Drought-Related Responses of Aquatic Turtle Populations

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Abstract
A major drought in South Carolina [USA] provided opportunity to observe certain reproductive and emigration responses of freshwater turtle populations that were studied for 15 yr. Five species responded differentially to the drying of a major aquatic habitat. Pseudemys scripta and P. floridana emigrated in greater numbers and fewer females laid eggs than in any previous year. Sternotherus odoratus and Deirochelys reticularia did not reproduce at the level of previous years but did not abandon the aquatic habitat. Reproduction and emigration of Kinosternon subrubrum were not appreciably different from other years. The differing responses of the species are discussed in terms of the ecological and evolutonary differences between them.