Post-Emergent Behavior and Habitat Selection in Hatchling Blanding ' s Turtles , Emydoidea blandingii , in Massachusetts

Ansrnlcr. Hatchling Blanding's turtles from natural, caged nests were tracked following emergence for 12 hours to 24 days using fluorescent powders. Trails were demonstrated using longwave UV light in darkness. Hatchlings headed for and entered wetlands distinct from known adult and sub-adult activity centers. Observations suggest that olfactory cues may be used by hatchlings in search of wetlands. Fluorescent trails left by hatchlings often overlapped with those of sibling and unrelated neonates during their progress toward wetland habitat. This apparent scent-trailing may be due to olfactorytaxis. Some hatchlings sought two seasonally dry vernal pools ratherthan proceed directly to flooded permanent wetlands which they eventually entered. Hatchlings burrowed into cryptic forms among mosses, leaf litter, and grass tussocks, both at night and during diurnal temperature extremes. Movement was predominantly limited to early and mid-morning and late afternoon. The turtles remained in forms from several hours up to 20 days. Hatchlings successfully tracked from the nest reached flooded wetlands in from less than L2 hours to 9 days. Conservation of body water and energy appear to be more important than rapid travel to permanent wetland habitat for hatchling E. blandingii.