Thus, adult survival is crucial to population success. What wetland and nesting habitat is left, is subject to degradation. Agriculture, transportation infrastructure, and water management practices all influence water flow through wetlands while invasive plant species and vegetation encroachment decrease the amount of bare soil available for nesting.
Road mortality, increased predation, loss of genetic diversity, and pollution are all known factors causing significant population decrease as well.
With so many threats to their already dwindling populations, targeted conservation actions are more important now than ever. Globally, the current range of the species extends from extreme southern Quebec and Ontario, west to central Nebraska, and south to Illinois and Indiana Cochran and Lyons , Ernst , Olson Isolated local populations occur throughout the range and the Nova Scotia population is one of the most isolated Herman et al.
In Canada, populations are restricted to southern Ontario, the southwestern corner of Quebec, and the interior of southwestern Nova Scotia. Approximately 20 percent of the global distribution exists in Canada and less than five percent of this exists within Nova Scotia.
Figure 1: Three photos of Blanding's turtles. From left to right: 1a Photo of an adult female Blanding's turtle in the water, showing its domed top shell carapace , which is black with yellow flecks. This photo shows one of the most distinctive features of the Blanding's turtle, its bright yellow chin and throat.
The photo shows they're uniformly grey shell. Figure 2: Photo of the bottom shell plastron of a juvenile Blanding's turtle. The photo shows that the plastron is yellow-beige and has irregular black patches. In juveniles, annual growth lines are visible on the lower shell and are visible in this photo.
Blanding's turtles are medium sized freshwater turtles with a semi-hinged shell. One of their most distinctive features is the bright yellow chin and throat Figure 1b. Their high-domed top shell carapace is grey to black with yellow flecks Caverhill and Crowley, The flecks are typically brighter in younger turtles and most visible when the shell is wet Figure 1a. The lower shell plastron is orange-yellow with irregular black patches. In juveniles, annual growth lines are visible on the lower shell Figure 2.
After turtles mature, the rings begin to wear off and the plastron eventually becomes smooth. In Nova Scotia, adult shell length ranges from 18 to 25 cm Nova Scotia Blanding's turtle database Adult males are typically larger than females and can be distinguished by their concave plastron, thick tail base and solid grey upper lip.
Newly emerged turtles, called hatchlings, are approximately 4cm long the size of a toonie , and have uniform grey shells Figure 1c. In Nova Scotia, Blanding's turtles appear to be restricted to the southwestern interior of the province, although recent findings have expanded the extent of the range within that area Caverhill ; McNeil Figure 3.
Studies of turtle movements and distribution, in concert with genetic assessment, have revealed that the Nova Scotia population complex is spatially structured, containing several distinct populations Caverhill , McNeil , Mockford et al. To date, three genetically distinguishable populations have been documented, each separated by at least 15 km Figure 3.
These populations exhibit significant biological differences in behaviour, morphology, habitat use and fecundity Caverhill , McNeil , Mockford et al. Even within populations, genetic structuring among concentration sites may be evident Toews Figure 3. The map also shows confirmed sightings that have been documented outside the known populations in yellow. The Dexter Brook and Tobeatic concentrations only have a few sightings. Two smaller concentrations have also been identified within the population complex, one in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area on the Sissaboo watershed 4 turtles and one in Dexter Brook on the Medway watershed 3 turtles.
Results of the nest protection program for Blanding's turtles in Kejimkujik National Park, Canada: Herman, and I. Nesting ecology of Blanding's turtle Emydoidea blandingii in Nova Scotia, the northeastern limit of the species' range. Canadian Journal of Zoology Vogt, R. Natural history of amphibians and reptiles of Wisconsin. Milwaukee Public Museum.
Online Conservation Guide for Emydoidea blandingii. Accessed November 11, Blanding's Turtle Emydoidea blandingii Holbrook, Blanding's Turtle Jesse W. For animals, taking, importation, transportation, or possession is prohibited, except under license or permit.
For plants, removal or damage without the consent of the landowner is prohibited. More information is needed to assign either S2 or S3. Apparently Secure globally - Uncommon in the world but not rare; usually widespread, but may be rare in some parts of its range; possibly some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.
Summary Did you know? Short-term Trends Although new populations have been identified in recent years, Blanding's Turtle populations are believed to have been in decline for many decades. Long-term Trends Because of the long life span of this species, it is difficult to assess long-term trends. Conservation and Management Threats Threats include loss of wetland and upland habitat, hydrological changes to wetlands, habitat fragmentation, obstructions to dispersal, road mortality, subsidized predators, and illegal collection.
Research Needs Additional radio-telemetry studies will help determine the full extent of the habitat used and identify critical habitat areas.
Habitat Habitat This species prefers shallow wetlands such as shrub swamps, marshes, and shallow ponds. Associated Ecological Communities Appalachian oak-hickory forest guide A hardwood forest that occurs on well-drained sites, usually on ridgetops, upper slopes, or south- and west-facing slopes. The soils are usually loams or sandy loams. This is a broadly defined forest community with several regional and edaphic variants. A mixed forest that occurs on sandy soils, sandy ravines in pine barrens, or on slopes with rocky soils that are well-drained.
The canopy is dominated by a mixture of oaks and pines. A marsh community flooded by waters that are not subject to violent wave action. Water depths can range from 6 in to 6. Water levels may fluctuate seasonally, but the substrate is rarely dry, and there is usually standing water in the fall.
A mixed forest that typically occurs on middle to lower slopes of ravines, on cool, mid-elevation slopes, and on moist, well-drained sites at the margins of swamps. Eastern hemlock is present and is often the most abundant tree in the forest. A wetland fed by water from springs and seeps.
These waters are slightly acidic pH values generally range from 4. Plant remains in these fens do not decompose rapidly and thus the plants in these fens usually grow on older, undecomposed plant parts of woody material, grasses, and mosses. A swamp that occurs on organic soils in cool, poorly drained depressions in central and northern New York, and along lakes and streams in the northern half of the state.
These swamps are often spring-fed with continually saturated soils. Soils are often rich in calcium. A hardwood forest that occurs on moist, well-drained sites in southeastern New York. The dominant trees include a mixture of five or more of the following: red oak, tulip tree, American beech, black birch, red maple, scarlet oak, black oak, and white oak. A community that occurs on warm, dry, rocky ridgetops and summits where the bedrock is non-calcareous such as quartzite, sandstone, or schist , and the soils are more or less acidic.
A marsh meadow community that occurs on soils that are permanently saturated and seasonally flooded. This marsh is better drained than a deep emergent marsh; water depths may range from 6 in to 3. An inland wetland dominated by tall shrubs that occurs along the shore of a lake or river, in a wet depression or valley not associated with lakes, or as a transition zone between a marsh, fen, or bog and a swamp or upland community.
Shrub swamps are very common and quite variable. Global Distribution Blanding's Turtle populations are centered in the Great Lakes region and the species ranges from Minnesota, southeastern South Dakota, and central Nebraska eastward through Iowa, northern Missouri, northern and central Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan both upper and lower peninsulas , northern and southwestern Indiana, and northern Ohio to northwestern Pennsylvania, northern and western New York, southeastern Ontario, and southwestern Quebec, with disjunct populations in eastern and southeastern New York, eastern New England Massachusetts to southern Maine , and Nova Scotia Conant and Collins , Coffin and Pfannmuller , Harding , Iverson , and Vogt Identification Comments Identifying Characteristics This is a medium to large turtle with a carapace upper shell length of 5 to 10 inches Characters Most Useful for Identification The bright yellow coloration of the chin and throat is a useful diagnostic characteristic that can be used on both captured and observed individuals.
Best Life Stage for Proper Identification Adults and juveniles are similar in appearance and can be identified by the yellow chin and throat.
Diet Blanding's Turtles are omnivorous Graham and Doyle and will eat food both in and out of the water Pope , Vogt Volunteer Volunteer with your local nature club or provincial park to participate in surveys or stewardship work focused on species at risk.
Be a good steward Private land owners have a very important role to play in species recovery. You can help by protecting any wetlands and surrounding natural vegetation on your property. Every year, turtles all over the province must cross busy roads to get to their nesting sites.
Watch for turtles on the roads, especially between May and October. Never buy native species of turtles or any turtles that have been caught in the wild. If you see native species of turtles for sale in a pet store or food market, please contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas also collects observations of all Ontario reptiles and amphibians.
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