Basking Behavior of Emydid Turtles (Chysemys picta, Graptemys geographica, and Trachemys scripta) in an Urban Landscape

Abstract Basking is common in emydid turtles and is generally accepted to be a thermoregulatory behavior. In 2004, we quantified and described the basking behavior of turtles in the Central Canal of Indianapolis. This canal system flows through an urban landscape that is dominated by fragmented woodlots, residential areas, and commercial areas. We observed that basking turtles exhibited variable basking behavior, with spatial and temporal shifts in basking behavior from east-facing banks in the morning to west-facing banks in the afternoon. Turtles in the Central Canal are subject to frequent disturbance, which altered basking behavior. Many turtles forewent aerial basking on emergent substrates for aquatic basking on vegetation mats, which maintained warmer and more consistent temperatures than either emergent substrates or the surrounding water. Living in an intensively managed urban habitat, turtles in the Central Canal are susceptible to frequent anthropogenic perturbations, and future management should consider the life history and ecology of urban turtle populations

[1]  T. Ryan,et al.  Movement and habitat use of two aquatic turtles (Graptemys geographica and Trachemys scripta) in an urban landscape , 2008, Urban Ecosystems.

[2]  T. Ryan,et al.  Prevalence and Colonization of Placobdella on Two Species of Freshwater Turtles (Graptemys geographica and Sternotherus odoratus) , 2005 .

[3]  T. Ryan,et al.  Descriptive Ecology of a Turtle Assemblage in an Urban Landscape , 2005 .

[4]  José Martín,et al.  Effects of habitat-related visibility on escape decisions of the Spanish Terrapin Mauremys leprosa , 2005 .

[5]  P. Joly,et al.  Competition for basking places between the endangered European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis galloitalica) and the introduced red- eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) , 2003 .

[6]  J. Bodie.  Stream and riparian management for freshwater turtles. , 2001, Journal of environmental management.

[7]  P. Lindeman.  Aggressive Interactions during Basking among Four Species of Emydid Turtles , 1999 .

[8]  P. Lindeman.  Surveys of basking map turtles Graptemys spp. in three river drainages and the importance of deadwood abundance , 1999 .

[9]  G. Grigg,et al.  Basking is not of thermoregulatory significance in the 'basking' freshwater turtle Emydura signata , 1997 .

[10]  J. Lovich,et al.  Turtles of the United States and Canada , 1995 .

[11]  R. Brooks,et al.  EFFECTS OF SEX AND BODY SIZE ON BASKING BEHAVIOR IN A NORTHERN POPULATION OF THE PAINTED TURTLE, CHRYSEMYS PICTA , 1995 .

[12]  Janalee P. Caldwell,et al.  Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles , 1993 .

[13]  I. Swingland,et al.  Decades of Turtles. (Book Reviews: Life History and Ecology of the Slider Turtle.) , 1991 .

[14]  E. Bellis,et al.  Habitat utilization by the turtle, Graptemys geographica, along a river , 1986 .

[15]  J. R. Bider,et al.  Physical Structures and the Social Factor as Determinants of Habitat Use by Graptemys geographica in Southwestern Quebec , 1984 .

[16]  R. D. Semlitsch,et al.  Opportunistic behavioral thermoregulation of turtles, Pseudemys scripta, in response to microclimatology of a nuclear reactor cooling reservoir , 1984 .

[17]  D. Auth.  Behavioral ecology of basking in the yellow bellied turtle chrysemys scripta scripta , 1975 .

[18]  C. H. Ernst.  Temperature-Activity Relationship in the Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta , 1972 .

[19]  D. R. Boyer.  Ecology of the Basking Habit in Turtles , 1965 .

[20]  Fred R. Cagle,et al.  The Life History of the Slider Turtle, Pseudemys scripta troostii (Holbrook) , 1950 .