1
Range Determining the Status of the Wood Turtle ( Glyptemys insculpta ) in Central New York Alexander Robillard, Dr. Donna Vogler State University of New York College at Oneonta School of Natural and Mathematical Science Alternate Hypotheses ●H a : WT populations on either side of State Rt. 88 have become isolated since the 1950’s (F st >0.8) ● H a : The N e for contemporary WT populations in CNY will have fallen significantly from the 1960s. Abstract Introduction: At a pivotal time for Wood Turtle conservation, we recently uncovered a collection of roughly 260 dried specimens in storage which date back to the late 1950s. Collected by the late Dr. John New, the collection serves as a treasure trove of genetic information and a glimpse into the past. Background: A semi-aquatic freshwater turtle species considered “of special concern” in NY state (NYSDEC) is experiencing declines by illegal collection, habitat loss and habitat degradation. Road mortality is also responsible for turtle decline. (Steen and Gibbs 2004) Habitat: An inhabitant of the Northeast and parts of the Midwest, the Wood Turtle frequents streams, rivers and other wetlands surrounded by mixed-forest stands of low canopy cover. Former Department Chair and Oneonta Legacy Dr. John New Dried Woot Turtle specimen, each tagged with locality, date of capture, sex and weight At a pivotal time for the Wood Turtle ( Glyptemys insculpta ), we recently uncovered a collection of roughly 260 dried specimens from SUNY Oneonta storage which date back to the late 1950s. Collected by the late Dr. John New, the assemblage serves as a genetic cache which we will use to identify changes in Wood turtle populations across New York State. Preliminary genetic screens indicate the preserved specimens can yield sufficient DNA for evaluation. Unlike previous Wood Turtle studies, the existence of the historical data set provides rare context, which will be compared to contemporary population data acquired over two summer field seasons (2015 & 2016). Specifically, we will identify parameters such as the effective population size (Ne), the fixation index (Fst), and the inbreeding coefficient (F) for both contemporary and historical populations. Genetic information will be paired with mark-recapture field data to assess the viability of our New York's populations. By doing so we will recommend the most appropriate course of management to maintain the Wood Turtle in central New York State. We hope to incorporate our findings in a report to both the state and private land conservancies. Project Outline As a piece of a larger Masters thesis, we intend to use this rare data set to characterize changes in Wood Turtle populations across CNY. Specifically, the creation of New York Interstate 88 may have impacted the Wood Turtles ability to actively migrate between populations in CNY. In order to appropriately assess these changes we’ll compare estimates of the number of breeding females (N e ), the amount of genetic crossover between populations (F st ) and the overall inbreeding (F) for the historical and contemporary specimens. Contemporary samples will be collected from Wood Turtles over two summer field seasons (2015 & 2016). These efforts will focus on revisiting Dr. New’s original sites. Oneonta Survey Sites Methods ◀ Using tail clippings from the historical specimens and drawn blood from contemporary ones, we extract the DNA and amplify it via PCR. We will use five microsatellites developed by King and Julian (2004). DNA amplification is ▶ confirmed by visualization via gel electrophoresis. ◀ Samples which are successfully amplified are then run through the capillary electrophoresis genetic analyzer, where fragment analysis yields our desired genetic information. ▲ Field surveys will be conducted using the protocol established by the RCN Wood Turtle Group (2011). Specifically, this includes searching for turtles for a minimum of 1 km along a stream/river and its embankments for several hours. ◀0.5mL of blood will be drawn from the dorsal coccygeal vein on the tail and stored in lysis buffer for genetic analysis. Criteria for Listing Listed below are selected criteria (5/11) found in the NYSDEC’s Conservation Law, Chapter 1- Fish and Wildlife; Part 182.3. (1) Whether the current number of viable and self-sustaining populations of the species statewide is sufficient to ensure continued survival of the species in the state; (2) Whether the total number of reproducing individuals is currently sufficient to ensure continued survival of the species in the state; (4) Whether the species has declined non-cyclically throughout a significant portion of its range in New York or in the United States; (9) Other natural or human-made factors affecting the species' continued survival within the state; (10) Whether the species is restricted geographically in New York Our Goal ● Using the RCN protocol in conjunction with our historical dataset we will assess the criteria listed above in an informative report to the NYSDEC by the Spring of 2017. Acknowledgments A special thanks to the Western New York Herpetological Society and SUNY- Oneonta who are funding this important work. Specific works cited are listed below: Akre, T. (2011). The Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in the Northeastern United States: A Status Assessment and Conservation Strategy A proposal submitted to the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA) Regional Conservation Needs Grant Program. King, T. L., & Julian, S. E. (2004). Conservation of microsatellite DNA flanking sequence across 13 Emydid genera assayed with novel bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) loci. Conservation Genetics , 5 (5), 719-725. Steen, D. A., & Gibbs, J. P. (2004). Effects of roads on the structure of freshwater turtle populations. Conservation Biology , 18 (4), 1143- 1148.
