[PDF] Conservation Assessment For The Western Painted Turtle In Oregon Chrysemys Picta Bellii eBook

Author :
Publisher :
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 21,66 MB
Release : 2023
Category : Floodplain management
ISBN :

GET BOOK

This management plan has been prepared for the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and is intended to provide guidance for the improvement and protection of western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) habitat at the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, Oregon. The Sandy River Delta is a 1500-acre natural area situated where the Columbia and Sandy Rivers meet. Its dynamic floodplain habitat supports a diverse assemblage of species, including the western painted turtle, an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. A small, unknown number of western painted turtles utilize the wetland habitats of the Sandy River Delta, and the frequency in observations of these turtles has decreased over time. The habitat utilization of western painted turtles at the Sandy River Delta has likely been influenced by changes in site hydrology, disturbance by off-leash dogs, and the presence of invasive vegetation in key turtle habitat. To create this management plan, western painted turtle habitat at the Sandy River Delta was evaluated to determine the necessary management actions for habitat improvement and protection.

Author :
Publisher :
Page : 98 pages
File Size : 14,70 MB
Release : 2016
Category : Western painted turtle
ISBN :

GET BOOK

Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta belli) are found occupying Fairview Creek Headwaters (FCH) in Gresham, Oregon. This urban stream contains a large wetland with an adjacent butte, all managed by the City of Gresham. This management plan addresses the preferred habitat and population of turtles at the site. A habitat delineation of the site revealed specific locations where habitat improvements could take place as well as areas of already beneficial habitat. Two site plans were prepared showing areas of the site that could be enhanced with nesting habitat as well as additional aquatic habitat and basking habitat. A habitat study was conducted comparing the terrestrial and aquatic habitat in the northern part of the site and the southern portion of the site. The northern portion of the site, where the most turtles are seen, was found to have more bare ground, with a rush species and emergent vegetation as indicator species. The southern portion of the wetland was dominated by reed canary grass and birdsfoot trefoil. This area had high plant density with very little bare ground. The aquatic habitat in the southern portion of the wetland had less emergent vegetation and more floating vegetation. Two management plans were created for Fairview Creek Headwaters northern section of the site. The first plan is a low impact plan, focusing on nesting habitat creation along the west edge of the north wetland. Plan 2 is a more comprehensive plan which includes improving aquatic habitat and basking habitat. Seven years of mark-recapture data collected on the turtle was used to summarize findings on the turtle population. Two methods were used to estimate the population size, Lincoln Petersen and Schnabel methods.

Author :
Publisher :
Page : 54 pages
File Size : 13,16 MB
Release : 2021
Category : Nest building
ISBN :

GET BOOK

Oregon's two native freshwater turtle species, Chrysemys picta bellii (Western painted turtle) and Actinemys marmorata (Northwestern pond turtle), have seen significantly reduced population sizes since the founding of Portland in 1845, with estimates of up to 90% for A. marmorata. This project examined turtle nesting activity at 25 sites across a range of turtle populations and habitats around the Lower Willamette River Basin. All discovered turtle nesting activity was found in areas of high solar exposure. We found 93% of over 400 nest attempts to have been depredated across the 25 sites, well above most other reported rates. At several sites, many aborted nest attempts were found atop gravel roadbeds, indicating that lack of appropriate substrate is potentially limiting nesting success. The presence of greater than five pedestrians per hour at turtle nesting areas was correlated with a substantial decrease in nesting attempts suggesting that management of recreational activities may play a role in the amount of nesting activity occurring. Hence, site-specific solutions, such as importing substrate, alteration of path locations or seasonal trail closures to lessen human foot traffic disturbance of turtle nesting attempts, are likely to improve recruitment rates of native turtles in the Lower Willamette Basin. Further studies that improve knowledge of population demographics, the impact of human activities on turtles, and habitat needs of juvenile turtles are needed to support long-term self-sustaining turtle populations.