The Spring–Summer Nesting and Activity Patterns of the Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria)
The Eastern and Florida Chicken Turtle subspecies (Deirochelys reticularia reticularia and D. r. chrysea) exhibit nesting cycles that are atypical for aquatic North American turtles, with nesting occurring in the fall, winter, and early spring. The reproductive cycles of the western subspecies (D. r. miaria), however, have not been studied. Therefore, we monitored the reproductive status of female D. r. miaria in 2012 and 2013. In our populations, both male and female D. r. miaria were inactive on land from mid-July to mid-March. This differs from the activity patterns of the other subspecies in which females typically remain active into the fall and sometimes winter. Also, in contrast to the nesting patterns of D. r. reticularia and D. r. chrysea, female D. r. miaria developed follicles in the spring and summer (March–July) and contained eggs in the summer (May–July). Therefore, we conclude that the Western Chicken Turtle exhibits a nesting pattern that is more similar to that of other sympatric species in the family Emydidae than it is to other subspecies of D. reticularia.
The nesting seasons of Chicken Turtles (Deirochelys reticularia) in South Carolina (D. r. reticularia), Florida (hybrid zone of D. r. reticularia and D. r. chrysea), and Oklahoma (D. r. miaria).
The thermal profile of a male Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) before and at the start of its estivation period. This turtle was active until 15 June, at which point it left the water and began estivating on land.
Percent of transmittered turtles that were estivating on a given date. In 2013, Female #21 began estivating between 4–23 August, but the exact date is not known. This is reflected by a gap in the trace for 2013. Arrows show the dates when females began estivating.
Sonogram results from female Western Chicken Turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria). Each row represents one year of data for an individual female. Turtles #19, 28, 42, and 47 were on private property, and we were not permitted to return after April.
Weather data obtained from a station roughly 17.5 km from the study site (Oklahoma Mesonet). (A) Mean daily high temperatures for 2012 and 2013. Error bars represent one standard deviation. (B) Total monthly rainfall for 2012 and 2013.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: C. Beachy.