Evaluating the Relationship Between Injuries and Home-range Size in the Endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Karsin M. Bachran¹, Tami. S. Ransom^2,*, and Eric B. Liebgold¹

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801. ²Environmental Studies Department, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 31, Special Issue 12: C32–C42

First published early online: 3 August 2024

Abstract
Predation can lead to nonlethal injury as well as mortality in turtles, with many Clemmys guttata (Spotted Turtle) having predator-induced limb and foot amputations. The impact of such injuries on movements of freshwater turtles remains poorly understood. We tracked Spotted Turtles (n = 20) in a single population on the Delmarva Peninsula using radio telemetry for ~1 year. Seven turtles had at least 1 limb or foot completely amputated by a predator, and the remaining 13 were uninjured. When comparing movements among turtles, we found no difference in home-range sizes between male (n = 8) and female (n = 7) nor between injured (n = 7) and uninjured (n = 8) Spotted Turtles during their breeding season. However, injured turtles (n = 5) had smaller home ranges (mean ± SE = 0.26 ± 0.14 ha) than uninjured turtles (n = 12, 0.74 ± 0.15 ha) during the nonbreeding season, when turtles are more terrestrial. Our findings suggest a potential ecological cost of nonlethal injury, as predator effects might extend beyond simple mortality.

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