Nesting Dynamics in Space and Time in a Population Complex of Blanding’s Turtle in Nova Scotia

Jeffie A. McNeil^1,*, Thomas B. Herman^1,2, Carter Feltham¹, Trevor Avery², Norman W. Green³, and Matthew J. Smith⁴

¹Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, PO Box 215, Kempt, Queens County, NS B0T 1B0, Canada. ²Departments of Biology and Mathematics and Statistics, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada. ³Friends of Keji Cooperating Association, 50 Pinetree Crescent, Hammonds Plains, NS B3Z 1K4, Canada. ⁴Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, PO Box 236, Maitland Bridge, NS B0T 1B0, Canada. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 31, Special Issue 12: E165–E188

First published early online: 18 December 2024

Abstract
Based on a long-term dataset, this paper is part of a series exploring the influence of environmental spatial and temporal heterogeneity on reproduction, recruitment, survival, and movement of Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding’s Turtle) in Nova Scotia, at the northeastern limit of the species’ range. This population complex comprises 4 geographically discrete and genetically distinguishable subpopulations that vary in morphology, reproduction, and behavior. This variation may reflect different local environments and evolutionary histories and underscores the importance of understanding ecological scale(s) to ensure that we adopt appropriate management scale(s) for this endangered population. Here we compare clutch size, nesting frequency, dates of nesting and emergence, incubation period, hatching success, and recruitment over 20 years of nest monitoring and protection between 3 of the 4 subpopulations. While nesting frequency was similar across all 3, dates of nesting and emergence, incubation period, and hatching success varied. Clutch size varied with both body size and subpopulation. Despite considerable interannual variation, average dates of nesting and emergence in the 3 subpopulations over the 20-year period were ~6–10 days earlier and ~12–18 days earlier, respectively, consistent with a climate change-induced signale.

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