Effectiveness of nest site restoration for the endangered northern map turtle. Report no. 1 : nest site selection and nest success from 2013-2014 and establishment of environmental center.

Details

• Creators:
  Seigel, Richard A. ; Anderson, Kaite ; Durkin, Brian ; Richards-Dimitrie, Teal
• Corporate Creators:
  Towson University
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Aquatic life
  • Habitat (Ecology)
  • Location
  • Endangered species
  • Restoration ecology
• Publication/ Report Number:
  MD-15-SHA-TU-1-01
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Maryland
• Corporate Publisher:
  Maryland. State Highway Administration. Office of Policy & Research
• Abstract:
  The Northern Map Turtle, Graptemys geographica, is a Maryland state Endangered Species, found only in the ; lower Susquehanna River in Maryland. The only area where nests of this species are not heavily impacted by ; predators occurs in the town of Port Deposit. However, turtles in Port Deposit must often cross a gravel parking lot ; with constant vehicular traffic to reach the nesting sites, and turtles may become disoriented by human disturbance ; and move away from the river, towards the roadway, Maryland Route 222. In addition, the soil in which the turtles ; are nesting is heavily compacted and turtles often abandon nest sites after unsuccessful nesting attempts. The ; objectives of this project were to (a) to rehabilitate the existing nesting areas in Port Deposit to enhance nesting ; success, (b) find ways to avoid disturbance by humans during nesting, and (c) work with town officials in ; establishing an environmental education center about the Susquehanna River and the Northern Map Turtle. ; Data from 2013-2014 showed that nesting in Port Deposit occurred from late May to late July. Numbers of nests ; varied from 7-8 per year and no nests were attacked by predators. Most nests were found adjacent to the Tomes ; Landing Marina, but a few were found upstream near condominiums. Distance from water ranged from 1-60 ; meters and no differences were found between years. Hatching of this species generally overwinter in the nest, ; with emergence in April and May of the following year. TU staff worked with officials from SHA and Port ; Deposit to design the interpretive signs for the education center and the text of these signs is largely complete. ; Installation will occur in 2015 as part of Phase II of this project. Rehabilitation of the nesting areas has also been ; designed and installation will occur in 2015 as part of Phase II of this project.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  SP309B4N
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/28880/dot_28880_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.29 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:233de24bbd0efe17274173a28dd13da4405ae4062b0908dfe79551b32c6b294f