Biomass of freshwater turtles: a geographic comparison

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Am. Midl. Nat.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5743885

Congdon, J D; Greene, J L; Gibbons, J W

Standing crop biomass of freshwater turtles and minimum annual biomass of egg production were calculated for marsh and farm pond habitats in South Caroling and in Michigan. The species in South Carolina included Chelydra serpentina, Deirochelys reticularia, Kinosternon subrubrum, Pseudemys floridana, P. scripta and Sternotherus odoratus. The species in Michigan were Chelydra serpentina, Chrysemys picta and Emydoidea blandingi. Biomass was also determined for a single species population of P. scripta on a barrier island near Charleston, South Carolina. Population density and biomass of Pseudemys scripta in Green Pond on Capers Island were higher than densities and biomass of the entire six-species community studied on the mainland. In both the farm pond and marsh habitat in South Carolina P. scripta was the numerically dominant species and had the highest biomass. In Michigan, Chrysemys picta was the numerically dominant species; however, the biomass of Chelydra serpentina was higher. The three-species community in Michigan in two marshes (58 kg ha/sup -1/ and 46 kg ha/sup -1/) and farm ponds (23 kg ha/sup -1/) had lower biomasses than did the six-species community in a South Carolina marsh (73 kg/sup -1/). Minimum annual egg production by all species in South Carolina averaged 1.93 kg ha/sup -1/ and in Michigan averaged 2.89 kg ha/sup -1/ of marsh.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC
• OSTI ID: 5743885
• Journal Information: Am. Midl. Nat.; (United States), Vol. 115:1; Conference: American industrial hygiene conference, Dallas, TX, USA, 18-23 May 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
TURTLES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
REPRODUCTION
MICHIGAN
POPULATIONS
SOUTH CAROLINA
ANIMALS
ECOSYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION V
NORTH AMERICA
REPTILES
USA
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)