Effects of Roads on the Structure of Freshwater Turtle Populations |
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Authors: | DAVID A STEEN JAMES P GIBBS |
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Institution: | 350 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Abstract: Road mortality has the potential to alter the structure of turtle populations because turtle populations are highly sensitive to additive sources of adult mortality. To address the issue, we captured painted turtles ( Chrysemys picta ; n = 174) and snapping turtles ( Chelydra serpentina ; n = 56) in 18 wetlands surrounded by low road density (≤1.5 km roads/km2 of landscape) and 17 wetlands surrounded by high road density (>1.5 km/km2) in central New York in 2002. High road density was associated with male-biased sex ratios in painted turtles (74% vs. 54% males; p = 0.01) and snapping turtles (95% vs. 74% males; p = 0.08), whereas turtle morphology and abundance were not associated with road density. Disproportionate road mortality of females on nesting migrations is the most likely cause of skewed sex ratios. |
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Keywords: | Chelydra serpentina Chrysemys picta painted turtle road mortality roads sex ratio snapping turtle turtles |
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