Environmental temperatures are rising in most environments due to global warming, and impacting activity and physiology for many species. Energy allocation towards growth and reproduction for ectotherms can be affected by environmental temperature fluctuations which can lead to early emergence from brumation when food sources are not yet available. Understanding climatic effects on ectotherms is critical as many ectothermic species, in part because of their high ecological efficiency, have large impacts on their environments. For example, turtles are significant contributors to environmental health through bioturbation, mineral cycling, seed dispersal, grazing, soil disturbance, and biomass production. Although most turtles are categorized as threatened by the IUCN, research towards environmental effects on turtle physiology and behaviors seems deficient but vital considering how significant turtle species are to the environment. To assist in understanding temperature influences on Box Turtle physiology, we are investigating a population of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in North Georgia currently being studied using radiotelemetry. From 2019-2020, temperature data loggers (iButtons®) were placed distally on the turtle’s carapace as well as throughout the environment to record available temperatures. We predict that the change in yearly temperatures in early spring (April through June) might affect Eastern Box turtle thermoregulatory strategies and energy use by altering emergence patterns and metabolic rates due to changing temperatures.

UNG Annual Research Conference 2022

01. The Effects of Environmental Temperature Fluctuations on Physiology of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Habitat loss and fragmentation creates small islands of habitat that can limit wildlife population persistence though habitat alteration from threats such as invasive species and disrupt dispersal for many species. Although research has been conducted to assess these effects on populations of mammals and birds, little of this research has focused on long-lived ectothermic spices.To help address some of these deficiencies, since 2013 we have conducted a radio-telemetry study on a 77 ha. anthropogenically fragmented site to investigate factors that influence Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) movement and habitat use in the Northeastern Piedmont region of Georgia. The study site is composed of mixed hardwood-pine uplands, primarily oaks and maples; mesic and upland areas dominated by Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense); beaver-created wetlands; and maintained utility line areas. Our research includes 32 radio-transmitted turtles that are tracked on foot by homing 1-2 times a month, with an average of 57 radiolocations (range: 1 to 179) per turtle. We analyzed home ranges using minimum convex polygons and calculated compositional habitat use within the home ranges for analysis. The assessment of habitat-use and home ranges will continue throughout 2019 with tracking and further data analysis.

UNG Annual Research Conference 2019

36. Preliminary Analysis of Habitat Correlates of Home Range Size in a Long-Lived Ectothermic Species

Tumbling Creek Turtles
UNG shares land with innocent, wonderful animals. For the Summer 2018 Semester, I painted two 4ft x 3ft acrylic paintings based on observations of Tumbling Creek’s Eastern Box Turtle residents. I have continued my research for this Spring 2019 Semester, and am creating an 8ft x 5ft acrylic painting depicting a littered pond at Tumbling Creek. 
Last summer, Dr. Mook and Dr. Hyslop, biology professors at the UNG in Gainesville, invited me to track live Eastern Box Turtles with them. When I got to see a turtle up close and in person, the eyes were mesmerizing. I had to paint the deep brown, reddish pinks and innumerable details in the turtles’ irises. Hence, my painting, Eye Like Turtles, was influenced by the turtles’ beautifully saturated eyes. My second painting, Trippy Turtle, is based on patterns and shapes found on the turtles’ skin, shell and scales. The form, textures and colors of the carapace (the top of the turtle’s shell) were joyous to capture.
This Spring 2019 Semester painting depicts another Tumbling Creek Woods native, the Musk Turtle, in an aquatic environment. Dr. Mook took me early one morning to observe a pond on campus, where we found several water bottles and pieces of plastic in the water. Saddened, I was inspired to make a painting where a Musk Turtle and water bottle face each other. I will install the painting by vending machines inside UNG Gainesville’s Science and Engineering Building. Hopefully, the painting will compel viewers to properly dispose trash.

14. Tumbling Creek Research

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a long-lived, terrestrial species found throughout the Eastern United States. Despite classification as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, data regarding habitat use and home range is limited, especially in the Piedmont region of the southeastern U.S. Since May 2012, we have conducted a radiotelemetry and capture-mark-recapture investigation of the species in the northeastern Piedmont region of Georgia. We captured turtles (n = 20) for inclusion in the study by hand in mixed hardwood-pine uplands and mesic areas dominated by Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) between spring 2012 and fall 2016. We radiotrack individuals on foot 1-2 times per week and collected environmental variables at each location. To calculate individual home ranges, we used 100% minimum complex polygons to estimate area used. To date, we have collected between 5-134 radiolocations per individual. Home range estimates varied from 0.16 to 6.10 ha. Turtles primarily used exotic habitats dominated by Chinese Privet (51%), with use of hardwood-pine uplands dominated by native vegetation (36%), human maintained clear cut habitat (9%), and beaver-created wetland habitats (4%). Assessment of home ranges and habitat use will continue through 2076 as we maintain tracking and capture-mark-recapture efforts.

SOIRE 2016

Home Range and Habitat Use of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in the Northern Georgia Piedmont

Chytridiomycosis is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which is a contributing factor to global amphibian population declines. Although Bd is distributed globally, little research has been conducted on the occurrence of Bd in north Georgia’s amphibian populations. We surveyed for the presence of Bd in amphibian populations in the northeast Georgia Piedmont region at 3 different locations using active night searches and passive sampling techniques from spring 2013 through Spring 2016. During night searches, amphibians were located in wetlands and captured by hand. We used poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) pipe traps for passive sampling during the day. Following captures, we collected environmental and physical data from each individual, swabbed the skin for Bd detection using sterile polyester tipped swabs, and released individuals at their capture site. Collected skin swabs were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to determine the presence of Bd. To date, PCR techniques have detected a positive Bd sample in a Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) at one of the sites. Sampling, along with a capture-mark-recapture investigation of Green Treefrogs using PVC passive sampling will continue throughout 2016 to contribute to conservation efforts and knowledge of Bd in the region.

Field Surveys for the Detection of Chytridiomycosis in North Georgia Amphibian Populations

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dentrobatidis (Bd) is an infectious dermatological disease contributing to global catastrophic declines in some amphibian populations (Berger et al. 1998). Ouellet et al. (2015) observed high prevalence of chytrid infection in North American amphibian population. Chytrid targets the keratinized skin cells leading to hyperkeratosis (thickening of the skin). Frogs and salamanders depend on their thin, permeable skin for respiration, hydration, osmoregulation and thermoregulation (Duellman and Trueb, 1986). The chytrid fungus is sporadically fatal as the skin is impaired to transport important nutrients necessary for the amphibian’s survival. This phenomenon has been described for a long time; however, the mechanism of this infection is still unclear. This study focuses on laboratory detection techniques of skin swabbed samples from wild amphibians caught from Northern Georgia Piedmont region. In this study, nested PCR is utilized instead of PCR for higher specificity and sensitivity in detecting even the smallest level of Bd infections. This will help us determine if amphibians at these three sites are experiencing infections from Bd.

Detection of Chytridiomycosis From Field Samples in North Georia Ampphibian Populations

Global decline in ecological diversity has emerged as one of the most pressing biological problems over the past century. One of the most affected taxonomic groups includes amphibians, which have experienced severe population declines and extinctions. Contributing to these declines is the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the causative agent of Chytridiomycosis, an infectious skin disease that targets the keratinized skin cells in some amphibian species. Research indicates that Chytridiomycosis may be sporadically fatal to various amphibian species and has been identified as a major cause of amphibian declines globally. Although Bd has been heavily investigated over the past decade, very little research has been conducted on north Georgia’s amphibian populations, an area of significant amphibian diversity in North America. To survey for the presence of Bd, we collected skin swab samples from wild amphibians caught in the field from sites in the north Georgia Piedmont region from the spring 2014 to fall 2015. Following field sampling, DNA extractions were taken from the samples and nested PCR was performed to detect occurrence of Bd bands. In nested PCR, two sequential sets of primers are used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region which produced strong amplified band that allowed for detection of Bd DNA. We will present preliminary results on the presence of Bd currently found at our study areas. With this research we hope to expand our knowledge of the occurrence of Chytridiomycosis in the region.

SOIRE 2015

Detection of Chytridiomycosis in North Georgia Piedmont Amphibian Populations

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a terrestrial species found throughout the Eastern United States. The species is considered vulnerable according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, yet data regarding habitat use, home range, and impacts of invasive plant species is limited, especially in the northern Piedmont region of Georgia. For this research, Box Turtles were hand captured at Tumbling Creek Nature Preserve on the Gainesville campus of The University of North Georgia in Oakwood, GA and located on foot using radiotelemetry 1-2 times per week from spring 2013 to fall 2015. At radiolocations, we collected GPS location and microhabitat data, including vegetation cover, environmental temperatures, and forest stand basal area. We used 100% minimum complex polygons (MCP) and kernel density to estimate individual home range area. To date, we have collected 5-134 radiolocations per individual turtle, with MCP home ranges variying from 0.16-6.10 ha. Overall patterns of habitat use indicate use of upland habitats dominated by native vegetation (37% of radiolocations), uplands dominated by Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense; 50%), cleared land (9%), and wetland habitats (4%). Assessment of home ranges and habitat use will continue through 2015-2016 as we maintain tracking efforts.

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