,ifcommentsorbehavioraredeemedtobeunacceptable.
Sexual harassment is unacceptable conduct of a sexual nature that makes a person feel uncomfortable. Harassment of any type,includingsexual,sexualidentityorracial/ethnicharassment,mayalsoviolateapplicableUSlaws.Examplesofbehavior constitutingsexualharassmentinclude,butarenotlimitedto:
Ifyoubelievethatyouoranyoneelseis,orisabouttobe,avictimofconductwhichiscriminalinnature,pleasecontactlocal law enforcementbycalling911andimmediatelynotifyfacilitysecurity.Whentimepermits,pleaseshareyourexperienceper thereportingproceduresetforthbelow.
If you believe that youoranyoneelseisthesubjectofconductofanysortthatmayviolatethisSymposiumCode,whetheror not it is conduct that may result, or did result, in notification of law enforcement or facility security, please report this by contactingthefollowingindividualsinpersonattheSymposiumorviaemailorphone:
Name:MarcDupuis-Desormeaux, President and CEO of the Turtle Survival Alliance
Email:marc@turtlesurvival.org
Mobilephone:647-221-1929
Name:HeatherLambert, Senior Operations Director of the Turtle Survival Alliance
Email:hlambert@turtlesurvival.org
Name:BeccaCozad, TSA Board Member
Email:racozad@gmail.com
Name:CraigStanford, Chair, TFTSG
Email:stanford@usc.edu
Mobilephone:863-317-5541
Mobilephone:281-331-5551
Mobilephone:626-497-0699
If your complaint is made against anyone who is a director, officer or employee of Turtle Survival Alliance, youmayfilea report under Turtle Survival Alliance’s Whistleblower Policy, which isavailableonitswebsite.TheTurtleSurvivalAlliance representative who receives the report of the complaint or concernhastheresponsibilitytoensurethatitisinvestigated.The reportermaychoosetoremainanonymous.
Violations of the Symposium Code should be reported to one of the above-named persons as soon as possible after the violation has occurred. If the report is verbal, the representative contacted may later request a written report. The report should include all the pertinent documentation needed for Turtle Survival Alliance, on behalf of itself and TFTSG, to investigate the violation (including but not limited to date, time, misconduct observed, name of the person accused, and names of others who may have witnessed the misconduct, and any visual or audio evidence of the violation). Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation or to the extent allowed by law.Allcomplaintswillbetreatedseriouslyandrespondedtoaspromptly aspossible.Actionstobetakenwillbediscussedbeforehandwiththevictimoftheviolation,whereverpossible.
Complaints will be handled with respect for the privacy of the victim and theallegedviolatorandwillbeconfidentialtothe extentpractical,giventhecircumstances.
If a complainant believesthattheviolationisofacriminalnature,TurtleSurvivalAlliancewillassistthevictim,ifrequested, in notifying legal authorities. If the victim does not believe that the complaint is of a criminal nature, the Turtle Survival Alliancerepresentative(s)receivingthecomplaintwillcontactandlistentothevictimanddiscussnextsteps.
Turtle Survival Alliance, on behalf of itself and TFTSG, will employ a “Two Strikes” policy for most Symposium Code violations depending on the severity of the offense. Individuals will receive a verbal and/or written warning as described below for a first violation. Following the second violation, more severe consequences may be levied. An exception to this Two Strikes policy will be made when an egregious violation occurs (including, but not limited to, one that requires intervention by venue security or law enforcement). In such instances Turtle Survival Alliance, on behalf of itself and TFTSG,mayproceeddirectlytoRemoval,Rescission,orBarringParticipation.
TwoStrikePolicy:
Strike1:Warning
Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior isexpectedtocomplyimmediately;thisstrikewillbeconsidereda first“strike”warning.
Code of Conduct
A person who has engaged in unacceptable behavior may be warned of an alleged or actual Symposium Code violation at any time during the Symposium, or afterwards based on the timing of reporting andopportunityforan appropriateinvestigation.
Strike2:Removal,Rescission,orBarringParticipation
Upon egregious violation, or following a second incident of unacceptable behavior which constitutes a violation (i.e., the second “strike”), authorized officers or employees of Turtle Survival Alliance or venue security may take any action which, in their discretion, is deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal of the violator from the SymposiumwithoutwarningorrefundofanyamountspaidtoattendtheSymposiumorassociated fieldtripsorevents.TurtleSurvivalAlliancereservestherightto:
● Prohibit attendance by the violator at any future Symposium or any other Turtle Survival Alliance-organized orhostedevent,aswellasat,orin,anyTurtleSurvivalAllianceworkinggrouporother TurtleSurvivalAlliance-relatedactivity.
● Deny consideration of the violator for any award, endorsement, leadership role, or project assignment associatedwithTurtleSurvivalAlliance.
PERSONAL SAFETY
Turtle Survival Alliance works with venue staff to make sure that meeting participants are safe. If you believe thatyouor anyone else is in immediate danger at any time, please contact local law enforcement bycalling911andimmediately notifyfacilitysecurity
All participants shouldreportanyquestionableactivitytoaTurtleSurvivalAlliancedirector,officeroremployee,ortovenue security,forimmediateaction.Ifyouseesomething,saysomething.Asaparticipant:
● Beawareofyoursurroundingsatalltimes.
● Regardless of where you are, use the buddy system when walking to and from the Symposium venue and networkingevents,especiallyduringearlyorlatehours.
Turtle Survival Alliance - Opening Address and Global Update MARC DUPUIS-DESORMEAUX
8:25 TFTSG - Update CRAIG STANFORD
8:40
9:25
9:45
10:00
10:15
10:45
11:15
12:00
13:00
13:15
13:30
13:45
Workshop: Care and Recovery of Confiscated Turtles With David Collins
Workshop: Wildlife Photography With Scott Trageser
Break
Keynote Address: Working with Animals BRADLEY TREVOR GREIVE
Myanmar Program Update (2024-25): Endeavoring to Persevere Amid Chaos STEVEN PLATT
2025: Potentially a Very Significant Year for Turtle Regulations PETER PAUL VAN DIJK
Break & Posters
The Atlas of Turtle Genomes for Conservation (ATGC): From Concept to Action NATALIA GALLEGO-GARCÍA
Where Is This Turtle From (and Where Should I Release It)? BRAD SHAFFER
Conservation Ecology and Research Priorities for Australian Freshwater Turtles DEB BOWER AND ARTHUR GEORGES
Lunch 12:00 - 13:15
Workshop: 3D Printing and Photogrammetry
14:15
Wet Lab: Field Necropsies and Sample Collection/ Handling
A 2025 Monitoring Update on Reintroduced Radiated Tortoises in Southern Madagascar LANCE PADEN
The National Recovery and Conservation Action Plan for Kenya: 2025-2035 DOMINIC MARINGA
A Conservation Crisis: The Vallarta Mud Turtle TAGGERT BUTTERFIELD 14:00
Conservation Strategy for the Vallarta Mud Turtle at Guadalajara Zoo MARÍA MARTÍNEZ
14:30 Break & Posters
14:45
15:00
15:15
15:30
Group Experience with the Chattanooga Ducks
With Scott Trageser and Nathan Haislip Workshop: Behavior Change Campaigns for Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Conservation With Human Nature Group
A Global Framework for Community-Led Conservation RICKY SPENCER
Does a Lack of Juveniles Indicate a Threat? Understanding Body Size Distributions in Turtles DONALD MCKNIGHT
Turtles on the Edge: Regional Action and Innovation for Critically Endangered Species in the Burnett Mary Rivers TOM ESPINOZA
15:45 Wild, Rewilded, or Introduced? Defining Populations in IUCN Red List Assessments RICH BAXTER
16:00 Break
17:30
18:00
Icebreaker Social (Tennessee Aquarium) (18:00-21:00)
Drink Beer. Save Turtles.® Naked River Brewing Co. (18:00-22:00)
8:30
8:45
9:00
9:15
9:30
9:45
10:00
Wednesday July 23 – Banquet A
Morning Announcements
Down Under Chair: Deb Bower
Conservation of the Pig-Nosed Turtle in the Daly River, Australia
SEAN DOODY
Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms on Australian Freshwater Turtles
KYRA SULLY SULLIVAN*
The Ecology of Gulf Snapping Turtles and Diamond Head Turtles at Lawn Hill Gorge DEB BOWER
A Flood of Information: Impacts of Nest Inundation on Endangered Western Saw-Shelled Turtles
ERIC NORDBERG
Empowering the Next Generation: School-Based Turtle Conservation as a Scalable Model for Proactive Species Recovery
RICKY SPENCER AND WILLEM ROOSENBERG
Floating Islands, Basking Platforms, and Citizen Science Turtle Hubs as Next-Generation Monitoring Tools RICKY SPENCER
Wednesday July 23 – Banquet B
Morning Announcements
Ecology Under Pressure Chair: Michela Coury
Changes in Abundance of Three Turtle Species Associated With Degradation of a Spring-Fed River ETHAN HANCOCK
Southern River Terrapin: Ecological Movements and Survivorship SITHA SOM
Change in Habitat and Turtle Abundances on a Barrier Island After Consecutive Storm Surge Events in Southwest Florida CHRIS LECHOWICZ
Ecological and Morphological Shifts in Eastern Musk Turtles in Response to Invasive Snail Species in a Central Texas Spring Ecosystem ETHAN OWEN*
The Roles of Transient Dynamics and Environmental Variability in Persistence of Central American River Turtle Populations ROB KLINGER
Evaluating the Wood Turtle as an Umbrella Species for Riparian Biodiversity in Massachusetts MICHELA COURY
10:15 Break & Posters Break & Posters
10:30
10:45
11:00
11:15
11:30
11:45
12:00
13:15
Kinosternid Investigations Chair: Grover Brown
Ecology and Demography of Small- and Large-Bodied Sonora Mud Turtles in Two Isolated Mountain Ranges PAUL STONE
Life-History Trait Values of Small- and Large-Bodied Sonora Mud Turtles in Two Isolated Mountain Ranges JUSTIN CONGDON
Somatic Growth of Musk Turtles Across North America ZACHARY SIDERS
Deep in the Heart of depressus: A Bright Spot in a depressus Landscape SEAMUS O’BRIEN*
A Phylogenetic-Comparative Approach to Reproductive Traits in the Kinosternidae Family FERNANDO DANIEL ANTELO BARBOSA*
Demography of Jalisco Mud Turtle in an Urban Environment
RODRIGO MACIP-RÍOS
Lunch 12:00-13:15
Status Check Chair: Lauren Augustine
Assessing Population Structure and Conservation Priorities for the Western Pond Turtle on California Military Installations EMILY ASCHE*
13:30 Investigations Into the Range and Population Dynamics of Five Species of Kinosternids in Guatemala
13:45
14:00
14:15
14:30
LAUREN AUGUSTINE
Wetland Occupancy of Western Chicken Turtles in Oklahoma
ETHAN HOLLENDER*
Conservation Priorities for the Continental Turtles of Central America PATRICK MOLDOWAN
Assessing the Conservation Status of the Yucatan Box Turtle
CARLOS MAURICIO DELGADO MARTÍNEZ*
Break & Posters
Alligator Snapping Turtles Chair: Luke Pearson
14:45 Ecology of an Urban Population of Alligator Snapper Turtles
15:00
15:15
ANDREW COLEMAN
Capitalizing on Captivity: Insights From Years of Research on a Captive Breeding Population of Alligator Snapping Turtles
DENISE THOMPSON
Documenting Hook Ingestion and Clutch Size in the Alligator Snapping Turtle Using Metal Detector and Portable X-Ray
LUKE PEARSON
15:30 Oklahoma Alligator Snapping Turtle Distribution Surveys
15:45
17:00 - 19:00
DEREK BATEMAN*
Territoriality of Alligator Snapping Turtles
PATRICK DELISLE*
Shell Science Chair: Patrick Baker
Problems in Current Morphological Character Selection in the Analysis of Turtle Phylogeny ASHER LICHTIG
Multivariate Sexual Size Dimorphism in the Florida Softshell Turtle ERIC MUNSCHER
Turtles are Pareto Distributed ROSS KIESTER
Symbiotic Associations of Epizoic Autotrophs and Non-Marine Chelonians: Geography, Diversity, and Ecology PATRICK BAKER
Shallow Lakes and Deep Gorges: Are Morphotypes of Kuchling’s SnakeNecked Turtle Related to Different Growth Patterns? GERALD KUCHLING
The Utilization of Functional Traits in Determining Dissimilarities Between Freshwater Turtle Taxa LILLIAN SELF*
Lunch 12:00-13:15
Form, Function, and Fate Chair: Cara McElroy
Demographic, Dietary, and Growth Differentials of Two Blanding’s Turtle Populations ~20 km Apart in Eastern Massachusetts CARA MCELROY
Ancestral State Reconstruction of Aestivation in Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises
RAÚL LÓPEZ*
Age Structure, Relatedness, and Patterns of Parentage in Sierra Box Turtle TAGGERT BUTTERFIELD
Baby Got Bite: Defensive Kinematics of the Northern Giant Musk Turtle THOMAS ZAPLETAL*
Tripolitanian Tortoise: A New Taxon Discovered in the Pet Trade
STEPHEN POTERALA
Break & Posters
Beyond Biology Chair: Jamie Palmer
The World Book of Turtle Conservation
TONY MONAHAN
Ranavirus (Frog Virus 3) Identified in Missouri Turtle Species, With a Focus on Three-Toed Box Turtles
JAMIE PALMER
Characterizing Current and Potential Turtle Consumers: Identifying Drivers of Demand in the United States
ZOIE MCMILLIAN*
Keeping Turtles and Conservation Karma: An Ethical Dilemma
MICHAELA MULLEN
Ten Years of Post-Mortem Analysis Results at A Cupulatta Park, France
PIERRE MOISSON
Poster Session Social and Book Signings
20:00 - 21:30 Movie Night: Turtle Documentary Screening
* Student Considered for Student Awards Competition
8:30
8:45
9:00
9:15
9:30
9:45
10:00
10:15
10:30
10:45
11:00
11:15
11:30
11:45
13:15
13:30
13:45
Thursday July 24 – Banquet A
Morning Announcements
Integrated Approaches Chair: Christel Griffioen
Construction vs. Conservation: Hands-On Approach to Turtle Rescue
OLIVIA LOBALBO
Co-Development of Best Management Practices for Landowner Engagement With Eastern Box Turtle Conservation
TOM AKRE
Buddhist Monk Outreach for Turtle Conservation: Bridging Faith and Conservation
CHRISTEL GRIFFIOEN
Bringing Nature Back Into Business: Using Ecology to Enhance Economics Education
RACHEL BEHRMANN
Turtle Conservation Through Land Acquisition: The Case of Cuatro Ciénegas
CRAIG STANFORD
Chelonians of Jordan: Species Status and Threats to Their Habitats
ABEER BILBEISI
Thursday July 24 – Banquet B
Morning Announcements
Turtles of the Southeast Chair: Tabitha Hootman
Importance of Turtle Biodiversity in the Southeastern United States
MICHAEL SKIBSTED*
Ouacha” Doin’ Here? Distribution and Abundance of the Invasive Ouachita Map Turtle in the Coosa River
GROVER BROWN
The Status of Louisiana’s Reptile and Amphibian Regulations, With an Emphasis on Native Turtles
KERI LEJUENE
Preliminary Surveys of Eastern Chicken Turtles in Mississippi, and Future Study Goals
DAVID POUNDERS*
Gopher Tortoises Along Florida’s Roads: Pushed From Unsuitable Habitats or Spillover From Source Populations?
ELIJAH MCEUEN*
Movements of Two Cooters (Pseudemys) in a Spring-Fed System
TABITHA HOOTMAN AND ZACHARY SIDERS
Break & Posters Break & Posters
Eyes in the Field Chair: Ben Atkinson
Canine Conservationists: Tips on Training and Utilizing Detection Dogs to Protect Turtle Populations
THOMAS WILSON
Drones as a Viable Method of Conducting Basking Surveys and Collecting Habitat Data
NOAH DEVROS*
Knockin’ on Tortoise Doors: Coastal Gopher Tortoise Behavior and Community Ecology
ALEXANDER JANSZEN AND BENJAMIN ATKINSON
Assessing Española Giant Tortoise Introduction Impact on Santa Fe Island With Remote Sensing and Behavioral Models
CHARLES LEHNEN*
Quantifying the Largest Known Aggregation of Giant South American River Turtles with Drones and Mark-Resight Models
GERMÁN FORERO-MEDINA
Lunch 11:45 - 13:15
Seeing Spots Chair: Michael Dreslik
Assessing Silviculture Drainage Ditches as Viable Surrogates for Wetlands Supporting Turtle Diversity in the Southeastern U.S.
JOEL MOTA*
Chasing Swamp Ghosts: Investigating the Ecology of Spotted Turtles in the Deep South
HOUSTON CHANDLER
Land Cover Change Around Spotted Turtle Localities in North Carolina’s Piedmont Indicate Rapid Urbanization and Forest Loss
EMMA WILSON*
Population Ecology of Spotted Turtles in Two Isolated Illinois Wetlands
MICHAEL DRESLIK
Lunch 11:45-13:15
Conservation in Captivity Chair: Steve Enders AZA SAFE: Radiated Tortoise Chair: Rick Hudson
Notes and Observations on Map Turtles (Graptemys) From Captivity STEVE ENDERS
Unlocking Development and TSD Parameters of Red-Headed Amazon River Turtle Under Oscillating Incubation Temperatures
DAVID DRAJESKE
Integrating Technology and Husbandry Innovations to Improve Overwintering Success in Rehabilitating Native Turtles
LINDA NICHOLS AND TRAVIS WEBB
14:00 Running Turtle Rescue Centre – Challenges and Chances THUY NGUYEN
14:15 Maintaining Confiscated Mexican Box Turtles in Southern New Jersey CHRIS LEONE
Overview of the AZA Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE): Radiated Tortoise Program
STEPHEN NELSON
TSA Madagascar: Advancing Sustainable Conservation by Building on Successes, Overcoming Challenges, and Embracing Opportunities
HERY LOVA RAZAFIMAMONJIRAIBE
Incorporating Pre-release Health Protocols in the Radiated Tortoise Reintroduction Program
JAMIE PALMER
A High Density of Tortoises: The Tortoise Reserve in Cap Sainte-Marie TOJOTANJONA PATRICK RAZANAPARANY
Flood Response and Management at the Lavavolo Tortoises Center: What We Have Learned TSANTA FIDERANA RAKOTONANAHARY
14:30 Break & Posters Break & Posters
Conservation in Captivity Chair: Steve Enders
14:45 A Little-Known Tortoise of South Africa: Karoo Dwarf Tortoise
15:00
LIBOR KOPECNY
Uniting Conservation-Minded Private Keepers – Assurance Collaborative for Turtle Species (ACTS)
ANTHONY PIERLIONI
15:15 Integrating Strategies for the Conservation of the Egyptian Tortoise
RYAN HOWARD
15:30 Taxonomy of Turtle Lovers: Creating a Bigger Umbrella
STEVE ENDERS
18:00 - 19:00 Cocktail Reception
19:00 – 21:30 Awards Banquet
* Student Considered for Student Awards Competition
Poster Presentations (Convention Center Rotunda)
Poster Session Social Wednesday, July 23rd at 17:00
A Three-Year Review (2023–2025) of Mortality Patterns and Management Challenges for Confiscated Radiated and Spider Tortoises in Madagascar
KOLOINA MITIA ANDRIANANTENAINA
A Comparison of Body Composition of Free-Ranging Wild and Head-Started Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles
DEREK L. BATEMAN*
Building a Collaborative Network to Enhance Conservation and Management of the Spotted Turtle in the Southeastern U.S. ANDREA COLTON
Initial Survey of Freshwater Turtle Assemblages at Thirteen Nature Preserves in Northeastern Illinois
CLAIRE E. DIETRICH
Movement Patterns of the Vallarta Mud Turtle
UBALDO SEBASTIÁN FLORES-GUERRERO
Look at All Those Chickens! The Search for Western Chicken Turtles in the Arkansas River Valley, Arkansas, USA
ELIZABETH HAYS*
Distribution and Abundance of Ringed Sawbacks in the Pearl River Drainage of Mississippi, USA
MCAULAY JAUNSEN*
Physiological Indicators of Stress in the Chaco Tortoise: Seasonal Variations and Effects of Acute Stress
ERIKA KUBISCH
Turtles in Troubled Waters: Mapping Vessel Risk to Green Sea Turtles in an Industrialized Bay
HOPE K. LOVICH*
Changes to the Suitability of Wetland Habitats for Spotted Turtles in Ohio
BRANDON T. MAWHINNEY* AND CALEB MCKEEGAN
Trap Size Preference and Temporal Capture Patterns of Freshwater Turtles in North Carolina, USA
FENTON MCKOWN*
Fecal Analysis of Eastern Box Turtles in Northeast Georgia Across Native and Invasive Dominated Habitats
JENNIFER L. MOOK AND NATALIE HYSLOP
Monitoring Pathogens in Radiated Tortoise in Madagascar From 2023 to 2025 RINDRA NAVALONA RAKOTOBE
River-Reach Demography of the Southwestern Pond Turtle: Early Insights From a County-Wide Monitoring Program
KYLIE RUDE
Nose to Knowledge: Wildlife Detector Dogs and Their Implementation in Turtle Conservation
HUNTER SMITH
Movement Ecology and Predation Risk: An Analysis of Co-occurring Raccoons and North American Wood Turtles in an Actively Managed Landscape
ERIN TRIMPE*
*Student Considered for Student Awards Competition
Ten Years of Tortuga Crew: Reflecting on a Decade of Undergraduate Turtle Research
BENJAMIN ATKINSON
Demographics and Population Viability Analyses of Several Freshwater Turtle Species in Mississippi KATHERINE BRANDEWIE*
Modifying Spotted Turtle Standard Survey Protocol for Data Depauperate Systems in the Southeastern USA
ELIZABETH HOWELL CULP*
Comparative Analysis of Home Range Estimation Methods in the Chaco Tortoise
MARÍA EUGENIA ECHAVE*
Monitoring Accumulation and Potential Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) in Diamondback Terrapins Along the Atlantic Coast
DAVID LEE HASKINS
Microhabitat and Thermal Use of Eastern Box Turtles in Northeastern Georgia NATALIE HYSLOP
High-Resolution GPS Data and CTMM Modeling Refine Estimates of Habitat Use in Eastern Box Turtles
MARK S. KETNER
Developing a Multi-faceted Approach to Long-Term Monitoring of Urban Turtle Populations at John Ball Zoo
FAITH KUZMA
Ruthless Dunes or Turtle Paradise: Gopher Tortoise Burrow Surveys in Northeast Florida
SANDRA MARSHALL*
Maximum Body Size in Central American River Turtles DONALD T.MCKNIGHT
Monitoring Two Major Threats of the Critically Endangered Vallarta Mud Turtle: Road Kills and Poaching HECTOR ANDRÉS MEDINA-ANDRADE
Growth of Captive Yellow-bellied Sliders Fed on a Natural Diet and Commercial Pellets HAI NGUYEN*
A Strategic Roadmap for the Conservation of Endangered Tortoises in Southern Madagascar, With a Focus on Enhancing Conservation Areas
SEHENO RAMANANTSOA*
Documenting the History of and Personalities Behind Turtle Conservation and Research Through the CheloniaCast Podcast
MICHAEL A. SKIBSTED AND PAUL CUNEO*
From Captivity to Independence: The Journey of Headstarted Eastern Box Turtles Undergoing Soft Release
AVA SWEENEY*
Built to Feast: The Importance of Size in Foraging of the Northern Giant Musk Turtle
THOMAS M. ZAPLETAL*
Workshop Abstracts
CareandRecoveryofConfiscatedTurtles
With David Collins
This workshop will cover important aspects of the handling of turtle confiscations from the time of investigation through, ideally, the ultimate release of the turtle. Drawing from insights gained overeightyearsandmorethan40confiscations,our work through the AZA SAFE: American Turtle program, the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles, and partnerships with numerous state and federal wildlife agencies will explore lessons learned, unanswered questions, and insightsinaninteractiveworkshop.
WildlifePhotography
With Scott Trageser
Join photographer Scott Trageser for a hands-on workshop covering essential to advanced wildlife photographytechniques. Participants will learn how to optimize lighting, composition, and camera settings to suit field conditions,aswellashowto ethically photograph wildlife in a way that minimizes disturbance. The session will conclude with a live demonstration, where attendees can observe and participate in photographing a turtle usingnon-invasivemethodsthatprioritizebothimage qualityandanimalwelfare.
3DPrintingandPhotogrammetry
With Scott Trageser and Nathan Haislip
This workshop explores how photogrammetry and 3D printing can be harnessed to support turtle conservation.Participants will follow the full digital-to-physical pipeline—from scanning a live animal to producing a 3D model for education, research, or outreach. Scottwillcoverthephotogrammetryworkflow,includingsetup,fieldtechniques,andbestpracticesfor capturing high-fidelity models using non-invasive methods developed by The Biodiversity Group. Nathan will guide attendeesthroughthe3Dprintingprocessforproducingdetailedreplicas.
ShellShocktoAction:BehaviorChangeCampaignsforFreshwaterTurtleandTortoiseConservation With
Human Nature Group
This workshop describes evidence-based behavior change techniques for designing conservation campaigns and strategies, with a focus on freshwater turtles and tortoises. Attendees will explore key theories that guide behavior change strategies, learn the fundamentals of community-based social marketing, and gain practical tips for evaluating impact. We will bridge behavioral science and wildlife conservation to equip attendees with the tools needed to develop their own campaigns and drivemeaningfulchangeforturtles,tortoises,andtheirhabitats.
FieldNecropsyandSampleCollectionWetLab
With Zoe Mack and Bonnie Raphael
Monitoring health status of free-ranging chelonians is an important component of conservation programs. Herpetologists handling many wild dead and live turtles as part of normal surveys represent a valuable resource for sample collection in order to establish baseline health status and early detection of disease outbreaks. This wet lab will present basic field necropsy techniques and sample handling which can be implementedduringroutinesurveysbyeveryherpetologist.Sources ofsuppliesandlaboratories/researcherstosendsamplestowillbeprovidedaswell.
TheSlowestStampedeonEarth
With Tsanta Fiderana Rakotonahary
The PBS Nature series In Her Nature, in the episode titled “The Slowest Stampede on Earth,” showcases Turtle Survival Alliance’s conservation work to protect Madagascar’s critically endangered Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata). The episode follows Tsanta Fiderana Rakotonahary, Head of Veterinary Support; K’oloina Ramahandrizafy, Lead Keeper; and Mitia Andrianantenaina, Veterinary Assistant, astheyleadthereleaseof1,000RadiatedTortoisesintotheirnativehabitat—a major milestone in Turtle Survival Alliance’s long-term effort to restore wild populations and combat the illegal pet trade threateningthespecies’survival.
TheLastSpottedTurtlesofNewEngland With Ari
Taub
The Last Spotted Turtles of New England is a powerful new documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Ari Taub, making his debut in the world of nature storytelling. This beautifully shot film explores the fragile future of Spotted Turtles in southeasternMassachusettsandonNantucketIsland,weavingtogetherscience,passion,andtheurgentcallforconservation. After the film, stick around for a live Q&A with Ari and featured conservationists, as they discuss the making of the film, what makes these turtles so unique, and what we can all do to help protect them. Whether you’re a nature lover, wildlife advocate,orjustcuriousaboutthehiddenwondersofourlocalecosystems,thisisanightyouwon’twanttomiss.
THOMAS S.B.AKRE1,MAXWELL EARLE,MARK KETNER,CHRIS POLINSKI,GRACE BAILEY,JOSEPH KOLOWSKI, AND BERT HARRIS
1Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America [akret@si.edu]
TheEasternBoxTurtle(Terrapene c. carolina)wasformerlycommonandwidespreadacrosstheChesapeakeBaywatershed, but over the last 25 years, populations have declined rapidly in the developing landscapes that are increasingly common to the region. Meanwhile, as climate changes, little is known about how individuals and populations will respond at the local level or regional level, and poaching for the international turtle trade has emerged as a pressing threat in the region. Therefore, Eastern Box Turtle populations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed face many stressors (i.e., habitat loss, climate change, and poaching) at multiple scales. In 2023, the Northeast Eastern Box Turtle Working Group developed a status assessment and a conservation plan for the species. The reports identify that Virginia, Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in general, are data deficient sub-regions of the species’ range. They also declare that there is an urgent need to identify (1) landscape and habitat features that promote abundance, density, and demographically robust populations - i.e. source populations and associated landscape features -and(2)landusepracticesthatthreatentheselandscapes,habitats,and populations. The reports further indicate the need for scientific studies that assess long-term demography, individual and population responses to anthropogenic land use, and the effects of conservation management practices on Box Turtle populations. In 2024, we began a stakeholder-based project to address these needs through integration ofkeyapproachesto conservation science and practice: (1) comprehensive spatially-explicit capture-recapture surveystoestimateabundanceand demography on multiple landscapes, (2) GPS-telemetry to investigate movements, home range and habitat use across the annual cycle, (3) regular workshops to engage stakeholders for co-development of best practices for land-management in support of Box Turtle conservation, (4) frequent outreach events to broadcast our messagetomultiplecommunities,and(5) engagement with students and interns to train the next generationincommunity-basedconservation.Herein,wewillpresent on the regional goals of this project, the development of methods in pursuit of these aims, the emergent results, lessons learnedthusfar,andnextstepsandfuturedirections.
The Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) and the Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides), both endemic to Madagascar, are critically endangered due to habitat loss and illegal wildlifetrafficking.Inresponsetotheincreasingconfiscationevents,the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) Madagascar has supportedthecare,rehabilitation,andrewildingofthousandsofindividuals. This study presents a three-year review from 2023 to 2025 of post-confiscation mortality at TSA’s main facility in Antananarivo where manynewconfiscationsinitiallypresent.Individualsoftenarriveinaweakenedconditionandmayhave experienced the physiological impact of long-distance transport and seasonal climatic stress. Here we share mortality data, identify key challenges, and discuss possible mortality risk factors that may help guide improved management protocols. Between 2023 to 2025, 3408 tortoises were received at TSA Antananarivo from the illegal trade. The mortality rate for A. radiata was 1.7% in 2023 (6 /351), 15.7% in 2024 (207/1,316) and 38.7% in 2025 (469/1,211). The mortality rate for P. arachnoides was2.6%in2023(7/266),11.8%in2024(23/195),and1.4%in2025(1/69).Thesefindingsemphasizetheneed for enhanced intake planning, timely triage, and improved management of post-confiscated animals. This is adauntingtask butitiscrucialtothelong-termconservationofMadagascar’stortoises.
DANIEL ANTELO-BARBOSA1,JONH B.IVERSON AND RODRIGO MACIP-RÍOS
1National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelia, Michoacán, México [1418399d@umich.mx]
Life history traits are biological characteristics expressedbylivingorganismsandareregulatedthroughinteractionswiththe environment. Traits such as age at sexual maturity, offspringnumberandsize,longevity,andreproductivestrategiesdirectly influence population dynamics and a species’ capacity to adapt to environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated environmental determinants of clutch size and egg size in the freshwater turtle family Kinosternidae. Because larger turtles tend to produce more and larger eggs, we used phylogenetic residuals to control for body size effects. Phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) models showed that clutch size residuals were positively associated with the maximum temperature of the warmest month (estimate = 2.6766, p = 0.0260) and negatively with the mean temperature of the driest quarter (estimate = -0.6430, p = 0.0210). For egg size residuals, UV-B seasonality was strongly negatively associated (estimate = -0.1686, p < 0.001), while the peak UV-B radiation showed a marginal effect (estimate = -0.3518, p =0.0619). Moderate phylogenetic signals (λ = 0.68 for clutch size; λ = 0.64foreggsize)weredetected,indicatingpartialevolutionary constraint. Our results demonstrate that reproductive traits in Kinosternidae are shaped not only by sharedancestrybutalso by environmental pressures. Specifically, thermal extremes and solar radiation seasonalityactassignificantselectiveforces. This environmental sensitivity suggests that freshwater turtle populations may exhibit adaptive responses to climate variability,butalsounderlinestheirpotentialvulnerabilitytoongoingclimatechange.
EMILY ASCHE1,MATTHEW PARRY,MICHAEL DRESLIK,ROBERT LOVICH, AND THOMAS AKRE
1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
[Eeasche@illinois.edu]
The Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys spp.)iscurrentlyunderreviewforlistingasaThreatenedspeciesundertheEndangered Species Act. Widespread populationdeclinesdrivenbyhabitatloss,predation,andshelldiseasehaveledtoitsdesignationas a Species of Special Concern in California, sensitive/critical in Oregon, and endangered in Washington. Despite regional protection, federal listing remains uncertain, emphasizing the urgent need for data to guide conservation.Toaddresscritical knowledge gaps,weconductedatwo-yeardemographicstudyacross13militaryinstallationsspanningthespecies'California range. Standardized week-long trapping sessions yielding data on body size, life stage, and sex. The metrics were used to estimatelocalabundancetoestablishabaselinetoinformpopulationhealthandtrajectory.Ouranalysisrevealedvariationsin demographic composition, site-specific abundance, and growth dynamics across installations, identifying high-risk populations and areas with potential recovery. Our findings are essential for prioritizing conservation actions, informing managmentofmilitarylands,andcontributingtorange-wideassessmentsnecessaryforthespecies'recoveryplanning.
1Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida, United States of America
[BAtkinson@flagler.edu]
In 2015, eager faculty and enthusiastic students from FlaglerCollegecommencedeffortstoconserveimperiledtortoisesand freshwater turtles with partner agencies andinstitutions.Formostundergraduates,theseexperienceshaveprovidedtheirfirst hands-on wildlife work. Our ever-changing lineup has conducted field research focused on Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin)inmangrovesandsaltmarshesofBermudaandbothcoastsofFlorida,CentralAmericanRiverTurtles (Dermatemys mawii) in rainforests at Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), and Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in coastal dunes and longleaf pine savannahs of north Florida. Some alums have already gone on to earn graduate degrees and/or secured positions as professional biologists and natural resource managers. This posterhighlightsachievementsofthe“TortugaCrew”todate.
,CHRIS BEDNARSKI,VALERIE CORADO GARCIA, AND DIANA VELÁSQUEZ
1Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
[Augustine.lauren@phillyzoo.org]
Baseline data on the populations of Guatemalan Kinosternids are critical for ensuring successful conservation action and results. A multi-institutional team has conducted surveys across Guatemala to collect baseline data critical toimplementing successful conservation measures for freshwater turtles in this region. Trapping and visualencountersurveysinconjunction with locally collected or confiscated turtleskeptascaptiveshasresultedin319turtlesrepresentingtenspecies.Inadditionto demographic data, samples were collected for health and geneticevaluation.Atotalof215bloodsampleswerecollectedfor genetic evaluation in collaboration with the TurtleSurvivalAllianceandwearecurrentlyanalyzing150swabsforinfectious diseases with the Epidemiology Lab at the University of Illinois. Further samples were collected to look at blood biochemistry, stable isotopes, and heavy metal concentrations. Herein, we will present some preliminary results on the distribution and health of the turtlepopulationsinthreeDepartmentsinGuatemala,Peténinthenorth,IzabalintheEast,and SantaRosaalongthePacificcoast.
United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, United States of America
[patrick.baker@westpoint.edu]
Algae and other phototrophic organisms that attach to the external surfaces of chelonians establish a symbiotic relationship that has a global distribution,involvesmosttaxonomicgroups,occursinavarietyofecologicalsettings,andmayserveasan indicator of environmental quality. While the most conspicuous algal growth is attributed to filamentous algae (Cladophorales), there are numerous accounts of colonial algaeanddiatomsassociatingwiththeoutersurfaceofchelonians. Symbioses between these epizoic autotrophs and chelonians have been described in the scientific literature as parasitism, commensalism, or mutualism depending on the perceivedimpacttothechelonianhost.Formostchelonians,therelationship is best described as a phoresy, a temporary relationship where the phoront (algae) receives the benefits (e.g., favorable attachment site, movement to/from areas of greater insolation, access to nutrients in the water column) and the hostneither gainsafitnessbenefitnorcarriesacostfromtheinteraction.
1Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America
[dlb2s@missouristate.edu]
Because Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) have declined in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, a head-starting and reintroduction program was established at Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery in 1999 with the goal of reestablishing extirpated populations and augmenting those that are unlikely to recover without intervention. Head-started juveniles were released at a site in northeasternOklahomatoaugmentanexistingbutdepletedpopulation,andrecentsurvey efforts have demonstrated that both wild and introduced juveniles are present. Given the cooccurrence of both groups and their significant overlap in body size, this offered the opportunity to comparethebodycompositionofthereleasedandwild juvenile turtles to assess the potential forlong-termeffectsofcaptivity.Weusedhoopnetsbaitedwithfrozencarptocapture both wild and head-started juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles, which were then scanned using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer (DEXA)toestimatelean-tissuemass,fatmass,andbone-mineralmass.Theturtleswerethenreturnedtotheir home river and released at thepointofcapture.Thisstudyprovidedinsightintohowwildandhead-startedjuvenileAlligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) compare in body composition and will be used to inform the captive-rearing programatTishomingoNationalFishHatchery.
DEREK L.BATEMAN1,TESSA N.IRVINE,KEVIN BABBITT,ALEXANDER EDMOND, AND DAY B.LIGON
1Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America
[dlb2s@MissouriState.edu]
Assessing the geographical distribution and population status of the Alligator Snapping Turtles(Macrochelys temminckii)is of great interest given the high historical—and present-day—hunting pressure the species has experienced. To this end, we conducted a two-year study to assessthecurrentdistributionofAlligatorSnappingTurtlesinOklahoma.Surveyeffortswere conducted from May 2023 to October 2024. Surveys were restricted tomonthswhenwatertemperaturesweremoderateand were suspended during periods of both high and low temperatures that have been shown to suppress Alligator Snapping Turtle activity, and therefore detectability. Turtles were capturedusingboth0.9and1.2-mhoopnetsbaiteddailywithfrozen carp. In total, we conducted 1454 net nights of survey effort distributed over 24 sites and captured 168 unique Alligator Snapping Turtles and 45 recaptures of previously marked turtles (captures per unit effort = 0.12 turtles per net-night). We identified 9 systems withlownumbersofAlligatorSnappingTurtles,6siteswithapparentlyrobustpopulations,andfailedto detect the species at 9 sites. We conducted multiple bouts of trapping at one sitewithanespeciallyrobustpopulation,using capture-mark-recapture methods to generate a populationestimateof137(95%CI=85–190).Thepatchydistributionpattern that wedocumentedislikelydueinparttosegmentationofriversbydams,whichhavehadtheeffectofisolatingpopulations and altering population source-sink dynamics. The results of our study provide insights into the effects of dams on the distribution of Alligator Snapping Turtles and have helped to inform subsequent surveys that were initiated in Arkansas in spring2025.
Oral
Wild,
Rewilded,or
Introduced?
DefiningPopulationsinIUCNRedListAssessments
RICH BAXTER
Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance, Seychelles [rich@iotaseychelles.org]
Human-mediated movements of species, including rewilding, reintroductions, and translocations, areincreasinglyimportant strategies in biodiversity conservation. However, the inclusion of such populations in IUCN Red List assessments requires strict evaluation against established criteria. This presentation examines how rewilded and translocated populations are currently considered within the Red List framework, focusing on the definitions of "wild populations," the treatment of ecological analogue species, and the implications of human-mediated dispersal. A wildpopulation,asdefinedbytheIUCN, must be self-sustaining, free-living, and not reliant on continuous human management. Translocated populations may contribute to Red List assessments if they meet these conditionsandoccupyecologicallysuitablehabitatswithinoradjacent to their historical range. Ecological analogue species, however, are not assessed as part of the original extinct or extirpated species. Case studies of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)andtheGalápagosgianttortoises(Chelonoidis spp.) illustrate different outcomes: while rewilded Aldabra tortoise populations become viable and self-sustaining whilst functionally restoring lost ecological roles of extinct species, they are currently not included in the species’ range; the recovery and complex management of Galápagos tortoise populations demonstrate how restoration, hybridisation, and rewilding intersect with species-level risk assessments.TheseexamplesarguethattheIUCNRedListassessmentframework should more fully recognise the conservation value of self-sustaining, human-mediatedgianttortoisepopulations,especially whentheycontributesignificantlytoecosystemresilience,geneticdiversity,andspeciesrecovery.
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America [behrmannrachel@gmail.com]
The intersection of ecology and economics remains underexplored in traditional academic settings, but understanding its importance is instrumental for public policy support and conservation funding. Thispresentationofferspreliminaryfindings on how integrating ecological content—particularly animal behavior and species-specific facts—into undergraduate economics courses can improve student engagement and comprehension. These goals are achieved by linking fundamental economic concepts like trade, supply and demand, and elasticity to ecological examples such as anti-predation strategies, resource management,andsymbioticrelationshipsinwildlife.Thistalkwillshareseveraloftheseclassroom-testedexamples and present early findings using student feedback on how this material affected attendance, enthusiasm for the course, and opinions on the relationship between economics and our environment. Furthermore, these in-class examples show that economic theory can be found across ecology and animal behavior and serve to garner interest in conservation and sustainabilityeconomics.
Jordan Society for the Conservation of Turtles & Tortoises (JSCT), Amman - Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan [chairman@jsctt.org]
Jordan possesses four biotopes in a relatively small area characterized by a great variety of plant communities andclimatic conditions as well as geomorphologic formations. Jordan is considered one of the richest and most heterogeneous natural
areas for reptiles in the temperate region of the world. Two species of Chelonians are reported in Jordan: Testudo graeca terrestris / Spur-thighed Mediterranean Tortoise (Family Testudinidae) known as Greek Tortoise, occurring in the Mediterranean region and the Jordan Valley, inhabitingforestedareas,vegetatedareasandagriculturalareas.And Mauremys rivulata / Stripe-necked Terrapin (Family Bataguridae) known as Western Caspian Turtle, inhabiting wetlands such as: natural ponds, man-made ponds, creeks, slow streams, irrigation canals anddamsintheJordanvalley.Thebothspeciesface significant survival risks & challenges, recorded throughnumerousfieldvisits&observationsthatcoveredvariousrangesof wild areas most notable: pollution, rapid population growth and urbanization, deforestation, grazing, desertification, pesticides used against crop pests in agriculture, climate change in the region, human attacks on natural habitats and commercial exploitation by illegal trade. Jordan Society for the Conservation of Turtles & Tortoises (JSCT) among its activities recorded a number of serious threats in the Brides Pond area that is located in the north of the kingdom and developed an action plan to preserve the pond by declaring it an environmentally important area. The importance of the declaration lies in the necessity of preserving it as a unique natural site being the only natural habitat for threatened freshwater turtle species existing in Jordan “Mauremys rivulata”, in addition to being considered an aquatic ecosystem and natural habitat for various forms of biological and plant diversity. Declaring the area also an opportunity to promote sustainable management of natural resources, and reduce the negative effects of unsustainable uses through a participatory methodology, based ontheprinciplesofintegratedmanagementofenvironmentalsystems.JSCTseekstoperformeffectively through an integrated national network including government, related stakeholders and local community participation to ensure the survival of both chelonians species in Jordan, rescue them from extinction in the wild as they are in need of immediateaction.
EBORAH S.BOWER1,RUTH ALEXANDER,ERIC NORDBERG,DANIEL COLEMAN,PHIL SPARK,LEA EZZY,ALLISTAIR FREEMAN, SHAQUILLE CONNELLY,DAMIEN ANDREW, AND DONALD MCKNIGHT
1University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia [deborah.bower@une.edu.au]
Climate change is increasing the frequency of severe weather events throughout the Earth. Flooding can have a range of impacts on aquatic fauna which arepartiallyinfluencedbylifehistorycharacteristicsofthebiota.Therefore,gainingabetter understanding of the responses of threatened taxa such as turtles is a priority. PopulationsoftwoturtlespeciesinLawnHill Gorge in northern Australia experienced a major flood event in 2023. Scientists, undergraduate students and Indigenous rangers collaborated on a project using snorkelling and baited trapping formark-recaptureandstomach-flushing. Weaimed to understand the population demography and dietary ecology of the Gulf Snapping Turtle (Elseya lavarackorum) and Diamond-head turtle (Emydura subglobosa worrelli) in October 2024. The size structure was similar before and after the flood and skewed towards larger adults in Gulf Snapping turtles but not Diamond-head Turtles. Gulf Snapping Turtles preferred traps with fruit bait whereas Diamond-head Turtles preferred meat. Large Gulf Snapping Turtles guardedbaitand were extremely aggressivetowardssmallerindividuals.Stomachcontentsfromturtlescaughtbysnorkellingincludedarange of items such as leaves, fruit, insects and mushrooms. The flood removed the riparian strip of vegetation which provides habitat structure and food for turtles. Ongoing population size estimates and dietary studies will enable us to quantify immigrationandemigrationatthesiteanddeterminehowthispopulationchangesoverthelonger-term. Oral
KATHERINE BRANDEWIE1,NOAH DEVROS,LUKE PEARSON, AND CARL QUALLS
1University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America [katherine.brandewie@usm.edu]
Program Abstracts
Mississippi is situatedwithinthesecondmostdiverseChelonianhotspotintheworld.Hometo31turtlespecies,itisanideal location for long term population monitoring. Recent turtle community and demographic studies havebeenconductedatall major river drainages in Mississippi, laying a good foundation for continued research. This study aims to build on that foundation and monitor long-term demographic and population trends of turtle communities in mainstem sites, creeks and tributaries. We will be employing baited hoop traps, minnow traps, basking traps, and hand-capture methods at six sites within the Pearl River, Pascagoula River, Big BlackRiver,andYazooRiverbasinsthroughoutMississippi.Individualturtles will be identified, sexed, uniquely marked and/or PIT tagged for recapture identification. Morphometric data will also be collected on each turtle. We will calculate Capture Per Unit Effort (CPUE) for each species at each site, make population estimates, and calculate survival of age classes using mark-recapture data. Demographic data from mark-recapturemethods and literature will be used as parameters to conduct projection matrix Population Viability Analyses (PVA)forspecieswith high capture rates to estimate future population sizes. Results will contribute to established knowledge of Mississippiturtle communitieswhilefurtheridentifying/describingpopulationtrendstoinformpotentialfuturemanagement.
1Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, United States of America
[gjbrown@jsu.edu]
The genus Graptemys is composed of 14 species of map turtles, making the group the most speciose group in the United States. Most of these species are isolated to just a single river drainage. The Mobile River system is unique in that it has 3 species of map turtle: the Alabama Map Turtle (Graptemys pulchra), Northern Map Turtle (G. geographica), and Black-knobbed Sawback (G. nigrinoda). WhiletheBlack-knobbedSawbackandNorthernMapTurtlesaremostlyallopatric, the Alabama Map Turtle can be found throughout most of the drainage. The species is undergoing evaluation for federal listing by the Endangered Species Act due to its similarity of appearance to the Pearl River Map Turtle (G. pearlensis). During surveys for G. pulchra in the upper Coosa watershed, we discovered a reproductive population of Ouachita map turtles, a species native to the Tennessee River drainage of Alabama, but not to the Coosa River Drainage. We used capture-mark-resight surveys to estimate abundance and distribution ofthisspeciesintheCoosaRiverdrainageinAlabama. While the population seems confined between Weiss and Neely Henry reservoirs, we saw turtles of all age classes, and we recommendcontinuedmonitoringofthispopulation.
TAGGERT BUTTERFIELD1,HECTOR ANDRÉS MEDINA-ANDRADE,UBALDO SEBASTIÁN FLORES-GUERRERO,ALEJANDRA MONSIVÁIS-MOLINA,JORDAN GRAY,MARÍA EUGENIA MARTÍNEZ ARIZMENDI,RICARDO DÁVALOS SÁENZ, AND ANDREW WALDE 1Estudiantes Conservando la Naturaleza A.C., Alamos, Sonora, Mexico [taggerbutterfield3@gmail.com]
The Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti), described in 2018, is endemic to the Ameca Valley delta in the Bahía de Banderas region of Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico. This area includes Puerto Vallarta, one of the country’s fastest-growing urban and tourism centers. Over the past two decades, the region’s human population has more than doubled, resulting in extensive wetland destruction driven by real estate speculation and development. Our initial surveys in 2019 indicated that much of the species’ historical habitat had already been lost. Beginning in 2021, we launched intensive sampling efforts across the valley. By fall 2022, our team had located over 90% of the remaining K. vogti habitats. As we identified critical
habitats, we engaged with landowners, including municipal governments, private developers, andcommunallandholders,to promote in-situ protection. Despite these efforts, habitat degradationcontinuedin2023and2024,includinglandconversion, illegal dumping, and fire. In 2024, there was a marked increase in illegal collection, with poaching documented in the species’ most critical remaining habitats. Our current estimate suggests that fewer than 410 individuals remain in the wild. Habitat destruction and degradation, combined with escalating international demand for the species in the illegal pet trade, have placed K. vogti atimminentriskofextinctioninthewild.Here,wepresentfindingsfromourfieldsurveys,observations on thespecies’ecologyandnaturalhistory,andanemergingconservationstrategythatincludeshabitatprotection,landowner engagement,andex-situsafeguardstopreventextinction.
TAGGERT BUTTERFIELD1,ALEJANDRA MONSIVÁIS-MOLINA,BRETT BUTLER, AND FELIX GARCIA-CABALLERO 1Estudiantes Conservando la Naturaleza A.C., Alamos, Sonora, México [taggerbutterfield3@gmail.com]
Life history is fundamental to understanding how organisms allocate resources to growth, reproduction, andsurvivalacross their lifespan. In this study, we assess the age structure and genetic relationships within a population of Sierra Box Turtles (Terrapene nelsoni klauberi) using mark-recapture data and microsatellite analysis. Toassessagestructureofthepopulation we categorized individuals into four age classes basedontheextentofplastronandcarapaceerosion:(1)turtleswithvisible, countable growth rings; (2) turtles with smooth plastron andvisibleringsonthecarapace;(3)turtleswithasmoothplastron, smooth vertebral scutes, but visible rings on the pleural scutes; and (4) turtles with no visible ringsoneithertheplastronor carapace. Using 12 polymorphic microsatellites, we compared relatedness among individuals across age categories, predicting higher relatedness among older turtles due to successful breeders leaving more offspring in the population. We then explore parent-offspring relationships to determine if morphology or behavior of individuals is significantly related to reproductive success. The population is primarily composed ofindividualsinagecategoriesone,followedbyfour,threeand two, suggesting that population is dominated by young individuals. We find relatedness is highest in age category two, followed by age category four, with category three and one practically equal. In the parentage analysis we identify 33 parent-offspring relationships, with six individuals being assigned both a father and mother,11beingassignedonlyafather, and seven being assigned only a mother. There are still many individuals that need to be genotyped in the population, but these preliminary data open the door to begin understanding how life history, behavior, and morphology influence reproductivesuccess.
HOUSTON C.CHANDLER1,ANDREA L.COLTON, AND BENJAMIN S.STEGENGA
1The Orianne Society, Tiger, Georgia, United States of America [hchandler@oriannesociety.org]
Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) have a large distribution that stretchesfromsouthernCanadatonorthernFlorida.Despite this large range, SpottedTurtlesarecurrentlyaSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeedinall21rangestates.Thisspecieshas been relatively well-studied in many parts of its range, but research in the southeasthaslaggedbehindthatofotherregions. This data gap, along with its impactsonmakingconservationdecisions,wasrecentlyhighlightedinaStatusAssessmentand Conservation Plan for eastern Spotted Turtle populations. The Orianne Society has studiedtheecologyofSpottedTurtlesin southern Georgia since 2014 and has since expanded this work into Florida and South Carolina. Over this period, we have focused research efforts on three main objectives: 1) conducting long-term demographic monitoring at sentinel sites, 2) performing systematic surveys for undocumented populations, and 3) studying the ecology of Spotted Turtles at their
southern range terminus. This research has led to a better understanding of movement and space use, reproductiveecology, thermal ecology, conservationgenetics,anddistributionofpopulationsacrossconservationlands.Region-widesurveyefforts have highlighted the difficulty of working with SpottedTurtlesinthesoutheast.Forexample,from2018–2025,wesurveyed a total of 84 sites across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, conducting 8,453 trap nights and 1,239 visual-encounter surveys. Across all surveys, we observed SpottedTurtlesat19sites,including5long-term–monitoringsitesand14sitesthat were formally surveyed for the firsttime.Ofthe14newsiteswithdetections,8werecharacterizedbytheobservationofjust a single individual. Currently, attention has shifted to furthering Spotted Turtle conservation inthesoutheastbyfocusingon designing better survey methodologies, identifying populations currently protected on conservation lands, creating a better understanding of population dynamics in the southeast, and understanding the effects of temperature on nest and hatchling performance. Part of this ongoing work includes the formation of the Southeastern Spotted TurtleWorkingGroup,bringing togethernaturalresourceprofessionalsfromacrossthesoutheasttofocusonSpottedTurtleconservation.
Urban Turtle Project/Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America [urbanturtleproject@gmail.com]
Many populations of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii)wereheavilyimpactedfromhistoricalharvesting precipitating a need to protect this species throughout its range. Conservation efforts need to include surveys to identify previously undocumented populations. One such example includes an urban population inhabiting the CahabaRiveraround Birmingham, Alabama that was first documented by the Urban Turtle Project in 2018. Mark-recapture techniques were utilized to assess the size of the population. Atotalof36captureeventswererecorded,includinganumberofrecaptures.A catch per unit effort of 0.27 turtles/trap night was observed, which is comparable to other monitored populations. Future effortswillincludecontinuingtrackingthispopulationaswellasidentifyingotherpopulationsincentralAlabama.
ANDREA COLTON1,IVANA MALI,ELIZABETH CULP,THOMAS AKRE,CHRIS POLINSKI, AND HOUSTON CHANDLER
1The Orianne Society, Tiger, Georgia, United States of America [acolton@oriannesociety.org]
Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) are small, semi-aquatic turtles that can be found in a variety of shallow, ephemeral freshwater habitats across the eastern and Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Population declines have made the Spotted Turtle a Species of Greatest Conservation Need across their U.S. range. A Status Assessment and Conservation Plan was created for eastern Spotted Turtle populations in 2022, based upon work conducted from Florida to Maine. This planidentifiedtheSoutheastasaregionwithsignificantinformationgaps.Buildingonthiswork,aSoutheastern Spotted Turtle Working Group (SSTWG) was formed in 2023 and awarded a Competitive State Wildlife Grant to address knowledge gaps and develop a conservation action plan for Spotted Turtle populations in the Southeast (Florida to West Virginia). The goalsoftheSSTWGareto:1)surveysitesindatagapwatersheds,2)conductpopulationviabilityanalysesfor long-term monitoring sites, 3)improvesurveyprotocols,4)providetechnicalassistancetostakeholders5)restoreorenhance Spotted Turtle habitat, 6) engage law enforcement to curb turtle collection, and 7) revise a Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for the Southeast. Field research and conservationbeganin2024andwillcontinuein2025and2026.For example, we sampled three long-term monitoring sites and six new sites in Georgia and South Carolina in spring2024.We observed 42 turtles and confirmed thepresenceofanextantpopulationatonenewsite.Overthenexttwoyears,theSSTWG
will continue to address project goals through a combination of fieldwork, workshops, habitat management, andanalysisof newandexistingdatasets.
1Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America [Congdon2016@outlook.com]
Body size has a well-established influence on the values of life-history traitsofthemajorityofvertebratespeciesexamined. Comparisons of populations of the same species minimizes issues caused by different evolutionary histories that influence interpretation of relationships among life-history trait values. Our goals were to answer questions about influences of body size and age of adult females on reproductive traits, and survivorship of Sonora Mud Turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense; SMTs). Questions: 1.) Are within populations body sizes of adult females and males different? 2) Are there population differences in durations and rates of juvenile growth? 3.) Are juvenile growth rates correlated with body size and age at maturity? 4.) Are rates of age specific indeterminate growth different between populations? And, where the primary life history action is 5.). Are relationships between egg size and clutch size different between populations, and 6.) are clutch frequencies of females inthePMtshigherthanintheCMts?Weusedanswerstoquestionstoexamineconstraints,trade-offs, and synergies among life-history trait valuestodocumentifandhowdifferencesinbodysizeofadultsintheCMtsandPMts influence other life-history trait values. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that, if annual reproductive fecundities of females are similar, fecundities (female eggs per female) of larger females in the CMts (= 3) is twice that of small-bodied SMTs (= 1.5). Low fecundities of females in both populations make it difficult to maintain or recover from population declines, but much more so for the small-bodied population. We predict that, despite low resource availability at both sites females in the small-bodied females will have a higher clutch frequency and/or higher rates ofnestsurvivalthanfemalesin the larger bodied population. However, increase in clutch frequency may be difficult due to low resource availability, but well-drainedsoilswithlowvegetationcoverareabundantatbothsites.WecontrasthowthereproductivetacticsofSMTsand Yellow Mud Turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) can influencepopulationpersistenceandprobabilityofextirpationfromdesert areasasproblemsrelatedtoglobalwarmingincrease.
1Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts, United States of America
[courym@mail.gvsu.edu]
The Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), a long-lived species of conservation concern in the northeastern U.S., has been proposed as an umbrella species for riparian biodiversity due to its broad habitat use. This study evaluated whether Wood Turtle abundance is associated with higher species richness and ecological quality across five taxonomic groups—avian, freshwatermussels,herbaceous,shrub,andcanopyvascularplants—at16sitesinMassachusetts.Wecombinedturtlesurveys with standardized assessments of biodiversity using Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) for plants and novelqualityscores for birds (AQA) and mussels (MQA) based on conservation rankings. Sites were categorized by high or low Wood Turtle abundance using catch per unit effort (CPUE), and analyzed using t-tests, regressions, and principal component analyses. While statistical tests found no significant differences in species richness or qualitybetweenhigh-andlow-abundancesites, multivariate analyses suggested that higher turtle abundance may be associated with greater avian, canopy,andherbquality scores and higher shrub and bird richness. These findings imply partial support for the Wood Turtleasanumbrellaspecies,
particularly for specific taxa. However, the relationship was inconsistent across all groups, and further studies, including comparisons with sites lacking Wood Turtles and expanded taxonomic scope, are needed. This research highlights the potentialandlimitationsofusingtheWoodTurtleasaconservationsurrogateinripariansystems.
ELIZABETH HOWELL CULP1,MADDISYN BRAUN, AND IVANA MALI 1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America [culpeh@gmail.com]
The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) is a small freshwater turtle that inhabits a variety of shallow, often ephemeral, vegetated wetlands stretching from northern Florida to southern Canada. Spotted Turtles appear to be declining throughout their range and are considered Endangered on the IUCN Red List, endangered in Canada and a Species of Greatest ConservationNeed(SGCN)inall21stateswheretheyoccurintheU.S.TherecentStatusAssessmentandConservationPlan for the Spotted Turtle in the Eastern United States led by theEasternSpottedTurtleWorkingGroupidentifiedtheSoutheast as a data-depauperate region and also a region withsubstantialsuitablehabitat.ThisledtotheformationoftheSoutheastern Spotted Turtle Working GroupwiththemissiontoconserveSpottedTurtlepopulationsacrossthesoutheasternU.S.Asapart of a collaborative effort funded through competitive State Wildlife Grant, one of the goals is to refine the standard survey protocol to increase detection and capture rates of Spotted Turtles in the Southeast. To address ways in which the standardized survey protocol can be improved in coastal plains of North Carolina, we purposefully manipulated both the density and the spatial distribution of traps and compared the total captures and the capture per unit effort (CPUE). Specifically, in the spring 2025, we surveyed plots using the standard protocol (5 traps/30 meters apart) and the modified protocols: 10 traps/30metersapart,increasingtheoverallsurveyarea,or10traps/15metersapart,increasingthetrapdensity. Within a short period of time, we returned to a subset of plots to rotate the trapping protocol. Thus far, we captured >100 Spotted Turtles over 30 trap days ranging from 0 to18uniqueturtlesperplotand0to59uniqueturtlespersite.Preliminary data at our rotation plots indicate thatthenumberofcapturesand/orCPUEdidnotdifferbetweenthesurveyprotocols.Over the next two years, we will continue to refine our approaches for detecting Spotted Turtles in theSoutheast–contributingto overallconservationandmanagementofthiselusivespecies.
ARLOS M.DELGADO-MARTÍNEZ1,TAGGERT BUTTERFIELD, AND ALEJANDRA MONSIVÁIS-MOLINA 1Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México [pistache06@ciencias.unam.mx]
contributetoasnowballeffectacceleratingpopulationdecline.ThesefindingssupporttherecentIUCNRedListdesignation of T. yucatana asEndangeredandhighlighttheurgentneedforcontinuedmonitoringandtargetedconservationaction.
PATRICK DELISLE1,ERIC MUNSCHER,TRAVIS M.THOMAS,ANDREW D.WALDE,SETH SWAFFORD,CARL P.QUALLS, AND LUKE PEARSON
1University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America [patrick.delisle@usm.edu]
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, large-scale habitat conversion and commercial harvest heavily impacted alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys spp.) populations throughout theirrange.Thesehistoricalthreats,coupledwithcurrentbycatch mortality, led the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to list M. suwanniensis and propose to list M. temminckii as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Macrochelys are thought to be territorial animals since it is common to see scars and recent wounds indicative of intraspecific combat, particularly on males. However, evidence of how these interactions affect their spatial ecology arelargelylacking.Toinvestigateterritoriality,weusedtelemetrydatafromtwosites within western Mississippi,anurbanbayousiteineasternTexas,andtworiverinesitesinFlorida;allofwhichcontainrobust populations of Macrochelys. We hypothesized that environmental (water level) and intrinsic factors (sex, weight) may influence the proximity of tracked individuals to each other. We measured the distances between all trackedturtlesforeach tracking period and we used a generalizedlinearmodeltodescribethedistancesbetweenindividuals.Wefoundasignificant two-way interaction between the water level and the weightdifferencebetweenindividuals.Asthedifferencebetweenturtle weights increases, Macrochelys wereincreasinglyfartherapartaswaterleveldecreases.Wealsofoundasignificanttwo-way interaction between water level and site. The distances between turtles were significantly affected bywaterlevelsatsitesin western Mississippi but werenotatothersites.Resultsfromthismodelcanprovidevaluableinformationonthemanagement of recovering populations in other areas, along with providing unique insights into these specific populations that have enduredsubstantialanthropogenichydrologicalimpacts.
1University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America [noah.devros@usm.edu]
Many riverine Emydids are characterized by habitual basking, thus, basking surveys are important opportunities to collect demographic data. However, many basking turtles are easily frightened; researcher presence affectingtruebaskingdensities is accepted as a measure of error inherent to this process.Thisisespeciallytruewithexceptionallycautiousspecies,suchas those in the Graptemys genus. DuringourbaskingsurveysofRingedMapTurtle(Graptemys oculifera)andPearlRivermap Turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), two species found in the Pearl RiverdrainageofMississippi,weobservednumerousbasking individuals fleeing at our approach. To address this, we used an inexpensive, sub-250-gram drone (a DJI Mini 4 Pro) to conduct basking surveys and assess habitat variables. We parked the boat out of sight of basking substrate, flew the drone over the substrate to collect images of basking turtles, then piloted the boat within sight of thesubstratetoperformbasking surveys with spotting scopes and binoculars.Turtlesappearedlesslikelytofleeattheapproachofthedrone:whilethedrone was able to get within 5 vertical meters of baskingturtleswithnodisruption,themajorityof Graptemys fledattheapproach of the boat. Drone basking densities from four tested sites ranged between 1.5x-10x higher than spotting scope/binocular basking densities. Even a budget-friendly drone such as theMini4Proisabletocaptureimagesofbaskingturtlesofquality
sufficient enough to ID turtle species and sex. Moreover, drone imagery is invaluable in assessing habitat variables as it allowsfortheprecisequantificationofvariableswhichmayotherwiseonlyberecordedviapointcount,suchasdeadwood.
1Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
[ced@illinois.edu]
Urbanization of the Chicago metropolitan area has drastically altered thelandscapeofnortheasternIllinoisoverthepasttwo centuries. Once dominated by forest and marshy wetlands, the region is now characterized by dense urban centers highly fragmented by several major roadways. Theresultinglossofnaturalhabitathasimpactedregionalabundancesofsometurtle species, such as the state-endangered Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Despite modernenvironmentalprotections, fragmentation and degradation of the remaining habitat provide little opportunity for populations to expand or recolonize theirformerrangenaturally.Wesampledthirteenpubliclyownedforestpreserves,conservationareas,andmitigationsitesfor aquatic turtles withbaitedhooptrapstodeterminespeciesrichness,diversity,andevennessoftheturtleassemblages.Species richness ranged from 1 to 5, with most assemblages comprising common species considered resilient to anthropogenic disturbance, such as the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) and Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Diversity indices were low overall, ranging from 0 to 1.19, but evenness indices varied from 0.38 to 1. We intend to continually reassess turtle assemblages at the sites on a five-year rotation to gain a long-term temporal understanding of demographic trends.
1University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America [jseandoody@gmail.com]
The Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) is the single surviving member of a once widespread group of turtles, now restricted to a few rivers in New Guinea and northern Australia. The species is listed as ‘Endangered’ at the global level (IUCN), ‘Vulnerable’ atthefederallevelinAustralia,and‘Endangered’intheNorthernTerritory,theonlyAustralianstatein which it occurs. Because it is being overexploited at an alarming rate in New Guinea, thespecies’protectioninAustraliais critical for its survival. In turn, the Australian stronghold for the species is in the Daly River, necessitating its protection there.AlthoughpoachingofthespeciesisnotknowninAustralia,thepopulationsintheDalyfaceapersistentthreatofwater extraction from the catchment for irrigating expanding agriculture. Despite our knowledge of the species’ ecology and behavior, including laying eggs twice every second year, large linear home ranges, thermal spring basking, embryonic estivation, explosive hatching, and moving, feeding and nesting socially, the population sizes of theDalyRiverpopulations are unknown. In June 2025, about a month before this conference, a mark-recapture study was initiated to produce a population size estimate for the middle reaches of the Daly River. We report on our raw findings for the first year of a multi-yeareffortthatwillfacilitatemonitoringandguidemanagementactionsinthefuture.
Biotech BD, LLC, Seattle, Washington, United States of America [CBChelonians@gmail.com]
Much of what is known about turtle incubationwasdevelopedusingartificialincubationatconstanttemperatures.However, in nature, incubation temperatures are never constant, especially in shallow nesting species. Much remains to be learned about developmentandthermalreactionnormsforTemperature-DependentSexDetermination(TSD)undermorenaturalistic temperature regimes. Additionally, attempts to produce female offspring using high constant temperature incubations have been shown to decrease hatchling fitness and increase mortality insomespecies.Untilnow,recreatingtemperaturetrendsof natural nests has required expensive commercial incubators costing roughly $10,000/chamber. The author built a highly capable incubator using inexpensive off-the-shelf electronics components including an Arduino microcontroller. Eggs of Red-headed Amazon River Turtle (Podocnemis erythrocephala) were incubated with naturalistic oscillating temperatures based on nest temperature trends from literature. The temperature range studied spanned 20 – 40° C. Incubation durations and temperature trends of multiple clutches were used to fit constants to the Dallwitz-Higgins non-linear development rate model. Preliminary data on TSD reactionnormsunderoscillatingtemperaturessuggestthat Podocnemis erythrocephala may actuallybeTSDTypeIIwithbothahighandlowtemperaturethresholdforfeminization.
MICHAEL J.DRESLIK1,DEVIN A.EDMONDS,ROSE A.ARNOLD, AND ETHAN J.KESSLER
1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
[dreslik@illinois.edu]
Over sixty percent of evaluated freshwater turtle species are assessed as at risk of extinction by the IUCN Red List. Overexploitation is the greatest threat, with habitat degradation, urbanization, pollution, and the ongoing effects of climate change also having large impacts. Consequently, many freshwater turtle populations are small, isolated, and declining,asis the case fortheSpottedTurtle(Clemmys guttata).ThespecieshasdeclinedacrossitsrangeintheeasternU.S.,withonlytwo populations remaining in Illinois at the western edge of its distribution. We conducted long-term capture-mark-recapture surveys and leveraged data collected over three decades tocreatedemographicmodelsofgrowth,survival,andreproductive output formulated into an integral projection model framework. The framework evaluates the probability of population persistence and how changes in vital rates affect population growth. Our results show the benefits of integrating size-based data sources for populationassessmentsandthevalueoflong-termmonitoring,withimplicationsforimprovingconservation effortsforSpottedTurtlesinIllinoisandthroughouttheirrange.
1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Centro Atómico Bariloche - Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), Fundacion de Historia Natural Felix de Azara, San Antonio Oeste, Rio Negro, Argentina [echave.mariaeugenia@maimonides.edu]
Accurate home range estimation is essential for understanding space use in wildlife. In the case of the Chaco Tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis), determining habitat use isparticularlyimportanttoinformfutureconservationstrategies.Traditional
Tortoise(Chelonoidis chilensis)
Program Abstracts
methods to estimate home range such as the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) often assume independent and identically distributed data. However, trajectories derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking data are typically autocorrelated. Ignoring this autocorrelation can lead to biased estimates; therefore, methods that account for it, such as Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation (AKDE), provide more reliable results. We analized GPS data from nine Chaco tortoises from a wild population in Río Negro, Argentina over approximatelytwoyears.Weusedtwotypesofdatafromthe same individuals and time periods toestimatetheirhomeranges.CorrelateddatawereobtainedusingaGPStrackingdevice, which recorded coordinates every 15 minutes. These high-frequency data were analyzed using both AKDE and MCP. In contrast, uncorrelated data were collected manually by recording GPS waypoints approximately every 7,15 or 21 days (depending on the season). These lower-frequency data were analyzed using the MCP method. We found that AKDE estimates varied widely among individuals, ranging from 5131 m2 to 669022 m2. In comparison, MCP estimates were smaller, ranging from 2300 m2 to 303200 m2. These results reflect the sensitivity of MCP tooutliersandsamplingdensity, and the tendency to underestimate home range size even when applied to uncorrelated data. Since MCP was applied to lower-frequency, uncorrelated datasets, their limitations become evident when compared to AKDE, which provided more robust and biologically realistic estimates. Our findings highlight theimportanceoftakingintoaccountautocorrelationfrom homerangeestimationwhenusingtrajectories,especiallyforspecieswithslowmovementpatterns,suchastortoises.
Poster
NotesandObservationson Graptemys FromCaptivity
STEVE ENDERS1 AND CHRIS LECHOWICZ
1theTurtleRoom, Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States of America [steve.enders@theturtleroom.org]
Like many turtle species, the genus Graptemys makes itdifficulttofullyobserveandrecordtheirbehavior,especiallywhere nesting is concerned. Even with near-daily tracking efforts, knowing the frequency of clutches and total eggs laid by an individual female during a single breeding season is difficult to discern from wild specimens. Over decades of combined efforts keeping and breeding, the authors have recorded several observations regarding clutch frequency, clutch size, sperm retention, hybridization, and variation of appearance which are presented herein. We also present a degenerative condition observed in several hatchlings ofthefive(5)membersofthebroadheadclade(alsoobservedinwildspecimens)aroundtheir 6th month post-hatching in hopes of beginning a dialog to consider possible causesandremediesbeyondthoseofwhichwe arealreadyconsidering.
Oral
TaxonomyofTurtleLovers:CreatingaBiggerUmbrella
STEVE ENDERS1 AND ANTHONY PIERLIONI
1theTurtleRoom, Lititz, Pennsylvania, United States of America [steve.enders@theturtleroom.org]
Over the past two decades, terms like “the pet trade”, “hobbyist”, “breeder”, and “collector” have beenusedsynonymously and applied to nearly anyone who keeps turtles in a privatecaptivesituation.Morerecently,thesetermshavehadanegative stigma attached to them and are frequently used in a derogatory ordismissivemanner.Manyself-describedconservationists and academics look at such individuals with disdain, even though many currently have or have had captive turtles at some point. However, the consensus on precise definitions of these labelsremainselusive.Werecognizethatnotallturtlekeepers have the same passions, motivations, and ethics. Therefore, such terms often lump many good individuals in with those adding to the current problems. To solve this issue, we define several existing terms, create new terms to fill gaps, and propose a “taxonomy of turtle lovers” that organizes them into several categories and recognizes the good in many private
captive keepers. We believe it is imperative for the success of conservation efforts that we welcome moregroupsunderour umbrellaworkingcollaborativelytosaveourfavoriteanimals.
UBALDO SEBASTIÁN FLORES-GUERRERO1,HECTOR ANDRÉS MEDINA-ANDRADE,ALEJANDRA MONSIVÁIS-MOLINA, AND TAGGERT
BUTTERFIELD
1Estudiantes Conservando la Naturaleza A.C., Alamos, Sonora, México [taggertbutterfield3@gmail.com]
Investigating turtle home ranging behavior is fundamental to understanding their natural history and making informed conservation decisions. The Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti) is the most endangered turtle in the Americas, yet nothing is known about its movement patterns. In this study, we equipped 17 adult Vallarta Mud Turtles with radio transmitters and tracked their movements for 3–6 months. We used triangulation to estimate positions inside lagoons and exact GPS coordinates when located outside. Despite losing signals from many turtles due to radio failure or poaching, we documented 179 movements, documenting movements within lagoons, between lagoons, and observed one individual estivating near its release site. Only one turtle wasobservedestivatingfromDecembertoApril,untilanexcavatordestroyed its habitat and buried it under debris. Another individual was found deceased 300 meters from thelagoonitwasreleasedin withtheradiostillattached,thecauseofmortalityisunknown.Whilewelacksufficientdatatoestimatehomerangesize,our study highlights an important part of thisspecies'naturalhistory:VallartaMudTurtlesmovebetweenlagoonsduringthewet season and leave lagoons to estivate during the dry season. These patterns are deeply concerning given that all habitats are fragmented, and turtles must cross citystreetstomovebetweenlagoons.Withincreasingblack-marketdemandandpoachers offering high sums to locals, this movement behavior threatens their existence, exposingturtlestovehiclestrikesandillegal collection. Students Conserving Nature and Turtle Survival Alliance are taking action by building a concretebarrieraround onelagoon,accompaniedby24/7videosurveillancetopreventpoaching.
AND H.BRADLEY SHAFFER 1Turtle Survival Alliance, North Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America [ngallego@turtlesurvival.org]
One year ago, the Turtle Survival Alliance launched the Atlas of Turtle Genomes for Conservation (ATGC)—an ambitious initiative to map the genetic diversity of the United States’ native turtle species. Each year, thousands of turtles are seized from illegal trade, yet safe and responsible reintroduction is nearly impossible without knowing their geographic origin. ATGC aims to improve upon traditional geneticidentificationmethodsbyapplyingwholegenomesequencingandadvanced analytical pipelines, enabling high-resolution assignment of individuals to their place of origin. Withinitialfundingsecured andagrowingnetworkofpartners—includingacademicinstitutions,governmentagencies,zoos,andfieldbiologists—ATGC has officially begun. Sample collection and cataloging are underway, accompanied by the development of standardized laboratory and field protocols to ensure dataquality,consistency,andreproducibility.Asaproof-of-concept,wearefocusing on the Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys spp.)andtheDiamondbackTerrapin(Malaclemys terrapin).Wearetestingmultiple analytical pipelines for these focal taxa to match unknown individuals to reference populations and refining lab workflows foroptimalprecisionandefficiency.Constructionofgenomicreferencemapsforselectedspeciesisplannedtobeginin2026, contingent on sample availability. In parallel, we are actively developing long-term fundraising strategies to support the project's growth and sustainability. We welcomeorganizationsandindividualswithsamples,fieldaccess,orasharedinterest
in turtle conservation to join ATGC—a national, collaborative effort to bring turtles to the forefront of genomics-informed conservation.
CHRISTEL GRIFFIOEN1,VAN VUTHEA,JACK WILLIS,CHIM SOPHEAP,PHAN SOPHAL, AND PHILIPP WAGNER
1Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), Siem Reap, Cambodia [cgriffioen@accb-cambodia.org]
Cambodia, a source and transit country for illegally trafficked wildlife, faces significant challenges related to the trade in various species, including many chelonians. Animals are oftentraffickedforconsumption,traditionalmedicaluse,theAsian pet market, and for prayer-animal release events. Prayer-animal release, a popular practice within Buddhist communities where animals are ritually released by people asanactofcompassionandkindnessinordertoreceivegoodmerit.However, without proper guidance, these events can have detrimental ecological impacts, including the introduction of non-native species and the release of animals that are ill-prepared to survive in the wild, which may ultimately result in their death. Turtles are among the most consistently targeted species in Cambodia's wildlife trade, exacerbating pressures on already depleted populations. In response, the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) has developed an outreach program to raise the conservation awareness and technical capacity among Buddhist monks. This initiative has positively influenced Monks’ knowledge and attitudes towards conservation, suggestingpotentialforlastingchangethroughcontinued support and collaboration. As a result, ACCB has seen an increase in the number ofturtlesandtortoisesdonatedbymonks, primarily from the illegal trade. This rise in donations reflects growing awareness among monks,whichcanbeattributedto the outreach efforts led by ACCB. Their active engagement demonstrates a commitment to wildlife rescue and signals a positive shift away from supporting the traditional prayer-animal release practices. Through this partnership, ACCB rehabilitates threatened turtles and incorporates them into assurance populations, serving as founders for long-term species conservation. Additionally, captive-bred and head-started offspring are being prepared for augmentation translocation into protected areas. This collaborative model represents an innovative approach to aligning traditional practices with effective conservation strategies, supporting the preservation of biodiversity while still respecting the cultural significance of the practice of prayer-animal release. This presentation will showcase ACCB's monk outreach program, highlighting how educationalinitiativeslikethislikelyofferawayforwardinbridgingthegapbetweenscience,religion,andtradition. Oral
JOHNSTON 1Santa Fe River Turtle Project, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America [ethanqhancock@gmail.com]
The SantaFeRiverinnorthernFloridaharborsauniquelyrichassemblageof11nativefreshwaterturtlespecies.Butchanges in the composition and abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation over the past two decades are a conservation concern. Each turtle species may be affected in a variety of ways, and the effects may vary among species. During thepast17years (2008–2024), we have conducted acapture-mark-recapturestudytoassesstemporalvariationinabundanceofeachspecies.I will present data that show different trends among species representing different trophicgroups.TheherbivorousSuwannee Cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) has declined in abundance, whereas the mollusk and arthropod consuming Loggerhead Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor) appears to have declined butthenrecentlybeguntorecover.Theomnivorous Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) has gradually increased in abundance. This study illustrates species-specificresponsestohabitatdegradationandfurtherdemonstratesthevalueoflong-termecologicalstudies.
DAVID LEE HASKINS1,WILLEM M.ROOSENBURG,CHRISTOPHER L.ROWE,AMANDA S.WILLIARD,ROBERT L.BURKE,JOHN WNEK,SCOTT A.SMITH,ZACHARY R.HOPKINS,ANDREA K.TOKRANOV, AND NATALIE K.KAROUNA-RENIER
1EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland, United States of America [dhaskins@eaest.com]
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a widely used group of chemicals that are of global concern due to their persistence and accumulation in humans andwildlife.Internationally,thereisapaucityofdatarelatedtoPFASaccumulation and potential effects in reptiles. Reptiles are important components of natural ecosystems and can serve as effective bioindicators of local contamination. Similartootheraquaticturtles,diamondbackterrapins(Malaclemysterrapin)areuseful for monitoring various pollutants in estuarine habitats. Terrapins exhibit many characteristics that make them ideal for monitoring PFAS contamination, including a long-life span, moderate home ranges, and a relatively high trophic position. Because terrapins generally consume crustaceans and mollusks, and dietary preferences may vary by region, non- lethal blood sampling could provide an effectivematrixforidentifyingpotentialexposureriskandnegativehealthoutcomesinthis vulnerable species. To better understand bioaccumulation of PFAS and potential physiological effects, we collected blood samples from terrapins throughout watersalongtheAtlanticcoastinNewYork,NewJersey,Delaware,Maryland,andNorth Carolina. PlasmawasanalyzedforPFAScompoundsusingHRMS-LCandmultipleindicatorsofimmuneandthyroidsystem status. The results indicate variations in PFAS bioaccumulation and profiles across the sampling locations. These novel ecotoxicological and health data provide a foundation for understanding PFAS exposure, as well as identifying factors that may dictate exposure risk and will assist state natural resource and wildlife agencies with management of terrapin populations.
1University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America [edhays@uark.edu]
Western Chicken Turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) are a species of GreatestConservationConcerninallstateswhere they occur, except Texas. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the status of Western ChickenTurtlesintheArkansas River Valley, Arkansas, USA because historical records, while geographically widespread, are sparse and overwhelmingly unsourced. To determine the current distribution, abundance, and wetland occupancy of Western Chicken Turtles in the Arkansas River Valley ecoregion, we conducted intensive trapping surveys across multiple wetlands at every Wildlife Management Area that appeared suitable for Chicken Turtles along the River Valley. We used a hierarchical Bayesian modeling approach to assess wetland occupancy of freshwater aquatic turtle communities across 18 wetlands surveyed. Despite trapping in wetlands with historical records ofChickenTurtles,wecaughtonlyoneChickenTurtle.Ourpreliminary results suggest that populations of Western Chicken Turtle have declined substantially and may be extirpated from the Western Arkansas River Valley. We observed that wetlands managed primarily for migratingwaterfowlweredrainedearlier in the year, had the lowest number of turtle detections, and contained homogenized turtle communities dominated by Mississippi Mud Turtles. Ouroccupancymodelsuggeststhatwetlandsretainingwaterlaterintothesummerwillincreasethe likelihood of occurrence of allspeciesexceptMudTurtles.Therefore,futurewetlandmanagementeffortstosupportChicken Turtles and diverse turtle communities in the River Valley could be as simple as allowing wetlands to undergotheirnatural cyclesoffillinganddrying,ratherthansubjectingthemtounnaturallyshortenedhydroperiods.
ETHAN C.HOLLENDER1,ELIZABETH D.HAYS, AND J.D.WILLSON
1University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America [echollen@uark.edu]
Western Chicken Turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) are an endemic species of the southern United States that are of conservation concern in nearly every state where they occur but have only beguntoreceiveseriousresearchattentioninthe last 15 years. They inhabit shallow wetlands and move among these regularly, but the specific environmental factors that drive wetland occupancy are not well understood. In order to better create and manage habitat for this species, we used hierarchical multi-species occupancy modeling to examine D. r. miaria wetland use patterns and evaluate factors that may affect detection and occupancy probability of D. r. miaria and ten other co-occurringfreshwaterturtlespeciesthatcomprise the local turtle community. These models were informed by extensive effort-standardized trapping surveys performed from 2020 –2024 at a set of wetlands spanning gradients of depth, area, isolation, aquatic vegetation coverage, and surrounding upland land use by humans. Here, we report our preliminary findings on the impacts of these factors in determining DeirochelyswetlandusageintheonlytwoknownextantpopulationsinOklahoma. Oral
theTurtleRoom, Washington, United States of America [info@kleinmanniassuranceproject.com]
The Kleinmanni Assurance Project (KAP) aims to insure the future of Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) through a comprehensive conservation strategy that leverages both in situ and ex situ approaches. Recognizingthecriticalimportance of genetic diversity in species preservation, KAP has initiated efforts to establish robust genetic pools ex situ fromexisting captive populations. This initiative is drivenbytheunderstandingthatinsitugeneticdatafor Testudo kleinmanni iscurrently limited, due to the lack of publicly documented known localities. The purpose of this study is to outline amethodologyfor integrating in situ and ex situ (co-situ) conservation and preservation efforts to enhance the long-term viability of Testudo kleinmanni populations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining support of field observations and data collection alongside genetic analysis conducted in controlled environments. Data collection in situ involves surveying remaining populations to gather ecological and genetic information, while ex situ efforts focus on maintaining and diversifying genetic resources within captive settings.Wehypothesizethatexsitupopulationscanserveasvitalreservoirsof genetic diversity to ensure living genetic material persists, with the hope that one day withadvancementsinscience,canbe reintroduced into the wild to bolster local populations. Furthermore, the collaboration with private parties has outlined an express interest in elevating ex situ program management in a decentralized model to the rigor of anyindividualinstitution throughvoluntaryparticipationmethods.
1The University of North Georgia, Oakwood, Georgia, United States of America [nhyslop@ung.edu]
Patterns of resource use by ectothermic vertebrates are influenced by multiple factors, including thermoregulatory requirements and habitat availability that affect behaviors suchasforaging,mating,andoverwintering.Resourcesoftenvary
spatiotemporally, especially in climatic zones with marked seasonal differences. Understanding these variations is vital to conservation and restoration efforts of terrestrial ectothermic species such as Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina; EBT). This long-lived species nativetotheeasternUnitedStatesisexperiencingpopulationdeclinesthroughoutits range and is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Despite the species’ status, little long-term research has been conducted on EBT habitat and thermal use in the Piedmontregionofitsrange.Weevaluatedactiveseasonandoverwinteringmicrohabitat use and thermal conditions of EBT in northeastern Georgia from 2013-2022 using radiotelemetry. The study site included upland habitats with native hardwood-pine mixed forests and areas dominated by non-native Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) or by a privet-pine mix. The site also included freshwater shrub wetlands and multiple, unconnected seepage wetlands dominated by either privet or native woody and herbaceous vegetation. At radiolocations, we assessed vegetation and substrate composition, canopy cover, basal area, site-specific environmental temperatures and carapace temperatures (calculatedfromtemperaturesensitivecarapace-affixedtransmitters).Foractiveseasonanalysis,weincludedturtleswith≥10 microhabitat observations per active season (n = 33; 17 males, 16 females) and overwintering data were collected from 37 individuals (22 males, 15 females). During the active season,turtlesusedareaswithanaverageof35%understorycover,80 ft²/ac basal area, and 60% canopy cover. In contrast, overwintering sites had lower understory cover (14% ±16%), higher average basal area (106 ft²/ac ±37), and reduced canopy cover (41% ±18%). Pearsoncorrelationshowedweakrelationships between carapace temperature and canopy cover (r = 0.07) or understory cover (r = 0.22). However, moderate to strong correlations were shown between carapace temperature and air (r = 0.58), shade (r = 0.61), and direct sun (r = 0.57) temperatures. This study provides important long-term baseline data for microhabitat use and contributes to our understandingofthevariabilityinresourceusebythisspecies.
C. HRYMOC, AND BENJAMIN K.ATKINSON 1Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida, United States of America [janszen.alexander@gmail.com]
Since 2021, our team has monitored Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows in coastal northeast Florida using wildlife trail cameras. We aim to better understand tortoise behavior and ecological relationships with local commensal species, particularly since coastal dunes and maritime hammock habitats have been historically underrepresented in herpetological literature. We deployed RECONX Hyperfire 2, JOH, andJOH-minitrailcamerasnexttotheapronoftortoise burrows in these habitats. To date, we have captured >320,000 still images and >108,000 short video clips, documenting tortoise and commensal activity. Of commensal taxa observed between sites (n = 37), 87% were mammalian, 12% were avian, and 2% reptilian (non-tortoise) or amphibian, respectively. Tortoises were usually most active in the early to late afternoon at both sites, although we also observed seasonal biases. Tortoise activity wasdependentonambienttemperature. Dune-dwelling tortoises were most active in temperature ranges between 32°C - 38°C (mean = 34.7°C), and maritime hammock residents were most active between 24°C - 31°C (mean = 27.8°C).Forallcommensaltaxa,ambienttemperatures ranged between 12°C - 21°C (mean = 18.7°C) in the dunes, and 14°C - 23°C (mean = 16.3°C) at the maritime hammock. Mammalian commensals were observedthroughoutthedayinthemaritimehammock,whereasmammalsweremostlyactive from dusk to dark in the dunes. Avian commensals were observed between early morning and late afternoon. The Shannon-Wiener indexfortheduneswas1.703,andthemaritimehammockwas2.097,whichwassignificantlydifferent(p= 3.77 x10-9<0.05).Thesedatashedlightonunderstudiedecosystems,highlightingtheimportancetheyserveashabitatfora keystone species and the commensal taxa they support. We will share additional data, images, and video clips depicting tortoise behavior and thatoftheirburrowcommensalsandcasualvisitants.Trailcamerascontinuetoserveasanon-invasive, effectivemonitoringtoolfortortoisecommunityecology.
1The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America [mcaulay.jaunsen@usm.edu]
The Ringed Sawback Turtle (Graptemys oculifera) is listed asfederallythreatened,stateendangeredinMississippiandstate threatened in Louisiana. These listings were established primarily due to the species' limited geographic range, multiple major anthropogenic alterations within the Pearl River watershed, as well as observed population declines at several sites within the state of Mississippi. Since 2013/14, population estimates have not been generated at five long-term population assessment sites that were originally initiated in 1988/89bytheMississippiDepartmentofWildlifeFisheriesandParks.Our study aimed to replicate these mark-resight surveys in order to assess the current status of G. oculifera, with additional resources allowing us to survey five supplementary sites throughout the drainage. We report a successful method for capturing 'sleeping' Graptemys, a method of night capture that was utilized in previous surveys for Graptemys but underutilized in recent years. Upon capture, turtles were group-marked with a non-toxic tree marking paint for subsequent mark-resight surveys using a combination of bothspottingscopesandbinocularsfromeitherafixedlocationonasandbaror from a moving boat. Population estimates by two models, NOREMARK and a modified version of the Schnabel model, produced strong positively correlated results across all ten sites (r = 0.93). Despite limitedsurveyyearsforcomparison,our results indicated that while one site displayed a statistically significant increaseinpopulation,twohaveexperiencedeithera statistically significant decline or borderline significant decline across all survey years. No trend was detected for all five long-term monitoring sites combined, however we report an approximately26%declineinaveragedensitysincemonitoring beganthreedecadespreviously,highlightingongoingconservationconcernforthisthreatenedspecies.
MARK S.KETNER1,JOSEPH M.KOLOWSKI,CHRIS POLINSKI,JOHN B.HARRIS,MAXWELL P.EARLE, AND THOMAS S.B.AKRE
1Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America [ketnerm@si.edu]
Turtle populations are declining across much of their global range, primarily due to urbanization and habitat loss. Previous analyses have been limited in the methods used to assess how these factors influence home range and habitat use of the Eastern BoxTurtle(Terrapene carolina carolina). High-resolutionGPStrackingoffersapowerfullensforexamininghabitat use spatially and temporally. This approach helps identify critical habitats that were often mischaracterized using VHF tracking and traditional home range analyses, such as Minimum Convex Polygons (MCPs) and Kernel Density Estimates (KDEs). In this study, we examined the spatial ecology of Eastern Box Turtles across a mosaic of habitats in Virginia’s Piedmont region. From May to November 2024, we tracked 11 turtles using radiotelemetry andGPSunits,collecting9,024 geolocational points recorded at hourly intervals (mean = 1381.33-point locations; range = 112-1417). We analyzed movement patterns in the R coding environment using the Continuous-Time MovementModeling(CTMM)package,which applies autocorrelatedkerneldensityestimates(AKDEs)toaccountforthetemporalautocorrelationandimprovehomerange accuracy. For comparison, we generated KDEs and MCPs under the assumption of independent locations. These estimates were largest when using MCPs (22.48 ha on average), followed by AKDEs (12.51 ha), and smallestwithKDEs(10.87ha). This result reflects the tendency of MCPs to overestimate and KDEs to underestimate space use due to differences in how they handle autocorrelation and outlier points. To explore habitat use within estimated home ranges, we delineated habitat polygons in QGIS and calculated the proportion of turtle locations withineachhabitattype.Wefoundthatturtlesfrequently used amixofforested,meadow,andpasturehabitats,with72.60%oflocationsoccurringinforests,24.00%inmeadows,and 2.54% in pastures. By combining CTMM modeling with our high-resolution dataset, we observed home range sizes that exceeded previous estimates from Northeastern studies, which reportedanaverageof4.3haKDEs.Thesefindingshighlight
the importance of advanced trackinganddataanalysistounderstandhabitatuse,offeringinsightfordevelopingconservation strategiestoprotectvulnerablespeciesliketheEasternBoxTurtle.
Poster
TurtlesAreParetoDistributed
ROSS KIESTER
Turtle Conservancy, Ojai, California, United States of America [ross@turtleconservancy.org]
In 1957 LoveridgeandWilliamswroteintheirRevisionoftheAfricanTortoisesandTurtlesoftheSuborderCryptodira:``At every point in our taxonomic study we have been faced with the fact that in allcharacterstheamountofvariationexhibited by members of this order is frequently astonishing and always disconcerting. ... The number of such observed variations,it should be noted, is apt to bear a direct ratio to the number of specimens studied.'' This observation leads to a Pareto Distribution which can have an infinitevariance.Asaresult,collectingmoredatadoesnotconvergeonavalueasisthecase with the Law of Large Numbers. It also means that individual variation dominates most descriptions of turtles and their behavior. They appear to succeed by each individual doing something different from the others. Examples are given from osteology,homerange,andbehavior.Inthecaseofbehavior,manyturtlesappeartohavedistinctpersonalities.
ROB KLINGER1,THOMAS POP,BARNEY HALL,JAREN SERANO,ANDREW CHOCO,JONATHAN DUBON,HEATHER BARRETT,HESTON CASTILLO, AND JACOB MARLIN
1Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education, Toledo District, Belize [rklinger@bfreebz.org]
The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) is one of the most endangered freshwater turtles intheworld.Itis heavily hunted in many parts of its range and overexploitation has been identified as the principal factor in population declines and local extirpation. There have been no attempts to estimate sustainable harvestrates(maximumsustainedyield; MSY) in populations of D. mawii though. Therefore, we used a stage-based transient dynamics matrix projection model (TDM) to address three main questions: (1) to what degree is mortality from huntingadditivevs.compensatory;(2)whatis the relative influence of demographic and environmental stochasticity on persistence of D. mawii populations;and(3)what are recovery times of D. mawii populations following the cessation of hunting? TDMs quantify non-equilibrium dynamics over relatively short periods of time,whichprovidesgreaterinsightintodynamicsinvarying(non-asymptotic)environments than traditional deterministic (asymptotic) matrix population models. We first developed a base model with survival and fecundity estimates from a population of D. mawii in a semi-natural captive breeding facility in southern Belize. We then modified the base model with Bayesian estimates of published survival values from other freshwater turtle species to represent varying levels of exploitation. Mortality from hunting was strongly additive in all but the most lightly hunted scenarios. Demographic stochasticity increased time to extirpationbutnotthelongrunchanceofpersistence.Environmental stochasticity resulted in persistence over 100 years, but abundance was low relative to the starting population size in most scenarios. Amplification andinertiawerethemaincomponentsoftransientdynamicsthatallowedpopulationstopersist.The long period of time it takes to reach the breeding stage (approximately 15 years) and the high rates of mortality in eggand hatchling stages are severe constraints on recruitment in D. mawii.Obtainingformalprotectionfor D. mawii acrossitsrange is not currently feasible, so limits on take are one of the only realistic options. The TDMsindicatesustainableharvestrates wouldbebasedonintermittentperiods(1–2years)oflowtomoderatetakeandamaximumratherthanminimumsizelimit. Oral
Karoo Dwarf Tortoise (Chersobius boulengeri) is one of the smallest species of tortoises in the world. It is also one of the minimally studied tortoise species and knownfrom onelocalitywhereitoccurs.Thespecieswasdescribedin1906,butfor the next hundred years not much was known about it. However, from 2005 to 2017, despite efforts, nonewerefoundinthe wild.InFebruary2017,expertsfromtheDutchDwarfTortoiseConservationFoundationfocusedontheproblem.Foundation founder, Dr. Victor Loehr, is a leading world expert on dwarf tortoises. After consultation with South African colleagues,a suitable locality was selected in the dry area of the south-central part of South Africa, called the Karoo. The research was started, it was followed by success, and the first tortoises were found. Furtherexpeditionstookplacein2018and2019.The research was financially supported by a number of institutions from around the world, including the CrocodileZooPrague. The Dwarf Tortoise Conservation Foundation received permission from the South African authorities to import two adult pairs from the wild to Europe for the purpose of research and non-commercial breeding. In view of thediresituationinthe wild, it was decided in 2022 to create four breeding centers in Europe in 2022, inwhichtheoffspringsfromtheindividuals originally imported from the wild will be gradually placed. Two groups are located in specialized breeding facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium, the third group is kept by the Zoo Basel in Switzerland, and the fourth is kept by the Crocodile Zoo Prague. The first breedings have already taken place, and in October2024,afterovercomingmanyproblems,twomore pairs were imported from the wild. Thissignificantlyincreasedgeneticdiversityandotherpossibilities.Thecommontaskof all four breeding centers is to create a numerically controlled Europeanreservepopulation,fromwhichitwillbepossibleto return reared individuals back to the wild in the future, if necessary. Of course, there is an ongoing study of the reared individuals, including regular measurements, weighing, growth rate and keeping the records of breeding. This is one of the minimallystudiedspeciesoftortoises.In2025,theglobalpopulationinhumancarewillregister31individualsonly.
ERIKA KUBISCH1,CAMPOS HAEDO,FERNANDO DURAN,MARÍA EUGENIA ECHAVE,JORGELINA BORETTO, AND ERIKA KUBISCH 1INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue – CONICET), San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina [ekubisch@comahue-conicet.gob.ar]
Physiological stress responses play a crucial role in an organism’s survival by mobilizing energy to cope with threats. However, these responses can compromise vital functions such as reproduction and immunity, increasing vulnerability to predators, parasite infections, and other environmental threats. The Chaco Tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis) is classified as Endangered (in press) by the IUCN Red List,primarilyduetohabitatloss,andinPatagonia,manyindividualsoftenfallinto a 194 km-longopenwatercanal.Thisstudyaimedtoanalyzeseasonalvariationsintheheterophil:lymphocyteratioandbody condition index of adult males andfemalesinawildpopulationof C. chilensis duringtheirpeakactivityperiod,aswellasto establish baseline values and assess the effects of an acute stress event falling intothecanal.From2017to2024,duringthe active spring-summer seasons (November to February), 277 tortoises of oneofthesouthernmostpopulations,werecaptured in Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina. Body mass and straight carapace length were measured to estimate the body condition index (CI), and blood samples were taken from a subsample to prepare smears and analyze the heterophil:lymphocyteratio (H:L; N = 68). The same protocol was applied to tortoises rescued fromthecanal.RescuedtortoisesexhibitedlowerCIand higher H:L ratios than wild individualsthatdidn’tfallintothecanal.Intheirnaturalenvironment,tortoisesshowedapeakin H:L ratio in late spring (December), particularly in males, who also had lower CI during the mating period associatedwith intense intrasexual combat for females and territory. In summer (January and February), both sexes had low H:L values; however, females showed lower CI than males, coinciding with the period ofegg-laying.Theresultsobtainedinthepresent
study suggest that both the H:L ratio and CIaremodifiedinresponsetosustainedstressorsoveraperiodoftime,andcanbe consideredasphysiologicalindicatorsofstressin Chelonoidis chilensis
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia [gerald.kuchling@uwa.edu.au]
A recent genetic study demonstrated that all snake-necked turtles in the subgenus Chelydera from the Kimberely, Western Australia, are representatives of one species, Chelodina kuchlingi. However, until now two Kimberley species were recognized based on morphological variations, variously named C. rugosa or C. kuchlingi or C. kurrichalpongo(?) on the coastal plain and C. burrungandjii or C. walloyarrina onthesandstoneplateau.Allthese“species”wereoriginallydescribed solely on the basis of morphology. Turtles with the “classical” C. kuchlingi morphology (according to the original description) from the lower Ord River floodplain have not been foundsince1974,theyearoftheopeningofOrdRiverdam which created the largest water impoundment of Australia and drastically reduced wet season flooding on thecoastalplain. Accordingly, in 2024 C. kuchlingi was listed as Critically Endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act of Western Australia. However, the recently demonstrated genetic similarity of all Kimberley snake-neckedturtles,forwhichtheoldest available name is C. kuchlingi, raises the question ifdifferentmorphotypesarisethroughphenotypicplasticity.Forthelast2 ½ years I have been raising seven C. kuchlingi juveniles (all offspring of the same mother from the type locality of C. kuchlingi, hatched December 2022 and January 2024 and 2025) in a captive facility inPerth,WesternAustralia.Simulating conditions of open and sunny, shallow-flooded and highly productive ephemeral wet-season wetlands throughtheprovision of relatively warm water and ad libitum food during summer (= wet season) leads to seasonallyrapidgrowthandgenerates the “classical” kuchlingi morphotype with a broad shell andradiatingrugositiesoncarapacescutes.Incontrasttothewidely expanding shallow inundations on the coastal plain during the wet season prior to the damming of the Ord River, water rushes through the gorges onthesandstoneplateauanddeeppoolsprovideyear-roundwaterwithmoderatetemperaturesand food supply. Raising juveniles by simulating the later conditions appears to generate the “burrungandjii/ walloyarrina” morphotype, although due to slower growth it will take additional time until they reach the subadult/adult stage and this hypothesiscanbeconfirmed.
1John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America [fkuzma@jbzoo.org]
Urbanization has significantly altered natural landscapes, largely to the detriment of local wildlife species. Turtles are particularly vulnerable to the threats posed byurbanenvironmentsduetotheirslowlifehistorystrategyandrelianceonboth aquatic and terrestrial habitats. However, the ability of different species to adapt to urban environments varies broadly, and understanding these species-specific responses is important to conservation efforts. JohnBallZoo(JBZ)anditssurrounding greenspace cover approximately 41.5 hectares in GrandRapids,Michigan,USA.Atleastfivenativeturtlespecieshavebeen documented on grounds including Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata), Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina), Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica), Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), and Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). While many of JBZ's field conservation projects focus on Great Lakes rare turtles, our monitoring of turtles on grounds has been inconsistent.Additionally,duetothesensitivestatusoftheturtles
we typically work with, there have been limited opportunities for direct publicengagementinourturtleprojects.Toaddress these issues, we are working to develop a multi-faceted approach to monitoring turtles on grounds that will maximize community engagement, investigate urban turtle ecology, and establish a long-term monitoring program. We plan to use visual encounter surveys, aquatic turtle trapping, opportunistic encounters, and radio telemetry to monitor the population status and dynamics of our local turtles. Additionally, we are exploring ways to directly engage staff members, student groups, and zoo guests in these efforts to directly connect peopletoourconservationinitiatives.Thispostersummarizesour pastefforts,outlinesthemethodswewillbepilotingthisyear,anddetailsourgoalsforthefutureofthisproject.
CHRISTOPHER J.LECHOWICZ1,MICHAEL MILLS, AND NADINE COBB
1Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Sanibel, Florida, United States of America
[clechowicz@sccf.org]
Barrier islands are formed by deposits of sand and shellfromwavesandcurrents.Thesedynamicandsometimesshort-lived drylandmassescanhosteitherhighorlowwildlifediversitydependingonvariousfactors,suchasproximitytothemainland or the mouth of a large river. In thesoutheasternUnitedStates,barrierislandsaresubjecttoperiodictropicalstormsthatcan change their overall shape and the habitats that develop on them. One barrier island in southwest Florida contained a substantial percentage of freshwater bodies, from both natural and man-made causes, that resulted in high density and diversity of native species. Anthropomorphic changes to the island increased the abundance of aquatic and semi-aquatic species but decreased the number of purely terrestrial species. Following three significant storm-surge events over the last two and a half years, which have not occurred inalmostonehundredyears,nearlyallthefreshwaterhabitatshavebeenlost. Aquatic species such as Apalone ferox, Pseudemys nelsoni, and Pseudemys peninsularis suffered heavy losses from lack of freshwater bodies. Semi-aquatic species such as Deirochelys reticularia, Kinosternon baurii, Kinosternon steindachneri,and Terrapene bauri hadmixedreactionstothesesaltwaterintrusionsdependingonwhathabitattheywereoccupyingatthetime. The fully terrestrial Gopherus polyphemus had moderate (35% based on burrow surveys) losses and movements to new locations. Malaclemys terrapin did not show any significant adverse impacts from the storm surge,nordidtheinvasiveand non-nativepondslider(Trachemys scripta),whichappearsunaffectedbyhighsalinity.
CHARLES LEHNEN1,WASHINGTON TAPIA, AND CRAIG STANFORD 1University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America [Lehnen@USC.edu]
Following the extinction of the keystone Santa Fe Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis indet.) in the mid-1800s duetoover-hunting and competition with invasive species, the ecosystem of Santa Fe Island degraded. In part, this was evidenced by a proliferation of various woody plants and a markeddeclineincactus(Opuntia echios barringtonesis)populations,whichare the primary trophic resource for tortoises and other wildlife. In a restoration effort, Española Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis hoodensis)wereintroducedtotheislandasecologicalproxiesbeginningin2015.Aspartofamulti-facetedstudydesignedto quantify the ecologicalimpactofthisintroduction,wecollectedmultispectraldroneimageryacrosstheentiretyofthe24km2 Santa Fe Island in the summer of 2023. In fall of 2024 and spring of 2025 werecollectedimageryforcertainareasthathad lower resolution. We used this imagery to classify and map cacti using Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms. Weare planning to use the resulting imagery as training and validation layers for satellite imageryclassificationinordertoanalyze
the shifts in cactus distribution since theintroductionoftortoises.TheseresultswerecombinedwithHiddenMarkovModels (HMMs) to map how the distribution of tortoise activity is related to resource density both temporally and spatially. Inthis talk, I will discuss this field and modelingmethodologyaswellaswhattheseresultsindicateabouthowintroducedtortoises may be impacting Santa Fe’secosystem.Iwillalsobrieflydiscussmyotherongoingapproachestoquantifyingtheimpactof this introduction. Overall, these findings will inform conservation policy and management decisions within the Galapagos including whether further human intervention is required. More generally, this research serves as an important early case studyforprojectsaimedatrestoringecosystemsthroughtheaugmentationorrestorationofkeystonespeciespopulations.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Lafayette, Louisiana, United States of America [klejeune@wlf.la.gov]
Few restrictions for Louisiana’s reptiles and amphibians have beenimplementedsincetheLouisianaDepartmentofWildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) wasofficiallytaskedwiththemanagementoftheseresourcesin1974.Thelackofregulation,coupled with a paucity of data on wild collection, has hindered LDWF biological staff fromadequatelyaddressingimpactstonative reptilesandamphibians.Further,theinferiorqualityofexistingregulatorylanguagehaspresentedchallengesforenforcement personnel. In 2022, LDWF staff began a comprehensive review of the state’s reptile and amphibian regulations to identify deficiencies and necessary updates. Subsequently, a Notice of Intent (NOI) was developed and presented to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in 2023. LDWF staff requested Commission approval of the NOI that would establish regulatory language to aid in the conservation and protection of reptile and amphibian resources within the state. With an emphasis on native turtles, an overview of the key regulatory deficiencies, the regulatory process, and keyrevisionswillbe provided.
Garden State Tortoise, Galloway, New Jersey, United States of America
[chrleone@gmail.com]
In 2022 the Turtle Survival Alliance placed 9 adult Mexican Box Turtles (Terrapene mexicana) in the care ofGardenState Tortoise after they were confiscated from a shipment destined for the illegal pet trade in Asia. Garden State Tortoise is a private chelonian facility in southern, coastal New Jersey where various Terrapene species are maintained, among many others. Since box turtles have been a staple at our facility resulting in decades of experience regarding their captive husbandry, the confiscated Terrapene mexicana werewelcomedfromacautiouslyoptimisticstateofmind.Weknewupfront the animals were deemed healthy, however, past experiences with confiscated or surrendered Terrapene species were anything but uplifting. Box turtles are oftenheavilycompromised,sufferingfromvariousviralandbacterialinfectionsalong with substantial parasitic loads. These issues, accompanied by massive levels of stress often lead to the untimelydemiseof these turtles, sadly. Still, we were up for the challenge. The adult Mexican BoxTurtleswerequitethepositiveventurefrom the start proving to be alert, responsive and even reproductive within their first year with us. In many cases these turtles highly contrasted the confiscated specimens we had been used to receiving from wildlife agencies and rehabilitation organizations. We experimented with a variety of both indoor and outdoor habitats while closely observing the behavioral patterns of the turtles and collected some interesting data. Although we were met with a favorablesituationconcerningthis group of T. mexicana, there were a few challenges, particularly with their young. In this presentation I will share how the
adults and young have been kept, interesting statistics regarding reproduction and any issues we have faced in the last few yearswiththem.
1New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America [ajlichtig@gmail.com]
Morphological data herpetologists and paleontologists use to reconstruct the phylogeny of turtles merits major reconsideration. Formanyyears,thesedatahavebeenlargelybasedonrepeatedrevisionofolddatasets,appendingnewdata and minor revisions of old data.Asrecentstudiesshow,someresultsthatmostcloselyresemblemolecularphylogenieswere produced by removing morphological characters from coding, as opposedtoincludingambiguityinthedataset.Inaddition, new insights from evo-devo show what, specifically, is being controlledbyevolutionarychange.Thus,specificmechanisms have been identified that control aspect ratios and relative positioning of somites. Conversely, we have not identified mechanisms for maintaining contacts between bones of the carapace and plastron at specific points, which are largely the characters ofchoiceinbuildingdatasetsforturtlemorphologicalphylogeny.Thequestionofnon-adaptationalfeatures,those that represent architectural/ fabricational noise, has also not been addressed. It is thus time for a rethink to focus on what specificallyevolutioniscontrollingasopposedtosecondaryeffects.Specifically,focusontheshapesofstructuresratherthan on what bone contacts what. We must also understand that in three dimensional space contacts and shapes can vary independently, so one does not substitute for the other, as has been claimed in some quarters. For example, a turtle species may consistently have a neural 1 longer than wide, but that neural may vary in contacting just costal 1 or costals 1 and 2, depending on the shape of its posterior portion. This can occur without lengthening the neural, but by changing its shape. Alternatively, the shape can change greatly without changing the contacts. The same contacts can occur nearthemidlineor be widely spaced and have no change inhowtheyarecodeddespitetheunderlyingbonesbeingquitedifferent.Muchofthis is the result of a practice left over from pre-evo-devo studies that nowseemstostudyturtlemorphologybylookingthrough distorted lenses at secondary effects rather than primary causes. Nowthatwehaveabetterunderstandingofwhatisactually being controlled, we should focus directly on that and not on the artifacts created as a secondary impact of those controls. Thus, if nature is controlling relative positions and shapes, and contacts are just a secondary result, we should focus onthe former,notthelatter.
1What About The Turtles, Chantilly, Virginia, United States of America [olivia@aeroanimalrescue.org]
As urban expansion accelerates, native wildlife is increasingly caught in the crossfire of development.Turtles,inparticular, face a unique and often overlooked threat—entrapment behind silt fencing. These barriers, designed to control erosion, unintentionally create an inescapable maze for slow-moving turtles, leavingthemstrandedinclearedareaswithoutaccessto food, water, or shelter. Without intervention, many perish due to dehydration, starvation, or exposure, while others are unknowingly bulldozed during the next phase of construction.“WhatAbouttheTurtles?”isaninitiativedesignedtoaddress this hidden crisis. Our trained volunteers systematically walk construction sites after land clearing, searchingforturtlesand other displaced wildlife before excavation begins. By carefully locating, assessing, and relocating turtles to suitable nearby habitats, we reduce direct mortality and mitigate the long-term ecological impacts of development. This practice is not just about immediate rescue—it’s about building awareness and promoting responsible land stewardship. By partnering with
construction crews, environmental consultants, and community members, we are working to make wildlife-conscious construction practices the norm rather than the exception. When developers and planners integrate proactivewildliferescue measures into their site protocols,wecancreateamodelwhereconservationanddevelopmentcoexist.Additionally,tracking and data collection play a critical role in our efforts. By documenting where turtles are found and how they adapt post-relocation, we contribute valuable insights to conservation research. This information helpsrefinerelocationstrategies, ensuring that displaced turtles have the best chance of survival in their new environments. Our goal is to spread awareness and encourage more people to take action. Whether through volunteer participation, partnerships with construction companies, or policy advocacy, every effort brings us closer to a future where turtlesandotherwildlifearenotcasualtiesof progress. By recognizing the impact of development on native species and implementing simple yet effective rescue protocols, we can make a lasting difference. What about the turtles? It’s a question we must all ask as we shape the landscapesoftomorrow.
RAÚL LÓPEZ1,CLEMENTINA GONZÁLES, AND RODRIGO MACIP
1Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México [lopez_vivanco@hotmail.com]
Aestivation is a physiological strategy that allows diverse vertebrates to survive in environments with seasonal resource availability. In reptiles such as turtles, aestivation has beenpresentsincebasallineages;however,theevolutionaryhistoryof aestivation duration in freshwater turtles and tortoises has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we performed ancestral state reconstructions to infer the evolution of aestivation duration. We compiled a database containing information on the maximum days of aestivation reported in the literature for 191 turtle species distributed worldwide. We used a maximum likelihood approach for a continuous trait, assuming a Brownian motion model. The resultssuggestthattheancestralclades of pleurodires and cryptodires showed a brief duration of aestivation, a pattern thatremainedconsistentuntiltheemergence of several extant families. Kinosternidae and Pelomedusidae exhibited an increase in aestivation duration, especiallyduring the Eocene, in response to adverse climatic conditions, followed by a subsequent decline. In Kinosternidae, 16 of its 24 species, and PelomedusidaesevenofeightspeciesincreasedtheirtimeofaestivationdaysduringtheNeogene.Thisincrease, observed in these families belonging to different suborders and continents, can be considered an example of evolutionary convergence. By contrast, Trionychidae and Chelydridae, which have occupied stable climatic niches for millions of years, reduced or lost the capacity for aestivation. The duration of aestivation has not followed a uniform pattern but has instead evolved differently depending on the environmental context of each lineage or the stability of climatic niches, where aestivationtendedtodisappearasitwasnolongernecessaryasasurvivalstrategy.
HOPE K.LOVICH1,HOPE K.LOVICH,ARMANDO J.B.SANTOS,JEFFREY A.SEMINOFF,MEGAN E.HANNA,GARRETT E.LEMONS, ANDREW S.MAURER,ROBIN A.LEROUX, AND MARIANA M.P.B.FUENTES
1Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America [hklovich@gmail.com]
Increasing vessel traffic poses serious threats to marine megafauna. Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to impacts from vesselinteractions,astheyaresurface-dwellingandspendmuchoftheirtimeincoastalforagingareasthatoverlapwithareas of high-vessel traffic. To mitigate interactionsbetweenvesselsandseaturtles,knowledgeofthespatialandtemporaloverlap between vessels and sea turtles is needed, especially where vessel use is widespread. This is the case in San Diego Bay (SDB), located in Southern California, USA, which serves as an important feeding ground for threatened Green Turtles
Program Abstracts
(Chelonia mydas) and supports diverse marine-based user groups that operate a variety of motorized vessels. To inform conservation initiatives to mitigate sea turtle-vessel interactions in SDB, this study developed a multifactorialapproachthat integrates various data streams (e.g. turtle occurrence, vessel presence, and bathymetry) to determine the spatiotemporal patterns inexposureofGreenTurtlestovesselsintheregion.Wedefinedturtle-useareasbyaggregatingturtlelocationsfrom satellite telemetry data (21 tracked turtles) into 250 m x 250 m raster cells and identifying cells with recurring use across individuals and seasons. These recurring turtle-use cells formed the spatial basis for assessing risk from vessels. Risk was characterized by overlapping turtle-use cells with areas of vessel presence, based on proximity to vessel channels, marinas and anchorages, and a designated fishing zone, as well as bathymetry, with specialconsiderationforshallowwaters(<2m), where turtles have reduced capacity to evade vessels. Bathymetry was included due to its relevance in influencing turtle movement and escape potential in shallow areas. Using this framework, we identified that 7% of the total year-round turtle-use cells were classified as high-risk, where turtle occurrence coincided with high vessel activity in shallow waters. Variability in high-risk areas were found seasonally. These areas are good candidates for future initiatives to mitigate turtle-vessel interactions. By integrating multiple data-streams, our method provides a robust framework for delineating high-riskareasandinformingtargetedmanagementandconservationstrategies.
ODRIGO MACIP-RÍOS1,TAGGERT G.BUTTERFIELD, AND J.JAIME ZÚÑIGA-VEGA
1Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Morelia, México [rmacip@enesmorelia.unam.mx]
The Jalisco Mud Turtle (Kinosternon chimalhuaca) is an endemic species from the Pacific coast of Jalisco and Colima, Mexico. The species has been poorly studied and much of its natural history and ecology are unknown. We analyzed the demography and basic reproductive ecology of a population inhabiting a canal in a peri-urban area on the coast of Jalisco, Mexico. We use a mark-capture-recapture dataset collected over four years (2019-2022) to perform multi-state and time-symmetric open models (Pradel) to calculate population growth, recapture, and transition probabilities. A total of 530 turtles were captured and marked during the study. Survival probability was higher in adults (0.93) compared to juveniles (0.38). The estimated abundance of the population studied was between 699 and 778 turtles, with a sex ratiobiasedtoward females (1:1.86). The estimates of finite rate of population growth were not different from 1. Using radiographs of 23 females, we found that clutch size was 3.89 ( 0.81) eggs, with a range from 3 to 6 eggs, we also found evidence of pelvic constraint on egg size. The studied population is restricted to subsidized man-made canals and was considered stable. The informationgeneratedinthispaperwillbeusefulforthemuchneededconservationassessmentsofmudturtles. Oral
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Isiolo, Kenya [dominic.maringa@lewa.org]
The development of Kenya’s National Action Plan for the Recovery and Conservation of the Pancake Tortoise began with grassroots observations in remote, arid northern regions. Initially mistaken for a juvenile Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) due to its small, flat appearance, the Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) gainedattentionwhenaCanadian researcher associated with Lewa inquired about its presence. Old photographs surfaced, prompting a search for thespecies. The researcher helpedconnectconservationistswiththeTurtleSurvivalAlliance,whichsupportedthedesignoffieldsurveys in and around the conservancy. These surveys revealed the tortoise’s critical status and ledtocommunityoutreach,asmany
locals had neverseenthespeciesdespitelivingclosetoitshabitat.ListedasCriticallyEndangeredontheIUCNRedListand in Appendix I of CITES, it faces growing threats from habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Its survival demands urgent, collaborative action.Initial sightings by Lewa rangers led to broader ecological assessments confirming the species’ dependence on rocky outcrops in arid terrain. As findings grew, collaboration expanded to the Kenya Wildlife Service, NationalMuseumsofKenya,andregionalcommunityconservancies.Theseeffortswerestrengthenedbyconsultativeforums incorporating indigenous knowledgeandcommunityperspectives.TheActionPlanistheproductofawide-ranginginitiative led by the National Pancake Tortoise Technical Steering Committee (NPTTSC), bringing together government agencies, communities, NGOs, private landowners, and researchers. This coalition developed a science-based, community-informed roadmap prioritising public awareness, sustainable conservation, and long-term habitat protection. The plan envisions thriving Pancake Tortoise populations in healthy ecosystems that deliver ecological and socio-economic value. It outlines strategic goals, measurable actions, and a framework forimplementation,coordination,funding,andmonitoring.Asthefirst plan for this species across Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, it encourages cross-border collaboration. Ultimately, the Action Plan represents the power of community-led conservation. With commitment andunity,eventhemostfragilespeciescanbe saved
SANDRA MARSHALL1,ZACHARY LEPERA,ERICA FISHER, AND BENJAMIN K.ATKINSON 1Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida, United States of America [paxtonmarshall@rocketmail.com]
As a celebrated keystone species, Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) support hundreds of commensals by digging extensive burrows that serve as refugia from thermal extremes, severe weather events, and even wildfires. Unfortunately, Gopher Tortoises have declinedthroughoutmuchoftheirrangeduetohabitatlossandhistoricalharvest.Tortoisesinhabiting coastal dunes are understudied in comparison to their more inland counterparts. Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM) in northeast Florida monitors tortoise populations every few years through boots-on-the-ground burrow surveys. The GTM coastal dunes habitat is a ~6.8-km-long narrow stretch of protected natural dunes largely undisturbed by human development. This sensitive habitat is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, the west by a highway, and the north and south by housing developments. During survey transects, we collected burrow GPS coordinates, noted its activity status (active, inactive, or abandoned)andrecordedmaximumwidthforeachburrow’smouth. We thenanalyzedourdata,mappedburrowdensityanddistributionusingArcGISPro,andcomparedtheseresultstoarchival data. Contrasting past surveys, the tortoise population appears to have increased in the GTM dunes.Totalburrowsrecorded increased substantially (748%) in the past 18 years. However, this apparent dramatic increase is likely due todifferencesin detection and methodology. Our dune burrow density is currently 17.3 burrows per hectare – relatively high compared to other habitat types in Florida. When calculating population estimates, depending on the method of analysis, we saw an increase of 432% to 584% in tortoise numbers over the same period. We also inferred life stages from burrow widths.Size classes were more evenly distributed in 2025 than in past years. The importance of this habitat for tortoise conservation is likelyunderestimated.
MARÍA EUGENIA MARTÍNEZ ARIZMENDI1,RICARDO DAVALOS, AND DAVID ESPINOSA AVILES
Kinosternon vogti, commonly known as the Vallarta Mud Turtle, is a recently discovered species (2018) endemic to the Puerto VallartaregionofJalisco,Mexico.Thisspeciesnotonlyfacestherisksofbeingclassifiedascriticallyendangereddue to populationdecline,illegaltrafficking,andthelimitedtimescientistshavehadtostudyitsbiologyandbehaviorinthewild, but it is also threatened bytherapiddestructionofitshabitatintheregion.AccordingtostudiesconductedbyEstudiantesde la Naturaleza A.C., it is estimated that fewer than 500 individuals remain in the wild. Concerned about the high risk of extinctionandthealarmingrateatwhichtheirecosystemisdisappearing,theorganizationapproachedZoológicoGuadalajara to initiate a significant rescue and conservation effort for this species, as well as to establish national and international alliances to protect and preserve it. Zoológico Guadalajara accepted this significant challenge and responsibility. It began developing the Vallarta Mud Turtle Conservation Strategy in collaborationwiththeTurtleSurvivalAllianceandEstudiantes de la Naturaleza A.C. at the zoo’s facilities. In early 2024, this strategy was launched, involving an ambitious program encompassing short-term, medium-term,andlong-termobjectives,withafocusonresearch,conservation,andenvironmental education. The plan includes the construction of state-of-the-art infrastructuretoestablishacomprehensive,high-techcenter dedicated to managing this unique species—the first of its kind inzoosandrelatedinstitutionsinMexico.Thefacilitieswill feature molecular research laboratories, breeding spaces, observation areas, andeducationalexhibitsforvisitors,aswellasa series of multidisciplinary activities in husbandry, veterinary studies, and staff training and professional development. Throughthispresentation,wewillsharetheprogressofthisambitiousproject.
BRANDON T.MAWHINNEY1,CALEB MCKEEGAN,GREGORY LIPPS, AND TANYA KHAN
1West Liberty University Department of Biological Sciences, West Liberty, West Virginia, United States of America [brandontmawhinney@gmail.com]
Wetlands are ecologically important ecosystems, able to support a diversity of plant and animal species. Historically, wetlands have seen vast reductions in size and quality, often leading to losses in thisplantandanimalbiodiversity.Wetland succession can negatively impact wetlands through progressive changes in the ecosystem, driven by both natural processes and anthropogenic disturbances. Wetland succession can also play a role in makingwetlandslesssuitableforsomewildlife, including the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata), an imperiled species ranging throughout parts of the Midwest, Eastern United States, and Canada. Threats to populations include loss of wetland habitat, predators, and wildlife trafficking. We aimed to examine landscape changes over time to assess impacts to wetland habitat at historic C. guttata sitesinsouthwest Ohio. We mapped the current extent of open-canopy wetlands(potentiallysuitableSpottedTurtlehabitat)inthefieldandby examining aerial photography. We then used historic aerial photos and data from theRangelandAnalysisPlatformtoassess changes to land-cover/land-use over time. The results provide important information on the loss of suitable habitat in the region, including losses due to vegetative succession. This study aims to further our understanding of the threats to open-canopywetlandhabitatsandprovideimportantdataforwetlandandbiodiversityconservationefforts. Poster
CARA L.MCELROY1,JOHN BERKHOLTZ,JIMMY WELCH,MAXIM ELMALEH, AND BRYAN WINDMILLER
1Zoo New England, Massachusetts, United States of America [cmcelroy@zoonewengland.org]
Zoo New England (ZNE) has studied and protected isolated populations of threatened turtle species throughout Eastern Massachusetts, with a specialty in Emydine species. We have been managing our longest-term population of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), with partners, since 2003. Twenty years later, we have described the population nearly
completely, and our conservation interventions (including headstarting) have atleastquadrupledthepopulation.In2021,we surveyed a site ~20kmnorthofouroriginalsite,basedonreportsofafewisolatedsightingsofBlanding’sTurtles.Wefound a surprisingly robust population that showed different initial demographic distribution, growth patterns, and even diet from our original, “reference” population. Here, we show some initial findings and discuss how these differences may affect or inform our approach to iterative, adaptive management of these populations and others, especially those in fragmented landscapes.
1University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
[emceuen@usf.edu]
Turtles are among the most threatened taxa on earth, primarily due to habitat loss and degradation, including roadways. Roadways add the nominal threat of road mortality and possibly act as a population sink. Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), a keystone species and ecosystem engineer with over 360 known burrow associates, are the only species of tortoise east of the Mississippi RiverandarelistedasaVulnerablespeciesbytheIUCN.Inthisstudy,theroadecologyof G. polyphemus is examined by documenting tortoise colonies along roadsidesacrosssevencountiesincentralFlorida.Thefirst ofthreeobjectivesisestablishingtherelativeabundanceoftortoisesalongroadsidesofvarioussizesincentralFlorida,which will serve as a population baseline for future studies. The second objective is to compare the habitat quality on roadside edges, the immediately adjacent habitats, and managed habitats with tortoise populations by examining the percentage of canopy openness. The third objective is to determine if roadside tortoise populations incur considerable road mortalityorif they use road-avoidance behavior. These objectives test the hypothesis that tortoises are marginalized to reside on roadside edges due to either being pushed from unsuitable habitats (i.e., fire-suppressed, closed-canopy habitats, orresidentialareas) or spillover from adjacent populations with suitable habitats. The methods of this study utilize vehicle andwalkingsurveys acrossalargeexpanseofwestcentralFloridafordatacollection.Datapointsincludetortoiseburrowmouthwidthforarough estimate of tortoise body size, burrow distance from the road, and theactivityclassificationofburrows.Roadmortalitydata includes shell length when possible, GPS point, the distance to the closest burrow, and the distance from the road to the carcass. Thus far, over 750 burrows and 38 deceased individuals have been identified along threeroadways.Whenthefield data have been recorded and analyzed, management suggestions will be made to protect roadside tortoise populations. Finally, roadside tortoise population metrics, including a minimum population estimate, will be published to establish a baselineforfuturemonitoringtodetermineifroadwaysactaspopulationsinks.
DONALD T.MCKNIGHT1,DEBORAH S.BOWER,ELLEN ARIEL,STEPHEN BEATTY,SIMON CLULOW,MARILYN CONNELL,ANNETTE RDEPPE,SEAN DOODY,ALASTAIR FREEMAN,ARTHUR GEORGES,SAMANTHA L.HANNABASS,ETHAN C.HOLLENDER,HUNTER HOWELL,AARON KROCHMAL,DAY B.LIGON,ERIC MUNSCHER, AND ERIC J.NOR
1Savanna Field Station, Belize District, Belize [donald.mcknight@my.jcu.edu.au]
Turtles are declining globally, and absences of juveniles during surveys are often interpreted as evidence of threats toearly life stages. In Australia, for example, it is widely argued that a low number of juveniles is likely due to nest predation by introduced Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes). However, small sample sizes within populations, low detectability of juveniles, and turtles’ long lifespans often confound the conclusion that a paucity of juveniles indicates a declining population. Because
turtles have long reproductive lifespans, we might intuitively expect most turtle populations tobeheavilyweightedtowards large individuals, but a“typical”or“healthy”sizedistributionforturtlepopulationshasnotbeenwellestablished.Therefore, we collated data on 41,021 freshwaterturtlesfrom38speciesand428populationslocatedinpartsofAustraliabothwithand without introduced foxes, as well as populations in the United States of America, which naturally have Raccoons(Procyon lotor), foxes, and other nest predators. We examined population-level body size distributions to establish a baseline for “typical” turtle populations and test whether populations that are exposed to introduced foxes have proportionately fewer juvenilescomparedtobothAUpopulationsthatlackintroducedfoxesandUSApopulationsthatarenaturallyexposedtonest predators. We found that most turtle populations in AU and the USA were heavily skewed towards adults and had few juveniles, regardless of the presence of foxes or other nest predators. There were, however, clear differences among population survey methods: those that target shallow areas (e.g., crawfish traps) tended to capture proportionately more juveniles, and small sample sizes (∼<50) often produced inaccurate representations of size distributions. Additionally, we used a simulation to demonstrate that, given common turtlelifehistoryparameters,evenstablepopulationsshouldgenerally have low proportions of juveniles. Based on our results, we encourage caution when interpreting turtle sizedistributions.A small number ofjuvenilesdoesnotinherentlysuggestthatapopulationisdecliningduetohigheggand/orjuvenilemortality, and researchers should pay careful attention to the biasesintheirmethodsandstrivetocaptureaminimumof50–100turtles beforedrawinginferences.
Savanna Field Station, Belize District, Belize [donald.mcknight@my.jcu.edu.au]
The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) is the largest freshwater turtle in Central America. Tragically, this species has experienced dramatic declines due to overharvesting for human consumption, and it is currently listed as Critically Endangered. Many populations have disappeared or declined sharply, and most remainingpopulationsareheavily shifted towards juveniles and small adults,withmostlargeadultshavingbeencapturedforfood.Thisabsenceoflargeadults makes it important to understand the true historic maximum size of this species to better assess existing populations and evaluate their size structure. The maximum size for D. mawii istypicallyreportedas600or650mmcarapacelengthand22 kg mass. Based on my experience with D. mawii, the reported maximum carapace lengths seemed unlikely for straight carapace lengths (SCL), particularly for a 22kganimal.Therefore,Iinvestigatedthesourcesofthesereportsintheliterature and collected SCL, curved carapacelength(CCL),andmasson60individuals.Theclaimsof650mmappearedinsecondary sources, and the original papers did notreport D. mawii thatlarge,suggestingthatthoseclaimsweremistakes.Theclaimsof 600 mm and 22 kg traced to the work of AlvarezdelToro,whoreportedthosesizes,butdidnotspecifyiftheywereSCLor CCL.From the regressionsoftheindividualsImeasured,a600mmSCLturtlewouldbeexpectedtohaveamassof26.2kg, whereas a 600 mm CCL turtle would be expected to have a mass of 21.3 kg. Based on this result, it is more likely that AlvarezdelToromeasuredCCL,andthetruemaximumSCLfor D. mawii islikely~559mm.
1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America [fsmckown@ncsu.edu]
Selecting the most appropriate monitoring methods is critical fortheconservationandmanagementoffreshwaterturtles,yet bias introduced by trap size or deployment strategy may compromise data quality. In this study we evaluated how trapsize
and trapping regimen influence capture rates offreshwaterturtlesacross21wetlandsinWakeCounty,NorthCarolina,USA. First, we examined whether capture per unit effort (CPUE) differs between small and large hoop net traps for five turtle genera: Snapping Turtles (Chelydra), Painted Turtles (Chrysemys),MudTurtles(Kinosternon),MuskTurtles(Sternotherus), and Sliders (Trachemys). Second, weevaluatedtemporalcapturepatternsoverafour-daytrappingperiod,duringwhichtraps were checked daily and re-baited midweek, providing fresh bait on Days 1 and 3. Conducting paired t-tests, we found that Chelydra and Trachemys showed significantly greater preference for larger traps (p = 0.0007 and p =0.0019,respectively). Conversely, Sternotherus showed a significant preference for small traps (p = 0.039), while Chrysemys and Kinosternon exhibited weak, non-significant trends toward small traps. Using generalized mixed effect models, we found that overall capture rates (CPUE) declined significantly over time for Chelydra and Trachemys (p = 0.0003 and p = <0.0001, respectively), but rebaiting traps led to a significant increase in CPUE the following day (p = 0.0103 and p = 0.0043, respectively). In contrast, capture rates for Kinosternon and Sternotherus remained relatively consistent throughout the trapping period, and rebaiting had no significant effect on their CPUE. For Chrysemys, traps initially set with fresh bait showed a significantly higher CPUE (p = 0.0019), but capture rates remained relatively constant thereafter, regardless of rebaiting. This study can be used as a guide for more effective and representative turtle trapping protocols in long-term monitoringefforts.
1Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
[zoiee23@vt.edu]
Illegal turtle trade and unsustainablecollectionaremajorthreatstoturtlepopulationsglobally.Increasedvisibilityofwildlife trade as a biodiversity threat have led conservationists to focus more on interventions targeting end consumers of traded species. Although the United States plays a major role in global turtle trade as an importer, domestic drivers of turtle consumption remain largely unstudied. The objective of this research was to understand the relationship between turtle ownership (including interest in ownership) and wildlife value orientations (i.e. traditionalists, mutualists, pluralists, and distanced), turtle care perceptions, and various motivations for turtle ownership. We conducted an online panel survey of 1,464 adults living in the U.S, consistingofturtleownersandnon-owners.Weusedtwo-stepbinomiallogisticregressionsto assess the relationship between predictor variablesand1)interestinturtleownership,then2)turtleownershipamongstthose who were interested. Participants that thought it was easier to care for a turtle were 65% (Odds Ratio [OR]:1.65; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.39-1.96) more likely to have one. The odds of being interested in turtle ownership were 82% higher (OR:1.82; CI: 1.29-2.56)formutualistsand64%(OR:1.64;CI:1.18-2.29)higherforpluralists,comparedtodistanced participants. Mutualists were more likely to be motivated by a desire for companionship(OR:1.92;CI:1.22-3.00)andturtle rescue (OR:2.5; CI: 1.45-4.44) than distancedparticipants.Ourfindingscansupportdemandreductionstrategies(e.g.,social marketing campaigns) by characterizing potential turtle consumers and identifying target audiences, such as urbanites, non-huntingwildlifeviewers,andpetenthusiasts.
HECTOR ANDRÉS MEDINA-ANDRADE1,TAGGERT BUTTERFIELD,ALEJANDRA MONSIVÁIS-MOLINA, AND UBALDO SEBASTIÁN
FLORES-GUERRERO
1Estudiantes Conservando la Naturaleza A.C., Alamos, Sonora, México [taggertbutterfield3@gmail.com]
The Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti) is a critically endangered turtle that is endemic to one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta. Our work over the past few years has aimed to evaluate the conservation status of this species, and take action to document its threats to create solutions for their conservation. In this study we monitor two major threats, road kills on major highwaysinPuertoVallartathatcrossbetweentwowetlands,andpresenceof traps left by poachers. From May 2024 to February 2025 we registered the total of 111 road kills, 92 Ornate Sliders (Trachemys ornata), three Mexican Mud Turtles (Kinosternon integrum), one Painted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri) and 15 Vallarta Mud Turtles (Kinosternon vogti). Further, from October 2024whenwenoticed the first poacher traps, and up to early April 2025 we documented the total of 68 poaching traps in Vallarta Mud Turtle habitats. Given that Vallarta Mud Turtles migrate betweendifferentwaterbodiesduringthewetseason,andleavelagoonsto estivate, the number of road kills we found brings up many concerns about thefutureofthespecies.Wewilluseourdatato influence policy in Puerto Vallarta toinstallwildlifecrossingsthatareturtlefriendly.Similarly,theamountofpoachingtraps has been eye opening for our team and Mexican authorities, and immediate action was taken by installing camerasinallof the habitats and we are currently collaborating with Mexican authorities to capture and prosecute poachers. Road kills and poaching only represent two major sources of mortality for the critically endangered Vallarta mud turtle, while urban developments represent an even more dire threat as they have impacted nearly every single habitat of this species. We will continue to monitor road kills and poaching in 2025 and 2026, and we urge the turtle community tonotsupportthecurrent demand that this species has in the illegal pet trade, as any interest in having this species in captivity threatens the last individualsthatremaininthewild.
1A Cupulatta, Ajaccio, Corsica, France [pierremoisson@orange.fr]
A Cupulattaisa2.5-hectareparkcreatedin1998,locatedinCorsica(France).Amongthe3,000turtleshostedof130species, 98 are freshwater turtles and 32 are tortoises. Most are presented tothepublicinoutdoororindoorenclosuresdependingon the species, from April to November. A total of 481 analyses on 412 turtles were carried out on 2,123 deaths (20%), depending on the age and preservation state of the carcasses. Histological, bacteriological, mycological, and virological results were analyzed in this study.From2015toearly2025,404histologiesand77complementarytestswereperformedon these 412 animals, focusing primarily onthedetectionofTurtleIntranuclearCoccidiosis(TINC), Mycoplasma agassizii,and Picornavirus. Tortoises showed the highest mortality rate, as they are more numerous (64.8% of deaths were tortoises, vs 35.2% freshwater turtles). Among the 583 deceased turtles with known sex, thesexratiowasnearlybalanced(42.7%males and 57.3% females). Turtle deaths occurred mainly in spring (43.3%) and summer (22.7%). 64 turtles (15.8%) were tested positive for TINC, either through histology (75%),PCR(20.3%),orboth(4.7%).Mostofthedeadanimalswere1to2years old (34.4%) and therefore not sexed. The main species affected were theLeopardTortoise(Stigmochelys pardalis)(23.4%), Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota) (20.3%), Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius) (17.2%),Impressed Tortoise (Manouria impressa) (17.2%), and Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) (15.6%). Target organs identified in TINC-positive turtles included theliver(66.1%),kidneys(54.2%),lungs(48.3%),andintestines(47.1%).21turtlesanalyzed for Mycoplasma (38.9%) were positive, and among them, half (52.4%) were also TINC-positive. No clear lesions assigned only to Mycoplasma were identified. In the case of picornavirus, only 3 turtles tested (6.3%) were positive on PCR. Bacteriology and mycology results among 21 tortoises and freshwater turtles tested, revealed 27 bacteria (3 Gram-positive and 24 Gram-negative) and one yeast, most of which were antibiotic-resistant: e.g. Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Citrobacter etc.Preventionofthesetypesofpathologieswillbediscussed Oral
TheWorldBookofTurtleConservation
TONY MONAHAN
City University of New York, Bayside, New York, United States of America [tmonahan11@gmail.com]
The proposed “The World Book of Turtle Conservation” project will be a comprehensive resource guide of turtle conservation throughout the world. Thebookisintendedtobereleasedinvolumesidentifiedbygeographicareas(i.e.,North America, Europe). Site pages will be organized by country/region highlightingthevariouseffortstosaveandprotectturtles. It is also intended to be an edited project seeking contributions from local andspecializedexperts.Specialemphasiswillbe placed on both in-situ and ex-situ efforts to help the world’s most vulnerable species. The broader focus oftheWBTCisto raise awareness of turtles to the general population. Members of turtle-related Facebook groups and subscribers to popular YouTube podcasts indicate an extraordinarily large number of people interested inturtles-theyaregenerallylovedanimals. Yet, not all turtle lovers are biologists or keepers, and perhaps many are not aware of the seriousness of their plight. This project may be seen as a continuation of the Turtle Lovers’ Guidebook (2024),acomprehensiveresourceforall-things-turtle in the United States. That book featured 164 public sites, organizations, rescues, and conservation projects and programs. Like the Guidebook, the WBTC will review public and private efforts of local, national, and international organizations. It will also feature major zoos, aquariums that housechelonians.Thesefeaturescouldpotentiallyofferthereaderopportunities to visit, join, and possibly participate in conservation efforts. Presently, data collection for the “North America” volume is almost complete. This past year has seen a tour of Mexico, as well as visitstoBelize,CostaRica,andPanama.Alsovisited sofarhavebeensitesinTokyo,Bangkok,Shanghai,Trinidad,andMadrid.TheprojectcontinueswithvisitstoParis,Corsica, and Italy. An extensive tour of Europe is planned for spring, 2026. I have been a professional educator for 42-years, but recently have been transitioning toturtleadvocate.Myexperienceasaneducator,speakerandwriterhasputmeinaposition to make these contributions. My writingisgenerallydesignedtobeaccessibletolaypeople.LiketheGuidebook,thewriting willbeaugmentedwithphotographyandlistingsoforganizedinformation.Iamalsoinauniquepositiontotravel,gatherand synthesizeinformation,takequalityphotographs,andpresentdescriptionsofencounters.
1University of North Georgia, Oakwood, Georgia, United States of America
[jennifer.mook@ung.edu]
Determining the dietary composition of a species is critical for understanding its trophic ecologyandecosystemfunctionas well asevaluatingresponsestoenvironmentalchanges,includinghabitatvariation.Forimperiledspecies,dietaryinformation from locations throughout the species’ range is especially important to tailor conservation efforts at the population level in response to location specific environmental variations including food availability and influence of invasive species. In the eastern United States, Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina; EBT),haveexperiencedsignificantdeclinesacross their geographic range and are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.ResearchindicatesEBTsareomnivores;however,data is lacking regarding specific dietary components across their geographic range, including in areas impacted by invasive species. To document foraging patterns in an EBT population, we collected and analyzed 147 fecal samples from 57 individuals radiotracked from 2013-2022 in northeast Georgia. Upland habitats at our site included areas dominated by a native hardwood-pine mix, and areas with canopies dominated bynon-nativeChinesePrivet(Ligustrum sinense;privet)ora privet-pine mix. Aquatic habitats included a freshwater shrub wetland in addition to multiple,unconnectedseepagewetland areas dominated by either privet or native woody and herbaceous vegetation. In fecal sample analyses, we found non-seed plant materialinallsamplesandseedsinabout60%ofthesamples.Additionally,wefoundinvertebrateremainsinover70% of samples, including arthropod remains (> 50%), gastropods (>40%) and myriapods (>20%). Fecal samples from females
JENNIFER L.MOOK1,ALISHA PAUL,EVAN C.LAMPERT, AND NATALIE L.HYSLOP
contained more evidence ofgastropodconsumptionthanmalesoverall.Wealsofoundnon-fooditemsincludingroundworms in about a third of the samples and plastic pieces in three samples.Infecalsamplesfromindividualsusingprivetdominated habitats >50% of their radiolocations, we found higher frequency of roundworms, especially inseepageareasdominatedby privet, and lower frequency of gastropodsandmyriapodsinallprivetareas.Ourresultsarebiasedtowardsindigestibleitems such as seeds and exoskeletons, and it is likely that fungi and soft bodied invertebrates were missed in our samples. The results provide EBT dietary information in northeast Georgia as well as indicate impacts from a prominent invasive plant species.
1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
[jlm0153@ncsu.edu]
The southeastern United States of America (USA) produces a large quantity of wood fiber through pine plantations. In the past, commercial forest landowners would drain the land through kilometers of ditching to convert it into single-species silviculture forests. This region also represents a global freshwater turtle diversity hotspot. However, we do not know how historical forestry practices affected freshwater turtles and what characteristics of drainage ditches drive the community composition in pine plantation landscapes. To investigate this, we have conducted repeated trap-based sampling, within an expansive pine plantation situated in the coastal plains of North Carolina. Our preliminary results suggest that diversity remains high. Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina), Eastern Musk Turtles (Sternotherus odoratus), and Pond Sliders (Trachemys scripta) are more commonly encountered in large, permanently wetted ditches. Eastern Mud Turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) and Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) are more often found in shallow, highly vegetated, ephemeral ditches. Spotted turtle, which is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need across its range within the USA and currently under review for potential federal listing undertheUSEndangeredSpeciesAct,wasthemostencounteredspecies. This suggests that man-made drainage ditches with varying hydroperiods promote the coexistence of turtle specieswithina managed pine landscapeandthatSpottedTurtlesappeartobeadominantspecieswithinthissystem.Agreaterunderstanding of how ditches promote freshwater turtle diversity in pine plantation landscapes can guide management recommendations thathelpbolstertheregionalbiodiversitythroughouttheSoutheasternUS.
Curious Turtle, Dallas, Texas, United States of America [curious.turtle.edu@gmail.com]
The illegal live animal trade is an ongoing major threat to endangered turtle species. Keeping and reproducing live captive collections can mislead people into thinking they are helpinginconservationeffortswhen,infact,suchactionsmayamplify the threat by driving further trafficking. Captivity can alter behavioral patterns and, potentially, certain aspects of ontogeny (in cases where breeding is involved), anddoesnotinherentlyboostefficacyofrealorpotentialconservationprograms.This talk presents aspects of how "the trade" operates, howsomestakeholdersjustifytheirrational(es),andwhy ex situ assurance colonies are not always the solution they are believed to be.Furtherdiscussionwillincludeviable,andethical,conservation measures[thatcouldinvolveasimilarrangeofstakeholders].
TABITHA HOOTMAN1,ZACHARY A.SIDERS,ERIC MUNSCHER,JOHN ENZ,J.BRIAN HAUGE,MICHAEL SKIBSTED,ELIZABETH WALTON, AND ANDREW D.WALDE
1Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America [thootman@turtlesurvival.org]
Despite their ubiquity in many freshwater habitats, little is known about the spatial and movement ecologyofcooterturtles (Pseudemys). We captured and tracked 24 Florida Red-bellied Cooters (P. nelsoni) and 24 Peninsula Cooters (P. peninsularis), 12 of each sex, in the protected spring-fed Wekiva River, Wekiwa Springs, and Rock Springs system. Most cooters stayed in the same spring or river section(n=30).Wehypothesizedandfound~25%ofPeninsulaCooterspreferred slower moving water in the Wekiva River, while > 90% Florida Red-bellied Cooters preferredfastermovingspringboilsor runs. We hypothesized females would have larger ranges than males but using 1,061 movements summarized with ten movement metrics, we observed few differences between species or sexes. Instead, the high variability betweenindividuals clustered into two movement modes—20 turtles that were relocated in the same vicinity (typically < 500 m) and 27 turtles that moved throughout the spring system. We attribute the lack ofdifferencesbetweensexesandspeciestotheoptimalityof spring systems for herbivorous turtles with constantwatertemperature,densemacrophytes,andabundantbaskingspots.Our study highlights the need for continued protection of spring systems to conserve these refuges of Pseudemys abundance in increasinglyalteredhydroscapes.
ERIC MUNSCHER1,ZACHARY A.SIDERS,MICHAEL SKIBSTED,SHANNON LETCHER,MADELEINE MORRISON, AND A
NDREW D. WALDE
1SWCA Environmental Consultants, Houston, Texas, United States of America [emunscher@swca.com]
For threatened species like turtles and tortoises, size, growth, and morphometric data provide critical insights into their life history, environmental interactions, and conservation needs. This study examined size and growth patterns in Florida Softshell Turtles (Apalone ferox) at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Florida, USA, over a 16-year period using data from 120 individuals. Bayesian allometric models revealed that carapace width (CW) and plastron length (PL) scaled similarly with weight (Wt), while the relationships between Wt and carapace length (CL) and Wt and shell height(SH)weresignificantly different. Growth rates were estimated using a Fabens-modified von Bertalanffy growth model with mark-recapture data. Females were predicted to reach larger sizes thanmales(medianfemaleL∞=520mmCLvs.maleL∞=397mm)butgrew more slowly (median female k=0.19vs.malek=0.08),reachingmaturitylater(females:13.4–19.8years;males:4.32–5.04 years). These findings enhance our understanding of Trionychid growth dynamics and inform conservation strategies for Floridasoftshellturtles. Oral
1Zoo Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America [snelson@zooknoxville.org]
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals FromExtinction(SAFE)RadiatedTortoiseprogrambegan in 2017 with support from just three AZAorganizationstoprovidesupportfortherapidlyworseningdeclineofthecritically endangered Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata). From the beginning, there has been an emphasis on repatriating
confiscated and rehabilitated tortoises back into protected areas.TortoiseseizureshavebeenaccumulatinginTurtleSurvival Alliance (TSA) rescue facilities for years and were further burdened with two massive confiscations in 2018 (~18,000 tortoises), underscoring the need to develop protected sites where tortoises could be successfully repatriated. Zoos have a long history with this beautiful species and have been one of the primary forcesinconservationandresearcheffortsforthis iconic species. The SAFE Radiated Tortoise program works to connect and mobilize interested partners with our primary field partner, TSA Madagascar, to address three main focal areas. Those are 1) husbandry and security of the confiscated tortoises, 2) community engagement, and 3) reintroduction of previously confiscated tortoises into community protected areas.Werecognizepartnersarecriticaltothiseffortandarethankfulfortheover20institutionsthatarenowmembersofthe SAFE Radiated Tortoise program. These partners support boots on the ground efforts with both financial contributions as wellasin-kindsupportoftime,expertise,andlogistics.
Oral
GrowthofCaptiveYellow-BelliedSliders(Trachemys scripta scripta)FedonaNaturalDietandCommercialPellets
HAI NGUYEN
University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America [bobotroc24@gmail.com]
The turtle shell serves multiple functions, including predatordefense;pHbuffering;andasastoragesitefornutrients,water, and waste products. Ontogenetic changes in calcification and ossification of the shell result in an increase in shell strength over time that contributes to highersurvivorshipinolderageclasses.Alterationsinshelldevelopmentthatnegativelyimpact shell symmetry, thickness, and/or bone mineral content may lead toadecreaseinoverallshellstrengthandnegativeimpacts on survivorship. Given the importance of shell development in the lifehistoryofturtles,Iinvestigatedtheeffectofdifferent diets on growth rates and shell morphometrics in juvenile Yellow-bellied Sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta).Specifically,I investigated growth as indicated by changes in mass, carapace length, plastron length, depth, and carapace widthincaptive turtles offered a diet of either commercial pellets or crickets at an equivalent level of caloriesoveraperiodoffourweeks.I found a significant difference in the change in mass and plastron length between the two treatment groups; turtles fed commercial pellets grew significantly faster than turtles fed crickets. However, when I factored in the actual calorie intake based on the difference between the amount of food offered and amount of food consumed, there was no significant difference in any of the measured variables between treatmentgroups.Theseresultsindicatethathigheroverallgrowthrates in turtles fed commercial pellets are not necessarily due to higherdigestiveefficiency,butsimplytoahigherlevelofcalorie intake per gram of food eaten. I found no significant differenceinratioofdepthtocarapacelength,depthtoplastronlength, or depth to width between treatment groups, indicating no obvious differences inshellshapethatcouldaffectshellstrength. My study provides support for the use of commercial pellets to promote safe and efficient growth of captive turtles.Future studies may look at the effects of ration size (and consequently calorie intake) on growth rates and impacts for shell development.
Poster
TurtleConservationCentre–ChallengesandChances
THUY THU NGUYEN
Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC), Turtle Conservation Centre, Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam [ntthuy@asianturtleprogram.org]
The Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC), a collaborative initiativebetweentheAsianTurtleProgram(ATP)ofIndo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) and Cuc Phuong National Park in northern Vietnam, plays a pivotal role in the conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises (TFTs). Focused on the rehabilitation and release of TFT rescued from the illegal wildlife
trade in the country and on conservation breeding. With awareness and trainingactivitiestopromoteconservation.Overthe past decade, the TCC has rescued 2,414 native animals from across Vietnam, including animals from 90 confiscationcases and 156 voluntary transfers. Currently housing 2,343 TFT from 24 native species of Vietnam, notably highly threatened species, Cuora galbinifrons, Cuora bourreti, Cuora mouhotii, Geoemyda spengleri, Indotestudo elongata, Heosemys annandalii, Heosemys grandis, Mauremys mutica, Mauremys sinensis, Platysternon megacephalum, Sacalia quadriocellata, Amyda ornata, Palea steindachneri, Pelochelys cantorii and two endemics, Cuora picturata and Mauremys annamensis. Along with 14 non-native species that cannot be releasedbutrequireongoingcare.Between2017and20241,066TFTfrom 12 species have been released into the wild, with genetic assessment of wild and released animals undertaken for some species to confirm suitable release locations with health screening pre-release. While 1,343 TFT from 17specieshavebeen hatched. The ATP/IMC continues to work across Vietnam and Lao PDR to identify suitable releaselocations,workingwith authoritiesandlocalcommunitiestoimproveprotectionofcriticalhabitat.
1Evelyn's Wildlife, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America [lynnaloo@gmail.com]
Wildlife rehabilitators often face significant challenges when overwintering native turtles that cannot be released before winter due to injuryordelayeddevelopment.Asapermittedvolunteerrehabilitatorspecializinginreptilesandamphibiansin Virginia, I manage approximately 200 turtles each season, with 50–60 adult turtles and hatchlings requiring overwintering care annually. The majority of these overwintered patients are Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), a species that presents unique husbandry considerations during prolonged care periods. To improveoverwinteringsuccessandanimal welfare, we implemented a series of husbandry upgrades and video monitoringinnovationswithinanin-homerehabilitation environment during the 2024 rehabilitation season. Facility improvements included the installation of heated flooring systems, integrated humidifiers and misters, andenvironmentalcontrolstomaintainoptimaltemperatureandhumiditylevels tailored to theneedsofnativeturtlespecies.Buildingontheseimprovements,anddrawingonmyprofessionalbackgroundin technology and software engineering, we developed and started testing a camera-based artificial intelligence (AI) detection system in 2025. The system captures video from live camera feeds to identify indicators such as instances of carapace-up positioning, entrapment, unusual inactivity, or aggressive interactions. Upon detection of concerning behaviors, real-time alerts are generatedtopromptimmediateintervention.Theseinnovationshavesignificantlyreducedmanualmonitoringtime, improved early detection of critical events, and enhanced overall welfare outcomes during the overwintering period. This approach also allows for more efficient allocation of limited volunteer resources while maintaining high standards of care. Our presentation will cover the husbandry adaptations, the design and preliminary testing of the AI-based alertsystem,and initial outcomes, including a livedemonstrationofthemonitoringinterface.Integratingtraditionalanimalcarepracticeswith emerging technology offers a promising model foradvancingtherehabilitationofEasternBoxTurtlesandothernativeturtle species,particularlyforresource-limitedoperationsmanaginghighcasevolumesoverextendedperiods.
ERIC NORDBERG1,TESSA STEWART,LAUREN CROFTS,DONALD MCKNIGHT,JAMES VAN DYKE,LOUISE STREETING, AND DEBORAH
BOWER
1University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia [eric.nordberg@une.edu.au]
Extreme weather events like floods and heavy rainfall threatenfreshwaterturtlepopulationsbyendangeringriverbanknests. For many species, nest inundation, even briefly, can kill developing embryos. While nest relocation is anoption,itpresents logistical and financial challenges. To guide conservation efforts more effectively, we tested egg survival under controlled inundation at two distinct development stages: early (day 21 post-oviposition, 1/3 through development) and late (day 42 post-oviposition, 2/3 through development). Our results revealed eggs inundated early showed high hatchingsuccess,while those inundated later hadsignificantlylowersurvivalrates,likelyduetoincreasedoxygendemandsduringadvancedembryo development. In a follow-up experiment using sealed respirometry chambers, we measured oxygen consumption of submerged eggs and discovered clear evidence of underwater oxygen extraction, with greater uptake in later incubation stages. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of freshwater turtle eggs respiring while submerged, indicating their ability to extract oxygen from water and potentially survive short-term flooding. Our findings reveal a critical vulnerability window late in development, suggesting practical conservation implications: nest relocation should be prioritized only if flooding occurs in later stages, as early or brief inundation events may not be lethal. These insights can improveadaptivemanagementstrategiesforfreshwaterturtleconservationinincreasinglyflood-proneenvironments.
1Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, United States of America
[sobrien1@stu.jsu.edu]
Alabama is home to some of the highest endemism in the continental United States andhassomeofthehighestnumbersof endangered andextinctspecies.OneofthemostendangeredvertebratesnationallyistheFlattenedMuskTurtle(Sternotherus depressus; FMT), only found in the Black WarriorRiverDrainageofAlabamaabovetheFallLine.TheFMTislistedbythe USFWS under the Endangered Species Act and is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to drasticdeclinesin populations since the 1980s. Declines have been attributed to several factors, including coal mining, fecal/fertilizer runoff, collect for the pet trade, and a decline in water quality across the drainage. While protected populations of the species on public lands havebeenwell-studied,verylittleworkhasbeenconductedonprivatelands,whichcomprisethemajorityofthe species’ range. In order to bridge this gap, we have conducted multiple outreach events in the area (for ~3,400 people) to build relations in the community. By networking with locals, we have been able toaccessmultiplecreeksandtributarieson private property. These surveys have been successful in capturing FMTs, documenting >20 individuals in the Locust Fork Watershed –amilestonenotseenin40+years.Theobjectivesofthisstudyareto1)betterdeterminetheextentofoccurrence of FMTs in the Locust Fork Watershed, 2) investigate the population genomics of the species, and 3) generate population estimatesforasubsetofLocustForkpopulations.
Freshwater turtles play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health but are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic changes. Among these species, the Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is a small, generalist species with a broad distribution across easternNorthAmerica.InthebiodiversekarsticspringecosystemsofCentralTexas, S. odoratus occursin areas where several invasive aquatic snail species are also found. These include Quilted Melania (Tarebia granifera), Red-rimmed Melania (Melanoides tuberculata), and Giant Ramshorn Snail (Marisa cornuarietis), which were introduced
into local water systems beginning in the late 1970s and now dominate these spring systems. This study explores whether dietary shifts in response to these invasive prey species are linked tochangesinheadandbodymorphology,specificallythe occurrence of megacephaly, a trait commonly associated with consumption of hard-shelled prey. From June to August of 2024, over 70 S. odoratus individuals were captured usingbaitedhooptraps,handcaptures,andsnorkelsurveys.Eachturtle was measured for standard morphometrics, assessed for sex and phenotype. Fecal samples were collected for diet analysis and examined under dissection microscopes toidentifygastropodandotherpreyitemremains.Wecomparedheadwidthand carapace length between historical (1940–1989) and recent (2013–2024) S. odoratus specimens, revealing significant increases in both traits in the current population. Regression analyses showed that males exhibit a steeper allometric slope between body size and head width, while no sexual dimorphism was observed in the relationship between head width and body mass. Scaling of other morphological traits, including alveolar width, height, and carapace length, did not differ between sexes. Dietary analysis, using an Index of Relative Importance (IRI), indicated that Quilted Melania was the dominant prey item for both sexes, with males showing greater gastropod diversity. These findings suggest that ecological changes,particularlyincreasednovelpreyavailability,maydrivetheobservedmorphologicalshiftsinthispopulation.
LANCE PADEN1,BRETT BARTEK,KOLOLINA RAMAHANDRIZAFY,HERY RAZAFIMAMONJIRAIBE, AND TOJOTANJONA RAZANAPARANY
1Turtle Survival Alliance, Appleton, Wisconsin, United States of America [lance.paden89@gmail.com]
Despite major natural disasters in 2025 and their associated logistical challenges, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) has continued monitoring reintroduced Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) over the past year. Since 2021, TSA has reintroduced 4,000 Radiated Tortoises confiscated from illegal trade at 3 different reintroduction sites across southern Madagascar. Here, we will present some of our overall survivorship and spatial monitoring results from one of these sites using GPS logger data from a cohort of resident tortoises as well as post-reintroduction monitoring of both 3-and6-month soft-release penning cohorts (as of April 2025). This fine-scale spatial data illustratespost-releasemovementsfollowingthe careful implementation of this method of reintroduction and the potential need for targeting specific soft-release penning durations toachieveadegreeofsitefidelityamongreintroducedtortoisecohorts.Finally,therewillbesomediscussionofthe upcoming reintroduction efforts, future monitoring objectives to meet the needs of TSA’s reintroduction program, and promising efforts to accelerate the reintroduction process in the coming years. The knowledge and experience gained from this study will benefit many thousands of additional confiscated tortoises awaiting their reintroduction and continued hands-on monitoring following these reintroductions remains critical for fostering community-level engagement with TSA Madagascarstafftoensurethebestpossibleoutcomes.
1Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America [jpalmer@stlzoo.org]
TheRadiatedTortoiseHealthWorkingGroupisamulti-institutionalteamofwildlifehealthprofessionalsworkingtogetherto mitigate the negative impacts of the illegal trade of tortoises in Madagascar. As we all know, thousands of confiscated Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) and Spider Tortoises (Pyxis spp), are being cared for by Turtle Survival AllianceMadagascar, withthenumberscontinuingtoincrease.Duetotheneedforlong-termhusbandryandmedicalmanagement,we have deployed protocols for disease surveillance, prevention, and treatment of animals in human care. Pre-release
surveillance of free-living populations in areas slated for reintroductions is part of our work. Throughtheseefforts,wenow better understand the infectious and non-infectious diseases that are hindering rewilding efforts. Here we will provide an update on this work, initial infectious disease findings and other health monitoring results, as wellaswhathas,andhasnot, worked for our group. Working closelyasacollaborationofMalagasyandnon-Malagasyhealthprofessionalsandveterinary students, we are building the capacity of in-country professionals to better manage the animals in their care. Due to the constant influx of tortoisesconfiscatedfromillegaltradeandinneedofhumancareandrewilding,thiseffortwilltakeglobal supportifwearetoensurethetortoisesofMadagascardonotbecomeextirpatedfromtheirislandhome.
JAMIE L.PALMER1,KATHLEEN APAKUPAKUL, AND SHARON L.DEEM
1Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
[jpalmer@stlzoo.org]
The genus Ranavirus contains several species, including Frog Virus 3 (FV3), theonlyranavirusknowntoinfectchelonians. The first case of FV3 in a chelonian was recorded in 1982. This virus is recognized for infections in fish and amphibian species; however, in recent years it has emerged as a serious threat to reptile conservation. We have identified FV3 in both aquatic and terrestrial turtles in Missouri since the fall of 2020. As part of the St. Louis Box Turtle Project, we have been collecting oral and cloacal swabs from turtles at multiple sites in Missouri since 2012. Our first positive case for FV3, identified by PCR, was in an Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) at theSaintLouisZooWildCareParkinNorth St Louis County in 2020. No clinical signs were present at the timeofsampling.AsofAugust2023,inpartnershipwiththe Wildlife RescueCenter(WRC)(Ballwin,MO),theICMhasidentified15positivecasesofFV3inboxturtlesinMissouri.Of those 15 cases, 8 had clinical signs (e.g. ocular, nasal and oral discharge,oralplaques,edema,lethargy,laboredopen-mouth breathing), 3 had low-level infections, and 4 were determined positive based on previously banked swabs. We instituted regular testingonsamplesfromturtlesadmittedtoWRCbeginninginthesummerof2015.Wedetectedourfirstpositivebox turtle in Missouri in September 2020. Failure to detect FV3 previously in Missouri reptiles may be due to the lack of surveillance, but they may also represent a novel spillover into turtles in Missouri. All FV3 positive box turtles were euthanized as recommended by the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at theUniversityofIllinoistopreventthepossibilityofviral sheddingandspread.WeareworkingwiththeMissouriDepartmentofConservationtodevelopguidelinesatthestatelevel. Oral
LUKE PEARSON1,NOAH DEVROS,KATIE BRANDEWIE, AND ANDREW HOLZINGER
1United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Jackson, Mississippi, United States of America [lukespearson2@gmail.com]
In 2021, the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) was proposed for listing as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The primary threat to this species is presumed to be bycatch on fishing gear and hook ingestion; however, the proportion ofturtlesthathaveingestedfishhooksandtheimpactthesefishhookshaveonsurvivorshipismostly unknown. To document hook ingestion rates, all alligator snapping turtles were scanned with ahandheldmetaldetectorand then imaged with a portable x-ray. Preliminary results suggest that the handheld metaldetectorhasa100%detectionrateof ingested fishhooks in the throat ofAlligatorSnappingTurtles.Nofalsepositiveswererecordedonmediumsensitivity.Hook ingestion rates were 12% at a site with high fishing pressure and 5% at a sitewithrestrictivefishingregulations,andsexof turtles with ingested fishhooks were divided evenly between large, unsexed juveniles and males. The portable x-ray also
allowed us to document clutchsizeofgravidfemales,inconjunctionwithon-the-groundnestsurveys.Ovipositedclutchsize at one site in Mississippi averaged 34 eggs from intact nests (n = 3) and an estimated average of 22 eggs per clutch from predated nests (n = 20). Preliminary results from x-ray images of gravid females estimated 20 eggs/clutch(n=2),although images were taken early in the egg calcification stage (mid-April). This is the first study documenting hook ingestion rates and clutch size information for the Alligator Snapping Turtle from Mississippi. Continued monitoring willoccurseasonally for the next four years to document the impact of hook ingestion on survivorship, how fishhooksmigratethroughthebody, andhowdifferentialfishingregulationsinfluencetheproportionofturtleswithinapopulationthathaveingestedafishhook.
theTurtleRoom, Wallingford, Connecticut, United States of America [anthony.pierlioni@theturtleroom.org]
Ex situ preservation of species can be a pivotal tool in safeguarding against true extinction, as well as an opportunity to collect more cryptic data from daily observations that could be difficult to acquire in the wild, pertaining to reproduction, activity, and behavior. Most captive breeding of turtles and tortoises takes place in the private sector, rather than in zoosor governmental institutions. Unfortunately, private hobbyists, breeders, andpreservationistsoftengainanegativereputationin academic, research, and conservation biology realms due to the escalating global turtle crisis. Conservation-minded private keepers are often lumped in with those involved with the illegal pet trade and seen as part of the problem. As a result, successful breeding of numerous species in the privatesectorisoftenregardedashearsay(unverifiable)and/orineffectualin the survival ofaspecies.Someturtlespeciesexisttodayonlybecauseofcaptivebreeding,muchofwhichhasoccurredinthe private sector. AssuranceCollaborativesforTurtleSpecies(ACTS)isacaptiveconservationprogramundertheTurtleRoom’s Department of Animal Husbandry designed to foster collaboration betweenconservation-mindedprivatekeepers.Weaimto increase the scientific knowledge of tortoise and freshwater turtle species through captive husbandry and data collection whilegainingabetterunderstandingofthelevelofmeaningfulpropagationthatoccursintheprivatesector.
STEVEN G.PLATT1,KALYAR PLATT,TINT LWIN, ME ME SOE,MYO MIN WIN,SWAN HTET NAING AUNG, AND SHINE HSU 1Wildlife Conservation Society–Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia [sgplatt@gmail.com]
In the early 2000s, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) initiated a number of very successful conservation projects focused on threatened chelonians in Myanmar, most of which are endemic. However, on1 February 2021 the military staged a coup and the country is now embroiled in civil war. More recently, a devastating earthquake (7.7) struck central Myanmar (28 March 2025). Sustaining our conservation projects in the face of war and natural disaster is challenging, but we nonetheless endeavor to persevere. Assurance colonies of Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota)atthreewildlifesanctuariesareproducinglargenumbersofoffspringforhead-starting.Translocating G. platynota eggs from assurance colonies and into the wild is on-going at twosanctuariesOurplannedreleaseofca.1,000 head-started G. platynota at Shwe Settaw Wildlife Sanctuary (SSWS) suffered multiple setbacks (i.e., authorization for release was denied and then an armed group took 300 tortoises at gunpoint; some later surfaced in China). Afterwards, the SSWS assurance colony was transferred to a nearby town. Burmese Roofed Turtles (Batagur trivittata) are reproducing at three assurance colonies (LWS, and Yangon and Mandalay Zoos) with >125 hatchlings produced asof30April2025;more are expected to hatch in May-June. The Mandalay Zoo suffered little damage during the recent earthquake. In situ
conservation of B. trivittata continues along the upper ChindwinRiver.OwingtoheavyfightinginRakhineState,assurance colonies of ArakanForestTurtle(Heosemys depressa),AsianGiantBrownTortoise(Manouria emys phayrei),andElongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata)weretransferredfromtheRakhineYomaElephantSanctuarytoHlawgaParkontheoutskirts of Yangon in late 2024. Lastly, breeding of M. emys phayrei and AsianBig-headedTurtles(Platysternon megacephalum)at the Turtle Rescue Centercontinues.TheTRCwasdirectlythreatenedbyheavyfighting,althoughforthemomentthisdanger haspassed.
Oral
Testudo graeca tripolitania:ANewTaxonDiscoveredinthePetTrade,andCommentsontheConservationof Spur-ThighedTortoises(T. graeca)andEgyptianTortoises(T. Kleinmanii)inLibya
STEPHEN F.POTERALA1,PAUL RATTAY,AARON S.JOHNSON,MURAD S.A.BUIJLAYYIL,ASKIN KIRAZ, AND AHMAD M.S.AJAJ
1Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America [spoterala@gmail.com]
Since 2021, imported Spur-thighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca) have appearedregularlyintheUSpettrade.Theseshipments include both T. g. cyrenaica andanewsubspecies T. g. tripolitania,describedthisyear,andallarebelievedtohavebeenwild collected in Libya. We discuss the characteristics, origin, and possible range of T. g. tripolitania withinnorthwesternLibya, and the challenges inherent in protecting both T. graeca and Egyptian tortoises (T. kleinmanni) from exploitation against a background of political uncertainty. Ongoing efforts to conserve tortoises and tortoise habitatwithinLibyaaresupportedby unfundedvolunteersandnon-governmentalorganizations.
1University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America [David.Pounders@usm.edu]
The Eastern Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia reticularia;ECT)isanunderstudiedspeciesinMississippiwithonly37 current historical occurrence records. Due to the scarcity of ecological and distributional data, the ECT will be listed as data-deficient in the2025MississippiStateWildlifeActionPlan.Thisspeciespreferssmallertomediumephemeralwetlands that dry during hottermonths,butECThavealsobeenobservedinponds,borrowpits,andoxbowlakesinMississippi.ECTs tend to move among wetlands and aestivate in upland habitats, however, seasonal movements and aestivation habits are unknown for populations occupying borrow pits and oxbow lakes. Unfortunately, these wetlands and surrounding upland habitats have declined historically. All current records are from southern Mississippi, while ECTswerelastseenin1973for the northeast portion of the state and may potentially be extirpated. Currently, in the early stages of this project, oneofour maingoalsistoidentifynewsitesinSouthMississippi.Wealsoexaminepopulationdemographicsinopportunisticstudiesof wetlands and wetland complexes. Ultimately, the goals of this work will be to 1) complete a range-wide survey ofECTsin Mississippi (2026-2027) with demographics assessed at a subset of mark-recapture populations, 2) study the movement ecology of ECTs in their westernmost rangeusingGPStelemetry,3)usehabitatsuitabilitymodellingtodelineatehabitatuse by ECT, and 4) use next-generation sequencing to examine geographic patterns of genetic structure and gene flow among wetland complexes and watershed boundaries. With the data gathered from this proposed study,wecanupdatecurrentECT distribution and population demographics, identify ideal habitats that can be applied to future ECT surveys, and inform managementdecisionsforoptimalwetlandhabitatmanagement.
The Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), a critically endangered endemic species of Madagascar, is most threatened by poaching. As part of the Turtle Survival Alliance’s(TSA)reintroductionprogram,healthscreeningswereconductedonwild and under human care tortoises. The goal was to monitor up to 5 pathogens including Mycoplasma spp, adenovirus, herpesvirus, ranavirus, and tortoise intranuclear coccidia (TINC), between 2023 to 2025. Oral and cloacal swabs were collected and diagnostics performed by PCR to detect the presence of targeted pathogens. Individuals were grouped into pools offiveindividualsforinitialtesting.Foranimalsdestinedforrewildingwe testedapproximately150individualsoutof every 1,000 tortoises insevenfacilitiesunderhumancare(n=866)insouthernMadagascar.Additionally,healthassessments, including testing for all 5 pathogens, were conducted on 340 free ranging wild tortoises to establish an epidemiological baseline and testing for Mycoplasma spp. only was performed on free-ranging tortoises from 4 other southern locations (n=275). From April 2023 to 2025 we tested 1491 tortoises, resulting in approximately 296samplepools.Resultsoftesting on pooled samples varied depending on environment, year and confiscation status. Mycoplasma agassizii has been found both in free-ranging wild A. radiata as well as those under captive care. Recently, adenovirus and herpesvirus have been found in A. radiata, but sequencing has not been completed to characterize or validate thesefindings.This underscoresthe importance of continued pathogen screening in reintroduction programs and the investigations into the potential impact of thesepathogensonMalagasytortoises.
Inearly2025,theSouthwestregionofMadagascarfacedseverefloodingduetounprecedentedcyclonicrainfall,significantly impacting local biodiversity and the people living in this region. The Lavavolo Tortoises Center (LTC), which houses critically endangered Radiated (Astrochelys radiata) and Spider (Pyxis arachnoides) tortoises, sustained substantialdamage to its facilities and experienced some tortoise mortality. Here we report the emergency response and flood management strategies implemented to mitigate the disaster's impact on tortoise populations in the center. A multi-agency approach, involving local communities, international organizations, and the local authorities, facilitated rapid assessments, the relocation of at-risk tortoises, and the reinforcement of vulnerable sites. Temporaryhousingfacilitieswereestablishedusing elevated enclosures to prevent drowning and exposure. Additionally, long-term restorationplanshavesincebeeninitiatedto improve natural drainage and increased ecosystem resilience. The natural disaster in this region and the effects on the LTC illustrates the importance of integrating conservation into disaster preparedness and climate adaptationstrategies,especially forendemicandendangeredtortoises.
Oral
AStrategicRoadmapfortheConservationofEndangeredTortoisesinSouthernMadagascar(Astrochelys radiata and Pyxis arachnoides),WithaFocusonEnhancingConservationAreas
S
EHENO RAMANANTSOA1,HAJANIAINA RASOLOARISON, AND NIRHY RABIBISOA
1Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, and Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar, Mahajanga 401 and Antananarivo 101, Madagascar [ramanantsoa_seheno@yahoo.com]
The Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) and the Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) are species strictly endemic to Madagascar, both classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN. These species are severely threatened by habitat loss, bushfires, hunting, and, most critically, illegal trade. Despite various conservation initiatives, their wild populations continue to decline, highlighting the urgent need for more integrated and sustainable conservation strategies. This study investigates the overlap between the distribution ranges of these tortoises and the existing protected areas(PAs)insouthern Madagascar. Using spatial mapping, we identified the number and types of PAs within their distribution occurrences. The conservation target classifications established by The Nature Conservancy were applied tothemanagementplans(PAGs)of each PA to determine whether A. radiata and P. arachnoides are designated as focal, integrated, or auxiliary conservation targets. Our results show that among theidentifiedPAs,threeareclassifiedasCategoryII(NationalParks),fourasCategory V (Protected Landscapes/Seascapes), one as Category VI, and five have no formal IUCN classification. Based onavailable PAGs, only two PAs recognize at least one of the species as a focaltargetrequiringsystematicecologicalmonitoring,while three PAs consider them as integrated targets. None of the PAs identified the species as auxiliary targets. To enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts for A. radiata and P. arachnoides, we recommend five key urgent actions: (1) establishing a unifieddatabaseforpopulationmonitoringacrossconservationareas;(2)adoptingstandardizedandinnovative long-term ecological monitoring methods; (3) strengthening community engagement in conservation initiatives; (4) improving public policies and governance concerningPAmanagementandanti-traffickingmeasures;and(5)reinforcinglaw enforcement and international collaboration to combat illegal wildlife trade. These actions are critical for ensuring the long-term survival of these emblematic Malagasy tortoises and for enhancing the overall resilience of the ecosystems they inhabit.
Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) Madagascar has transitioned from an emergency response to poaching crises into a comprehensive conservation program that combines large-scale care for endemic tortoises, community engagement, habitat protection, and tortoise reintroduction. Over the past decade, we have achieved key milestones, including rescuing and providing long-term care to tens of thousands of confiscated tortoises, establishing dedicated conservation centers, and initiating successful reintroduction efforts. These accomplishments are strengthened by close partnerships with local communities, whose cultural taboos and active involvement have been vital in reducing poaching and preserving habitats. Despite these successes, TSA Madagascar continues to face significant challenges. Illegal wildlife trafficking remains widespread, law enforcement resources are limited, and financial constraints persist. These difficulties are further compounded by climate change, which brings severe droughts in some years and an increased frequency and intensity of cyclones and flooding in others, testing the resilience of our program. In response, we have innovated by expanding community-based conservation approaches and forging stronger collaborations with national and international partners to combat trafficking and enhance protection efforts. Looking forward, TSA Madagascar is focused on building upon its achievements by scaling up tortoise reintroductions, deepening community partnerships, and capitalizing on new
Program Abstracts
opportunities inconservationscienceandpolicy.Byadaptingtoevolvingthreatsandmobilizingthecollectiveeffortsoflocal and global stakeholders, TSA Madagascar strives to secure a sustainable future for Madagascar’s iconic tortoises and the communitiesdedicatedtotheirprotection.
TOJOTANJONA PATRICK RAZANAPARANY1,KIADY RASATAHARIFALY,KOLOINA SAFIDY RAMAHANDRIZAFY,HERY LOVA RAZAFIMAMONJIRAIBE,TSANTA RAKOTONANAHARY, AND ANDREW D.WALDE 1 Turtle Survival Alliance Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar [tpatrick@turtlesurvival.org]
Malagasytortoisesareonthebrinkofextinctionwithoutconservationaction.MostMalagasytortoisesarethreatenedspecies, classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and the population trend is decreasing due to illegal collection for thepet trade, bushmeat, and habitat degradation. The reserve, Cap Sainte Marie (CSM) is a protectedareainsouthernMadagascar, home to the highest density of radiated tortoises in nature according to the last survey conducted a couple of decades ago. Reassessment of the tortoise population at CSM is necessary to establish baseline data to measure the conservation effectiveness and address issues on conservation policy. We surveyed the tortoises in CSM, including Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) and the Southern Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides oblonga). We used two methods of survey, distance sampling over 1-km transects and systematictime-constrainedsearchina30mradiuscircle,toestimatethedensity of tortoises. Using line transects and systematic search methods, we estimated tortoise density at 1,500–3,000 individuals/km², with a sex ratio skewed toward males (M:F = 1.38:1 to 1.98:1). Pyxis are present in CSM, but we only detected 4 individuals, probably as this species is elusive and cryptic. For the Radiated Tortoise,moreadultsthansubadults and juveniles were observed, likely due to selective poaching targeting subadults and juveniles.CapSainteMarieremainsa keysitefortortoiseconservationbutrequiresurgent,coordinatedaction.
1Turtle Conservancy, Ojai, California, United States of America [kylie@turtleconservancy.org]
The Southwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys pallida) is increasingly threatenedandvulnerabletofurtherpopulationreduction. In response, the Turtle Conservancy launched a monitoring program to support conservation planning in Ventura County, California. The program conducts annual mark-recapture surveys across four ecologically distinct sites ranging from wetlands, low elevation river reaches, and high elevation canyon streams to assess population demographics and inform site-specific conservation strategies. Monitoring has been conducted annually since 2022, from April through September, following standardized protocols. All turtles are photographed, measured, marked, sexed, and assessed for apparent health and age class. Two established sites provide data from the last three years, while two additional sites added in 2024 yield baseline demographic profiles for comparative analyses. The project aims to evaluate population structure, recruitment, abundance, sex ratios, and body condition among survey sites. Population parameters derived from the more extensive datasets are used to model site-specific trends, including demographic structure and abundance of core study populations, while newer sites serve as reference points for spatial comparisons.Preliminaryresultsshowpronounceddifferencesamong sites.Theupstreammontanereachexhibitshigherjuvenilerepresentationandmorerobustbodyconditionscomparedtomore degraded downstream sites. These insights will guide management prioritization using longitudinal demographic data to inform conservation action. This poster will present the preliminary findings andfuturedirectionsforexpandingmonitoring
across remaining Actinemys pallida populations in Southern California. By combining standardized field methods with long-term site fidelity, the Turtle Conservancy aims to generate actionable data to inform targeted management strategies focusedonthelong-termrecoveryofthisdecliningspecies.
LILLIAN S.SELF1,ERIC MUNSCHER,ANDERS RHODIN,JOHN IVERSON, AND ZACHARY A.SIDERS
1University of Florida, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America [lillian.self@ufl.edu]
The taxonomic biodiversity of freshwater turtles in the southeastern United States haslongbeennotedbutotherdimensions of biodiversity have yet to be explored. We developed a functional trait database alongside a community phylogeny to provide insight into the functional and phylogenetic dimensions of freshwater turtle biodiversity. We used principal coordinatesanalysestoidentifydominantmodesoftraitdissimilarityandappliedhierarchicalclusteringtoclassifyfunctional groups. We then usedthefunctionaltraitstoprovideinsightsintothecommunitystructurebytestingwhetherallopatricturtle species exhibit greatertraitsimilaritycomparedtosympatricspecies.Preliminaryresultssuggestthatspecieswithinthesame genus may exhibit more variation in traits than expected. Lastly, we mapped our functionalandphylogeneticdimensionsof biodiversity onto geographic range maps from the Turtles of the World Checklist and Atlas to identify hotspots of trait or genetic diversity. Our functional trait approach is currently stymied by several data-deficienttaxa,whichweseektoaddress withexpertreviewordataimputationinthefuture.
Oral
WhereIsThisTurtleFrom(andWhereShouldIReleaseIt)?
BRAD SHAFFER1,ANDREW D.KERN,PETER L.RALPH,PETER A.SCOTT, AND NATALIA GALLEGO-GARCÍA
1UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America [brad.shaffer@ucla.edu]
Turtles are simultaneously one of the most threatened, and most heavily traded clades of vertebrates on earth. However, unlike many trafficked species, much of the illegal trade involves live turtles for the food and pet markets. Thismeansthat confiscations often consist of living specimens that can potentially be released back intothewild.However,pinpointingthe origin of any organism, including turtles andtortoises,isachallengingexerciseinlandscapegenetics.Inthistalk,wereview results from three taxa, the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) and the Northwestern and Southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata, A. pallida)todeterminetheoptimalsamplingandgenomicstrategiestoaccuratelyidentifythe site-of-origin of unknown individuals. We tested both the deep neural network program Locator and more conventional genotype matching approaches with two sets of known-location turtles: a set of 48 fully resequenced terrapins and a set of ~250 fully resequenced western pond turtles. As our “unknown” animals, we used both whole genome low-coverage resequenced individuals withheld from each data set, and RADseq individuals. Our results highlight theimportanceofboth the absolute number and the spatial density of reference individual samples, as well as the optimal resequencing needed to accurately estimate the site of origin of unknown individuals in a cost-efficient manner. Our study provides a roadmap for ongoing efforts to create the genomicresourcesnecessarytoquicklyandaccuratelydeterminethesiteoforiginforanyturtle or tortoise, and therefore the abilitytoidentifywheretoreleasetraffickedanimals,determinetheoriginofcaptivespecimens thatmaybecriticalincaptivebreedingprograms,andinformagencypartnersonpoachinghotspots.
1University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America [zsiders@ufl.edu]
The species of Sternotherus natively occur in NorthAmericawithRazor-backedMuskTurtle(S. carinatus),FlattenedMusk Turtle (S. depressus), Intermediate Musk Turtle (S. intermedius), and Loggerhead Musk Turtle (S. minor) occupying the southern United States while the Eastern Musk Turtle (S. odoratus) and Stripeneck Musk Turtle (S. peltifer) extend northward. Even within these ranges, Sternotherus occupy a wide variety of habitats from thermally stable springs to ephemeral habitats. Despite their ubiquity, thelifehistory—principally,growthandmaturity—ofthesesmallturtlesispoorly understoodacrossthegenus.Theinter-sitevariabilityinsomaticgrowthstymiessuchasynthesisofthislifehistory.Here,we gathered mark-recapture Sternotherus datasets from 24 sites ranging from Florida in thesouthtoOntariointhenorthandas farwestasTexas.Weobtainedmultiplecarapacelength(CL),carapacewidth,plastronlength,andshellheightmeasurements from 68 S. carinatus (2 sites), 354 S. depressus (2 sites), 2 S. intermedius (1 site), 1,804 S. minor (6 sites), and 6,008 S. odoratus (13 sites) individuals for a total of 49,062 length measurements.WedevelopedahierarchicalBayesianmodelwith measurement-, species-, site-, and sex-specific effects to estimate von Bertalanffy growth. In S. odoratus, individuals grew larger (97 – 112 mm, CL) at sites northof37’latitudethansitestothesouth,exceptforindividualsinComalSprings,Texas that also exhibit megacephaly. In S. minor, spring sites had larger CLs than those in free-flowing rivers (∆ 5-15 mm). Interestingly, where S. odoratus and S. minor co-occurred at Wekiwa Springs, FL both species experience the lowest or second lowest asymptotic CL among the 13 or 6 sites, respectively. Across species, S. depressus wasthesmallest,followed by S. odoratus, then S. minor, S. carinatus. This supports a tentative pattern across the Sternotherus phylogenywheremore genetically similar taxa have larger size differences than more genetically dissimilar taxa. Given this pattern, we aim to include phylogenetic random effects to extrapolate the life history of the understudied S. peltifer and recently described S. intermedius.
MICHAEL A.SKIBSTED1,JACK C.H.THOMPSON,JASON C.WILLS,KENNETH WANG,WYATT P.KEIL,PAUL F.CUNEO,ETHAN Q.HANCOCK,ALEX J.MIONE, AND TORSTEN WATKINS
1Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America [skibstedm@gmail.com]
It is important to chronicle thehistory,processes,andaccomplishmentswithinthefieldofturtleconservationandresearchin a holistic manner. While critically important to advancing knowledge on a subject, academic journal articlesusuallycannot capture the stories intrinsic to a particular body of research. They also usually do not expressthepersonalitiesofthosewho undertook the research and are limited in how much they can exploreatopicinthepursuitofconciseness.Itcanbehardfor members of the public to accessorunderstandresearcharticlesaswell,limitingthepublic’sabilitytoobtainknowledgeona subject like turtle and tortoise biology and conservation. It is pertinent to spread knowledge and promote critical thinking about turtle and tortoise research and conservation in the 21st century, so that people can better understand their dire conservation status and appreciate them for how fascinating they are. In the age of technology and podcasts, there is an immense opportunity to bring this incredible field to the ears of a broad audience in a digestiblemanner.TheCheloniaCast Podcast, started by a team of high school students, seeks to explore the immense world of turtle research and conservation through the lens of thoseactivelyinvolvedinprogressingthefield.Thispaperexploreskeyinsightsthathavebeengainedso far through conducting over 140 hours of interviews with active participants in the field of turtle biology, ecology, and
MICHAEL SKIBSTED1,RUSSELL A.MITTERMEIER,MICHAEL SKIBSTED,JAMES C.GODWIN,KURT A.BUHLMANN,TRACEY D.
TUBERVILLE,PETER PAUL VAN DIJK,MICHAEL G.MITTERMEIER,ARTHUR J.JENKINS, AND ANDERS G.J.RHODIN
1Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America [skibstedm@gmail.com]
It is imperative to recognize areas of high species richness and taxonomic diversity to prioritize conservation and develop conservation strategies. Much of the Southeastern United States within the North American Coastal Plain Biodiversity Hotspot harbors an incredibly rich turtle and general freshwater faunal assemblage. Herein we quantify the turtle and freshwater taxon diversity (species and subspecies) in five select states that make up a large proportion of the North American Coastal Plain Biodiversity Hotspot. We compare species diversity within these statestoentirecountriesandother recognized BiodiversityHotspots.FloridaandAlabamabothharbor39turtletaxa,lessthanonlytheentireUnitedStates,and the nations of Mexico, India, and Indonesia. When compared to the global Biodiversity Hotspots on a turtle hotspot scale, these two states individually are only exceeded by the IndoBurma and Mesoamerica Biodiversity Hotspots.Mississippiand Georgia have 38 and 35 turtle taxa, respectively, ranking each of them among the topeleventurtle-richcountries,similarto Brazil, China, Australia, and Colombia, and among the top six turtle hotspots. Louisiana, with fewer taxa (33), still ranks among the top 15 turtle-richcountriesandtopseventurtlehotspots.WhenturtlerichnessintheSoutheasternUnitedStatesis scaled to area (taxa per 10,000 km2), the five highest taxa to area ratios are represented by each Southeastern U.S. state. Mississippi has the highest turtle taxa toarearatioat3.03,followedbyAlabama(2.87),Louisiana(2.43),Florida(2.29),and Georgia (2.27). The next closest reasonably large country is Bangladesh at 1.83. The diversity of freshwater crayfish, gastropods, and mussels withinthefivestatesanalyzedalsorepresentsasizablefractionofthetotalnumberofglobalspecies within these groups. Taken together, this data demonstrates the incredible biological diversity and richness of the Southeastern United States with respect to turtles and freshwater species. Many of these species face local and widespread threats. Future conservation efforts focused on turtle and freshwater diversity in the Southeastern United States should highlight the incredible ecology and diversity of this wide array of organisms. Conservation-orientedecotourisminitiatives, specifically “Turtle-Watching,” provide a promising avenue to merge economic growth with species conservation in the SoutheasternUnitedStates.
1University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States of America [huntersmith9816@gmail.com]
Wildlife detector dogs are emerging as valuable tools in conservation research, particularly for locating cryptic or elusive species. Despite their growing use in ecological studies, their application in herpetological fieldwork, especially regarding turtle research, remains limited. This paper investigates the feasibility, implementation, and potential benefits of integrating wildlife detection dogs into herpetological research, specifically for turtle conservation. Through an extensive literature review and an in-depth analysis of video and audio interviews with practitioners in the field, this work examines current training methodologies, field applications, and species-specific challenges.Specialconsiderationisgiventotheuniquescent profiles and ecological behaviors of turtles that may influence detection success. When properly trained and deployed, findings suggest that detection dogs can significantly improve the efficiency of locating individual turtles, nests, and even
eggs, especially in dense vegetation or along aquatic-edge habitats where traditional surveymethodshavebeenshowntobe less effective. By identifying logistical andecologicalfactorsthatinfluencedetectionoutcomes,thisresearchofferspractical recommendations for expanding the use of detection dogs in turtle conservation efforts. Ultimately, this work supports the integrationofdetectiondogsasapowerfultoolinherpetologicalresearchandspeciesmonitoring. Poster
The critically endangered Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) is among theworld’s25mostendangeredchelonians.It is a flagship species in Cambodia, designated as the National Reptile by the King’s sub-decree since 2005. The B. affinis population in Cambodia is restricted to the Sre Ambel River system, a combination offreshwaterrivers,creeks,andcoastal mangroves in southwestern Cambodia. Threats and unsustainable harvests, such as habitat destruction, sand mining, illegal fishing practices, and egg collection, have driven this species to the brink of extinction in Cambodia.Sincetheinceptionof nest protection in 2002 after the rediscovery of the species in the area and the 2006 head starting of hatchlings, Wildlife Conservation Society, Turtle Survival Alliance, Fisheries Administration, and main financial collaborators such as the Alan and PatriciaKovalFoundationhavesuccessfullyreleasedmorethan200headstartedindividualsofthisspeciesintothewild. The age of released individuals (males and females) ranged from 5 to more than 12 years prior to release. Since 2015, the project has released 206 head started turtles with ca. 1:1 sex ratio into the SreAmbelRiver.Here,weinvestigatethespatial ecology and determine the survival rate of these translocated turtles. Annual post-release monitoring data from acoustic transmitters and receivers is used to analyze spatial and seasonal movements and habitat utilization across theriversystem. We theninvestigatethesurvivorshipoftranslocatedturtlesusingstatisticalanalysisRTool(Kaplan-Meierestimator,CTMM, move2, and moveVis packages). The results from this analysis provide empiricalevidencetoaddressknowledgegapsinthe life history of this critically endangered species, give recommendations to collectdataapplicabletoinformingmanagement, andaddtotheunderstandingoftheecologyandhabitatrequirementsof B. affinis acrossitsglobalrange.
1Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia [r.spencer@westernsydney.edu.au]
Conservation educationoftenstrugglestotranslateclassroomexperiencesintoreal-worldenvironmentaloutcomes.However, targeted school-based turtle conservation programs in Australia and the United States are demonstrating that young people can actively contribute to species recovery while building community-wide conservation cultures. The “Turtles in Schools” program in Australia and the “Terrapins Education and Research Partnership (TERP)” program in the UnitedStatesengage students in direct conservation activities, including egg incubation, hatchlingrearing,habitatmonitoring,andcitizenscience reporting. By placing real turtles and real conservation action intothehandsofstudents,theseprogramsforgedeeppersonal connections to biodiversity, science, and local habitats. Critically, the effects extend far beyond the classroom. Schools become dynamic conservation hubs, sharing knowledge with families, friends, and local communities, enhancing wetland protection efforts and environmental stewardship. School-based networks offer a scale and flexibility that traditional zoo-based headstarting programs cannot easily replicate, enabling widespread intervention across landscapes. Moreover, schools can focus on conserving species while they are still relatively common, preventing population collapses ratherthan
HRISTOPHER
OYSER
HAKRIYA
responding to crises once species are critically endangeredandgeographicallyrestricted.Longitudinalevaluationsshowthat participants exhibit lasting ecological literacy, scientific engagement, and pro-environmental behavior, helping to embed a conservation ethic into the broader community. By combining education, real-world conservation action, and proactive species management, programs like “Turtles in Schools” and “TERP” offer a scalable, sustainable model for safeguarding biodiversity in a rapidly changing world. We present a one-twosummaryofourprogramsandsomeoftheaccomplishments todate.
Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia [r.spencer@westernsydney.edu.au]
The biodiversity crisis is global—but so is the potential for community-powered solutions. The 1 Million Turtles program, developed in Australia, offers a replicable modelforhowlocalobservations,whensupportedbyscienceandtechnology,can catalyse large-scale ecological change. Beginning as a simple citizen science mapping tool—TurtleSAT—the program has evolved into a powerful framework that combines predictive ecological modelling, habitat design, and grassroots engagement. Central to its success is the principle of empowering people—not just as observers, but as active conservationists. This includes everyday citizens, landholders, and increasingly, school students, who through theTurtlesin Schools initiative are incubating eggs, monitoring nesting turtles, and co-producing conservation science. By turning their data and stories into real-worldoutcomes—fromAI-drivenrestorationplanningtoolstotheinstallationofBioHavenfloating wetlands—the program is restoring degraded landscapes across urban, agricultural, and industrial environments. Its innovations now underpin measurable biodiversity and carbon outcomes, aligning with global frameworks such as the UN Decade on EcosystemRestoration,30x30,andemergingnaturecreditmarkets.Thistalkpresents1MillionTurtlesnotjustas an Australian success story, but as a scalable, community-first model that can be adapted globally—empowering citizens, landmanagers,students,andscientistsaliketoshapeaNaturePositivefuture,oneturtleandonehabitatatatime.
RICKY SPENCER1,JAMES VAN DYKE,KRISTEN PETROV, AND THONG PHAM VAN 1Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia [r.spencer@westernsydney.edu.au]
Freshwater turtle conservation haslongreliedoncapture-mark-recapture(CMR)andcatch-per-unit-effort(CPUE)surveysto assess population health, but these methods are labor-intensive, invasive, and limited in spatial and temporal coverage. In Australia, recent innovations are transforming these paradigms throughhabitatcreationandcitizenscienceengagement.The installation of BioHaven floating islands and purpose-built basking platforms not only restores critical habitat but also enables non-invasive monitoring of turtle populations across urban and rural wetlands. We demonstrate that monitoringlife history parameter ratios—specifically, the proportions of juveniles, subadults, and adults observed basking—provides a powerful proxy for population structure and viability. Longitudinal citizen science data from the 1 Million Turtles program show strong correlations between these basking ratios and traditional population metrics, offering a cost-effective, scalable, and less intrusive alternative to CMR and CPUE. To operationalize this innovation at scale, we established 'Turtle Hubs' across diverse landscapes: community-driven centers that engage schools, landholders, and local councils in habitat management and systematic turtle monitoring. Turtle Hubs empower the public to collect real-time, standardized data, transforming turtle conservation from sporadic scientific fieldwork to continuous, community-powered environmental
stewardship. This integrated approach not only enhances restoration outcomes but also supports the development of measurable environmental accounting standards critical for emerging conservation markets, including Australia's Nature Repair Market. By linking habitat intervention, citizen science, and real-time population assessment, we present a scalable, non-invasiveframeworktosafeguardfreshwaterturtlesandvalidateecosystemrestorationinvestmentsintothefuture.
CRAIG B.STANFORD1,GAMALIEL CASTAÑEDA-GAYTAN,JAMES LIU,PETER PAUL VAN DIJK,LYDIA LOZANO, AND ERIC GOODE 1University of Southern California and Turtle Conservancy, Los Angeles, California, United States of America [stanford@usc.edu]
The Turtle Conservancy has a long-standing philosophy and practice of acquiring land that is prime habitat for critically endangered turtles and tortoises as a strategy to protectthosespecies.Protectingthelandalsoprotectsmanyotherspeciesof animals and plants on it. The Cuatro Ciénegas Valley in the state of Coahuila, Mexico, is an area of high endemism for chelonians and many other organisms. The prime turtle habitat lies within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a larger protected area, but the entire ecosystem is critically threatened by decreased water availabilityduetoagricultureanduseby communities in and outside of the valley. In this presentation we report on the acquisition oflandfortheestablishmentofa new Turtle Conservancy reserve for three endangered turtles species: the Coahuilan Box Turtle (Terrapene coahuila), the Cuatro Ciénegas Slider (Trachemys taylori), and the Cuatro Ciénegas Softshell (Apalone spinfera atra) in the Cuatro Ciénegas valley. Ongoing field surveys since 2011 identifiedthepresenceofallthreespeciesinidealwetlandshabitat,anda land purchase was negotiated with a local land owner. A parcel of 875hectareswasacquiredfeaturingbothpermanentand seasonal wetlands. Management strategies are being planned and possibilities for further wetlands enhancement restoration arebeingdiscussed.
PAUL A.STONE1,JUSTIN D.CONGDON, AND MARIE E.B.STONE
1Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America [pstone@uco.edu]
Turtle life histories are difficult to compile because turtle lifespans often exceed the duration of a cheloniologist’s career. Interpopulational comparisons of life histories are even more difficult and often clouded by differences in evolutionary history, locations, research techniques, andfocusofstudies.Inthemid-1990’s,unbeknownsttoeachother,weindependently started long-term studies of isolated populations of Sonora Mud Turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense)inadjacentSkyIslandsin New MexicoandArizona.DurationsofstudiesinNewMexicoandArizonaare32and15yrs,respectively.Studyareaswere 60 km apart at similar elevations (1640-1800 m) with similar annual precipitation (38.5-41.4 cm). We are excitedaboutthe opportunity this serendipity provides. Aquatic habitat at the two sites included stock tanks, spring fed ponds, and canyon pools. However, the quantity and permanence of aquatic habitat were much higher at the Chiricahua site, likely due to differences in aquatic habitat improvement and maintenance. Both studies sites were on the Coronado National Forest and adjacent private lands, but theChiricahuastudyareawasprimarilyonaranchownedbyarancherwithastrongconservation ethic, whereas the PeloncillostudyareamostlyincludedungrazedareasoftheNationalForestthatwerenotwell-maintained. We used standard mark-recapture methods to determine age-specific body size, growth, and survivorship, and x-raying to document clutch size, egg width, and pelvic aperture width. Body size and juvenile growth rate at the two sites were correlated with differences in aquatic habitat: turtles grew faster, and primiparous females matured at larger body size and younger ages in the Chiricahuas. Mean carapace length in the Chiricahuas was 126.3+12.81 mm, nearly 12 mm largerthan
the Peloncillos (114.7+13.11 mm). Likewise, the minimum size at sexual maturity in females was 9 mm larger in the Chiricahuas (106 mm vs. 97 mm). Surprisingly, there were no obvious differences in site-specific survivorship of adults despite differences in body size. Data from three other Sky Islands in Arizona support the pattern of larger body sizes in larger, more permanent wetlands. If the observed body size differences have the expected influences on fecundity, conservation planning should consider the limited potential for population growth in intermittent habitat, especially if the predictedclimatechangesfortheregionarerealized.
1University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia [ksulli29@myune.edu.au]
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are notorious fortheirtoxiceffectsonwildlife,domesticanimals,andhumans.Oneparticular type of HAB, caused by cyanobacteria, can cause internal bleeding, liver damage,andevendeath.Bloomscanlastforupto several weeks, and the duration and frequency of HAB occurrences is expected to increase as climate change and eutrophication create ideal conditions for toxic algae and bacteria species to flourish.UnderstandingtheeffectsofHABson the wildlife most likely to be exposed will be critical formitigatingdamageandimplementingconservationplansforat-risk species. The objective of our study was to determinewhateffects,ifany,HABshaveontwospeciesoffreshwaterturtle,the Eastern Long-neck Turtle (Chelodina longicollis) and theMurrayRiverTurtle(Emydura macquarii).Wecollected58turtles from six sites in the northernNewEnglandTablelands;threecontrolsiteswithlowlevelsoftoxicalgae,andthreesiteswith active blooms and very high toxicalgaelevels.Fromeachturtlecapturedwecollected1mlofbloodandpreparedtwoblood smearslides.Theslideswerestainedandexaminedmicroscopicallytodeterminetheheterophiltolymphocyte(H:L)immune cell ratio, which served as an indicator of physiological stress. The remaining 1mlwassenttoaveterinarylabtodetermine the concentrations ofthreeliverenzymes(AST,GDL,andLDH);elevatedconcentrationsoftheseenzymescanindicateliver damage. Our results showed no significant difference in H:L ratios or liver enzyme concentrations between the control and bloom sites for either species. These findings suggest that freshwater turtles are remarkably resilient animals, and may be avoiding exposure to HABs through behavioural changes, such as reducing the amount of water they drink. Alternatively, freshwater turtles may possess physiological mechanisms that allow neutralization or excretion ofHABtoxinsinawaythat other taxa can’t. Both possibilities should be thoroughly exploredinfuturestudies,aswellasanypotentiallong-termeffects ofrepeatedexposuretoHABtoxins.
AVA SWEENEY1,JENNIFER MOORE,FAITH KUZMA,BILL FLANAGAN, AND PAUL KEENLANCE
1Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, United States of America [sweenava@mail.gvsu.edu]
Raising young animals in captivity before release into the wild, known as headstarting, has proven successful for turtles; however, best practicesmaydifferbyspecies.AnEasternBoxTurtle(Terrapene carolina carolina)headstartingprogramhas been underway for a population ofEasternBoxTurtlesinsouthwestMichigansince2019.Theheadstartsrearedthroughthis program have exhibited higher survival than their non-headstarted counterparts butstillexperiencepredationinthefirstfive weeks following their release. From 2020 to 2023, all headstarts were placed directly into the wild, or “hard released”. In contrast, headstarts can be placed in a pen at their release site for the first few weeks post-release – a technique known as “soft release”. Ideally, soft release enables turtles to become acclimated to their new environment without predation risk,
thereby allowing them to navigate that environment better once they are out on their own. We usedradiotelemetrytotrack soft released and hard released Eastern Box Turtle headstarts and compared their survival, movement, and growth. Preliminary results indicate that there is not a significant difference in survival or change in weight post-releaseforthesoft released and hard released turtles. Furthermore, turtles used similar habitat types across release groups. These results will informrecommendationsfortheheadstartingprogramandEasternBoxTurtleconservationmovingforward.
1Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America [DeniseThompson@missouristate.edu]
The study of animals in their natural environment often represents the gold-standard for accruing knowledge of species’ biology; however, studying threatened and cryptic species in the wild poses many challenges for obtaining important information about species’ biology, ecology, behavior, and life history.Captivepopulationscanofferuniqueopportunitiesto gain valuable insights into species that would otherwise be logistically difficult and/or costprohibitivetoobtaininthewild. Here, we present findings from studies focused on reproduction and activity in a captive breeding population of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) maintained under semi-natural conditions within the species’ native range at Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, in southeastern Oklahoma. Our workhasprovidedinformationonnestingbehaviorand ecology, reproductive investment patterns, reproductive cycles, implications of embryonic development patterns on geographic distribution, temperature-dependentsexdeterminationandgonadaldevelopment,andseasonalactivitypatternsof Alligator Snapping Turtles. These studies highlight just some information thatcanbeobtainedthroughscientificresearchof captive animals, the importance of maintaining consistent and accurate long-term records, and thebenefitsofhousingsmall populationsinsemi-naturalconditionswhenpossible.
Oral
MovementEcologyandPredationRisk:AnAnalysisofCo-occurringRaccoons(Procyon lotor)andWoodTurtles (Glyptemys insculpta)inanActivelyManagedLandscape ERIN TRIMPE1,JENNIFER MOORE,ERIC MCCLUSKEY, AND PAUL KEENLANCE 1Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, United States of America [trimpee@mail.gvsu.edu]
Turtles and tortoises are among the most imperiled vertebrate groups globally, with high extinction risks due to threatslike habitat loss, climate change, and increased predation. As contributors to important processes such as nutrient cycling and seed dispersal, their conservation is essential for proper ecosystem functioning. Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), a semi-aquatic freshwater species, are declining throughout their range due in part to predation on adults by mesopredators such as Raccoons (Procyon lotor). Because Wood Turtles are long-lived and slow to mature, populations require adult survival rates of at least 95% to remain stable or increase. Thus, while many conservation efforts focusonearlylifestages, protecting adults is essential for population persistence. Understanding when and where adult turtles are most vulnerableto predators is critical. To address this, we employed spatial ecological approaches to examine movement patterns of co-occurring Wood Turtles and Raccoons. During the summer of 2024, we deployed high-resolution GPS loggers on individuals ofbothspeciesatafieldsiteintheHuron-ManisteeNationalForest,Michigan,USA.Weassessedspatiotemporal overlapasaproxyforpredationriskandexploredthetimingandenvironmentalconditionsunderwhichtheseinteractionsare most likely to occur. Environmental variables included slope, landcover type, elevation, and distances to rivers and forest openings. We also analyzed temporal patterns to identify periods of higher predation risk. Preliminary results suggest
Program Abstracts
seasonal and nightly trends in overlap, with shared environmental preferences potentially influencing encounter likelihood. Further analysis will identify specific high-risk areas, conditions, and daily and seasonaltimesofhighestrisk.Thisresearch will ultimately inform targeted strategies to reduce adultturtlemortalityduetopredationandsupportthelong-termrecovery ofWoodTurtlepopulations.
TFTSG, Re:wild and Turtle Conservancy, Herndon, Virginia, United States of America [peterpaul@turtleconservancy; ppvandijk@hotmail.com]
Two major events are happening in 2025 that will almost certainly lead to significant changes in the laws, rules and regulations affecting tortoises and freshwater turtles in the United States andworldwide.FromNovember24thtoDecember 5th, the 20th meeting of the CITES Conference of Parties (CoP20) is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. CoP20 will deliberate and decide on proposals to include, transfer, or delete, species in, between, or from the Appendices, among many other topics. It is likelythattheProposalswillincludesometurtlespecies,butthiswillonlybeknownafterthe Proposal submission deadline of June 27th, 2025. Meanwhile, following the inauguration of the 47th Presidency of the United States, a voluminous stream of Executive Orders and other developments are affecting how species conservation is carried out by the Federal Government of theUnitedStates;thesedevelopmentswill alsoaffectbiodiversityconservationat the State level, as well as affect and influence conservation work beyond the bordersoftheUnitedStates.Thispresentation will present an up-to-date overview of how changed US regulations affect turtle conservation, as well as a look forward to submittedProposalsandotherdocumentsfordiscussionatCITESCoP20.
THOMAS P.WILSON1,TABITHA M.WILSON,HUNTER SMITH, AND “TEAM SALAMANDER”
1The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States of America [thomas-wilson@utc.edu]
Wildlife detection dogs are excellent tools for useinthefieldofturtleconservationduetotheirextraordinarysenseofsmell, which is arguably up to 100,000 times more sensitivethanthatofhumans. Thesecanineconservationistshavearemarkable ability that allows them to efficiently locate rare, elusive or cryptic specieswithhighlevelsofprecision.Theirnon-invasive approach coupled with minimal disturbance to wildlife and habitats makes them ideal candidates for inventory and monitoring projects, especially with rare species or when working in sensitive habitats. Additionally, their physical drive allows them to cover large areas of rough terrain quickly and objectively, thus enhancing the speed and accuracy of data collection. Their versatility in detecting turtlescentmakestheminvaluabletoolsforconservation. Overall,wewillhighlight the utility of wildlife detection dogs for turtle conservation, but beyond this we will also provide a 30-year-perspective on breed/individualselection,K9basictraining,scenttraining,handlertrainingandfieldtraining.
1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
[emwilso8@ncsu.edu]
The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) is a species ofgreatestconservationneed,facingpopulationdeclinesthroughoutmost of its range, partly due to habitat loss. This species dependsonexpansivehabitatbeyondwetlandboundariestocompleteits annual cycle, and urbanization can reduce the forested areas critical for nesting, inter-wetland movements, foraging, and aestivation. For long-lived vertebrates, the effects of habitat loss may not be immediate, and quantifying landscape change can provide insights intoenvironmentalstressorsnotrevealedbypopulationassessmentsalone.UsingdatafromtheNational Land Cover Database spanning 1985 to 2023, we assessed the proportion of developed and forested land in 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, and 1500 m buffers around 44 Spotted Turtle localities in Wake County, North Carolina, USA, one of the country’s most urbanizing counties. This was coupled with systematic Spotted Turtle surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025. Forest cover decreased significantly, while urban cover increased significantly (p < 0.01) across all spatialscales.Themost pronounced increase in development occurred at the 1500 m scale. The rate of forest loss at the 400 m scale was not significantly different from the rateoflossobservedatscalesupto1500m.Theproportionofforestcoverdeclinedby8%at 100 m and 14% at the 1500 m scale. Despite high trap effort, our surveys yielded captureperuniteffortofonly0.0115and relative abundance of 0.0385-1.0 for occupied sites. Changes in upland habitat and low relative abundance suggest that long-term persistence of Spotted Turtles in this region is unlikely. The current landscape may be insufficient to support habitat connectivity, highlighting the importance of preventing forest loss in the areas surrounding and connecting wetland complexes. Moreover, the increase in impervious surface often leads to profoundly altered hydrology, reducing the availabilityofsuitablewetlandsforSpottedTurtles.
THOMAS M.ZAPLETAL1,LARISSA S.SAAREL,DONALD T.MCKNIGHT,DAVID A.PENNING,
AND DAY B.LIGON 1Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America [tz56s@missouristate.edu]
Size plays a significant role in the life history, behavior, and ecology of vertebrates. However, few studies have quantified biomechanical differences throughout ontogeny, and turtles are rarely studied in the contextoftheeffectsofmorphologyon foraging ecology. The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus) inhabits a wide range of wetlands throughout much of Central America and faces frequent predation attempts fromcrocodiles(Crocodylus moreletii and C. acutus).Their diet primarily consists of hard-shelled prey (e.g., gastropods,palmseeds),whichoftenpromotesmegacephaly.Usingaforce transducer and high-speed camera, I investigated maximum bite performance and lunge speed of Northern Giant Musk Turtles across a broad size range and from five populations. My findings contrast with previous studies of scaling of performance and morphological traits in Staurotypus spp. Bite force scaled positively with straight carapace length but did not vary among populations or sexes despite noticeable morphological differences. Most other morphometrics scaled with negative allometry relative to straight carapace length, with the exception of shell height. This prioritization of increasing shell volume over othermorphologicaltraitsmayreflecttheimportanceofshellmorphologyinsurvivingpredationattempts. Additionally, lunge speed was independent of body size, suggesting that juveniles may compensate for a lack of predator deterrentsbyachievingsimilarlungespeedsasadults.
1Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America
[tz56s@missouristate.edu]
Studying trophic interactions offers insights intocommunitydynamicsandhowbiodiversityandtrophicpositionsrespondto biotic and abiotic factors. Because dietary composition varies among populations, characterizing a species' diet requires
sampling across its full range of habitats. Turtles are useful model organisms for diet studies due totheirdiverseecological roles and trophic flexibility. The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus), the largest member of the family Kinosternidae, inhabits a wide range of wetland habitats, and can enter terrestrial dormancy to survivedryperiods.Limited studies of its diet suggest it is omnivorous but primarily carnivorous. To better understand this species’ ecological role and trophic position, I quantified its dietinsixpopulationsinhabitinglagoonsandriverswithvaryingturbidity.Dietarymaterials were obtained by collecting fecal material. Mussels, snails, and seeds from the palm family (Arecacea) were the most common diet components, but we also identified remains of iguanas, turtles, reptile eggs, and seeds from various tree families. Diet varied among populations and between sexes; however, diet was not variable between wet and dry seasons. Additionally, when exploring relationships ofMayaAppleSnailconsumptionpatterns,largerindividualsweremorelikelyto eat an average sized larger, and more Maya Apple Snails than smaller individuals. The species’ diet was found to be more diversethanpreviouslyreported,andthisdietaryplasticitymayfacilitateitsabilitytoinhabitawiderangeofhabitats.
