Female Reproductive Cycle and Life History Attributes in a Virginia Population of Painted Turtles, Chrysemys picta

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Abstract
Female reproductive cycles and life history attributes were studied over 2 yr in a population of C. p. picta in central Virginia, USA. Ovarian cycles were phenologically similar between years despite differences in temperature and rainfall. Vitellogenesis began in Aug. and continued, except during brumation, into the following May. Clutches averaging 4.2 eggs were laid mid-May to July and did not differ between years. Females matured at 6 yr of age and plastron lengths of .gtoreq. 105 mm. Several females each year produced 2 clutches, and although 2nd clutches were not significantly different from 1st clutches, they averaged slightly larger. Clutch size and egg width were positively correlated with female body size. A multiple regression model explained over 89% of clutch size variation with the independent variables plastron length, egg mass and month. Between-year differences in egg measurements were insignificant. Several recent generalizations about aspects of freshwater turtle life histories are supported by results of this study.