Uncategorized

We are hiring various summer positions from May to July and July to September with the possibility of extension:

1. Turtle Guardian Education and Outreach Technicians- Teach people and kids how to identify turtles and about turtle biology. Represent the charity in public events and be a turtle camp counselor.
2. Turtle and Species at Risk Conservation technicians - conduct field research, engage landowners in Citizen Science
3. Lake Health, Shoreline Restoration Technicians- support lake associations and landowners in naturalizing shorelines and monitoring lake health
4. GIS Technician- Obtain, model and analyze data related to lake health, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat
5. First Nation Traditional Governance- Land Trust Coordinator (must be a member of the Aanishinabe Nation to apply)

Applications are accepted until the end of April

Please apply here

RIP ROARING ON FOSTER'S LAKE, CARLOW MAYO

Hello from Kelly at Think Turtle Conservation Initiative

I was surprised to recently learn of proposed plans to bring 'Watercross Racing' to Bancroft this summer and that the chosen site for this event is Foster's Lake situated in Carlow Mayo.

Having spoken with people in the community no one seems to know what 'Watercross Racing' is as a result they are not familiar with the concerns that accompany such an activity. I am educating as I go. When I inform them that it is essentially racing snowmobiles on water instead of ice the reactions have been less then enthusiastic and people have expressed concerns to do with noise, wildlife and the environment.

If you are reading this and are situated in a community other then Carlow Mayo it is my hope you will view this information as a heads-up should a watercross racing event be proposed in your community.

For anyone not familiar with watercross racing here is a bit more information. Winter snowmobiles referred to as 'sleds' are modified for watercross racing to enable racers to skip, buck, jump and wheelie their way to ferocious speeds well in excess of 60 mph across the surface of the water while navigating around a course. The modifications can include tunnel extensions, watertight seals (sometimes just loads of duct tape), crankcase drains, mod pipes, as well as race specific clutching and gearing. Note: The horsepower of each sled will average around the 100HP mark.

Watercross racing is noted for being fast, loud, and although the intention is to hydroplane across the water, the sleds often end up at the bottom of the lake according to the Ontario Watercross Racing Association (OWRA) and recent accounts since posting this yesterday. Pontoon boats with winches are used to haul up the sleds from underwater between races.

The sleds and high speed activity most certainly presents negative stresses on animals, plants, soils (shoreline and lake bed), air and water quality, and the ecology of both the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. A two day event of this type may not seem like enough time to cause damage but it is enough time to cause a disturbance that can set off a negative cycle where one impact leads to and compounds the next leading to long-term, and potentially cumulative adverse impacts.

Foster's Lake is a quiet but popular beach with picnic tables and shelters featuring spectacular views of rolling hills, old growth forests and pretty sunsets. The appeal of this pristine lake to local residents, cottagers and visitors is the serenity it offers being a relatively small lake, 8 hectares, with an average depth of 20', 52' in the deepest parts and a generous shallow entry point.

The lake is devoid of much water vehicle activity having been restricted to motors of 15 horsepower or less since 1971. All of this contributes to this lake being home to a healthily aquatic ecosystem supported by much biodiversity. The lake and natural surroundings are the habitat for many wildlife species, aquatic, terrestrial and avian. Wildlife sightings are a regular occurrence year round. Note: The pontoon boats used to haul-up the sleds from underwater are fitted with a 600 cc motor and generate 60 - 65 horsepower exceeding the 15 horsepower restriction in place for Foster's Lake. This lake is no place for the rip roaring of watercross racing.

I'm not looking to begrudge anyone having a good time and understand that economic opportunities are always being sought for small communities and are essential but the impact such an event there is more then money to think about. While watercross racing is being promoted by OWRA as having economic appeal there are significant negative impacts to people (watercross participants and spectators included), wildlife and the environment associated with watercross racing that aren't being fully considered even by OWRA as I see it. Just because damage isn't visible doesn't mean it is there and not happening.

Every website and brochure to be found about cottage country and rural communities in Ontario promotes picturesque views, beautiful lakes and the 'tranquility' the natural environment these regions have to offer. These campaigns are successful at enticing new residents, cottagers and visitors because many people want to escape the noisy, frenzied hustle and bustle of urban communities and connect with nature.

These days everyone, elected officials and citizens, need to be giving more thought to the environmental impact of the activities we personally engage in and those being considered to introduce into a community. Not weighing up the negative impacts does not make sense and is in essence chipping away at the very foundations cottage country is recognized for and tourism is based on.

For communities to be turning efforts to attracting people via events that negatively impact wildlife and the environment could actually represent a trade off of visitors and even a loss as environmentally conscious tourists may turn their attentions to communities that value and lookout for the natural environment in their region. Eco-friendly community events and eco-tourism experiences are especially important to many people and especially families with youngsters. Many people are concerned about potential damage to the environment and loss of biodiversity, and about the finite nature of the earth's resources. More people then ever are expressing their concerns as such introducing activities into a community that negatively impact wildlife and the environment stands to put many visitors off.

Many resort owners, B & B's, AirBnB's and cottage owners that rent out their property during cottage season as well as year round residents in rural communities would have many stories to share and concerns to express at proposals to attract visitors that show little concern for protecting wildlife and the environment vs. people that are concerned.

The tranquil lakes in Ontario are not a place for the noise and environmental impacts that accompany watercross racing. The beautiful sounds of birds and nature should not be compromised for an event that would do more harm then good. For the people that won't let watercross racing along with other activities that negatively impact the environment go consideration to construct a location specifically for it is something that should be looked at instead of exposing lakes throughout Ontario to risks and ecological impact associated with watercross racing. Someone suggested as an alternative a dead lake for this use although considerations for the surrounding environment would need to be considered. I do not have all the answers but as concerns for all of earth's inhabitants and the natural environment escalate we needs to be looking to changes to be made to ensure biodiversity and healthy functioning ecosystems the quality of our future and generations to come depends on it.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS

What follows below is a detailed account of some of the negative impacts. I recommend reading it entirely. There may be concerns that have not occurred to some people.

In case you do not read on, if you are a property owner, cottager or resident of the Carlo Mayo and Bancroft area I would encourage you to write to the Carlow Mayo Township Council members to express your concerns regarding a proposed watercross racing event being scheduled at Foster's Lake in July or August. The council e-mail addresses are included at the end of this post. Thank you.

Noise Pollution: Watercross sleds are loud and can be heard across vast distances, severely affecting the soundscape. This noise over a two day period would disturb and be distressing to people and wildlife. Would you welcome hearing high-speed engines revving from 9 am to 4 pm? Noise pollution is recognized as being almost as detrimental to humans as air pollution. Imagine how wildlife would be impacted by two days of high-speed activity. Environmental advocates say engine noise can disturb wildlife, potentially driving some species from their habitats.

Air Pollution: Claims that the OWRA does make efforts to at least minimize the negative impact watercross racing has on citizens, wildlife and the environment is supported. OWRA does insist each watercross sled has a closed fuel system, uses biodegradeable oil and that high-octane fuel is used to minimize emissions. This does represent environmental initiatives that are a step in the right direction and fair dues it is a noted effort but it does not erase emission concerns or eliminate the negative environmental effects associated with hosting a watercross racing event in the great outdoors.

Note: High octane fuel has been found to have 'fewer' pollutants and is, therefore, more environmentally friendly. It does contain some pollutants.

Note: Biodegradeable oils are more eco-friendly but studies show that the machinery needed to cultivate the crops (e.g. canola, rapeseed, sunflower and soybean) emits large carbon emissions.

Emissions: Although newer snowmobile models are marginally quieter and cleaner, they have a bad environmental reputation. Snowmobiles not equipped with a catalytic converter can emit more hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide then cars and other road vehicles. Snowmobiles equipped with a catalytic converter while better, this only puts their emissions on par with cars and other road vehicles meaning the they emit greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change concerns. The levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) should be a primary concern to everyone including watercross participants and spectators. CO is noxious to humans especially in close proximity and over an extended period of time as a watercross event would present. PM is a confirmed human carcinogen by Environmental Protection Agencies.

Note: Air pollution and emissions even to a lesser degree are still a concern. If you can smell it, you are taking in pollutants and they can affect the heart, not just our lungs. Pollutants degrade air quality and alter the environmental chemistry.

Shoreline Damage: 4 to 5 sleds taking off from the shoreline into the water can tear-up the area good and proper. A number of 400 lb sleds being driven over the grassy areas that would serve as the pit area and service bays for sometimes as many as 200 watercross sleds would subject the area to rigorous wear and tear far greater then usual possibly meaning costs to the community to restore. This has implications on taxpayers and some may have something to say about that.

Sediment Churning: A sled sinking to the bottom of the lake may seem funny to some and render a few laughs after the fact but a 400 lb sled settling on a lake bed stands to stir up sediment, cause damage to an otherwise undisturbed lake bed that supports an ecosystem. Stirring up sediment can add additional nutrients to the water, potentially causing excessive algae growth leading to algae blooms. These algae blooms can lead to a depletion of oxygen in the water, release of toxins and taste and odor problems. Algae blooms can reduce the ability of fish and other aquatic life to find food and can cause entire populations to leave an area or even die. Multiple 'sleds' sinking over a period of two days increases this kind of threat and damage.

Wakes: It is important that pontoon boats and sleds are mindful of the wake each water vehicle makes. Large wakes can cause damage to shorelines and interrupt wildlife in and around a lake. Shoreline nesting animals like loons, who build their nests in areas along the shore where wind-driven waves do not normally reach will be negatively impacted from increased wave activity and high waves. Note: Are requirements related to wake concerns being addressed by the OWRA at these events?

Vegetation Damage: A 400 lb water sled that ends up at the bottom of the lake will cause damage to the aquatic vegetation and its vascular structure. Thereby rendering vegetation incapable of nutrient transport and function. This can affect growth and availability to aquatic wildlife. This can reduce plant density for an undetermined period of time affecting the aquatic wildlife that relies on it as a food source, natural habitat and protective cover. Multiple sleds sinking over a two day watercross event would increase the likelihood of this kind of damage and threat.

Invasive Species: The spreading of invasive aquatic plant species is always a concern with water vehicles, watercross sleds being no exception. Aquatic plants can and do get caught on the underside of water vehicles. Sleds arriving on site that were not cleaned after previous usage could introduce an invasive plant species into an otherwise healthy lake. If the lake a watercross event is hosted contains invasive species sleds not cleaned could could potentially contaminate the next body of water they enter. Note: Will OWRA be taking precautionary measures to prevent and mitigate the spread of invasive species from one lake to another during this event? Will the sleds be inspected and cleaned before entering, exiting the lake and leaving the site?

Aquatic Life: The number of pontoon boats and sleds on the lake would be a threat to turtles, fish, loons, cranes,crayfish, amphibians and reptiles, etc. All aquatic wildlife has an important role to fulfill and as such needs to be preserved and protected from unnecessary stresses and potentially damaging human activities. The risk of propeller injuries is always a concern. A sled sinking to the lake bed could potentially cause injury or mortality to unsuspecting or curious aquatic wildlife such as: turtles, loons and fish.

Biodiversity/Ecosystems: Animal, plant and aquatic biodiversity keeps ecosystems functional. Healthy ecosystems allow us to survive, get enough food to eat and make a living. Watercross racing is one of those human activites that poses a threat to the biodiversity and ecosystems any lake and the surrounding region are home to.

Note: Also just found out, budget-conscious watercross participants may be looking to camp overnight at Foster Lake Park. This would mean other considerations would need to be addressed to lessen the human impact to Foster Lake and the park should this event be scheduled. e.g. camp fires, excess garbage, porta-pottys, people washing themselves or their dishes in the lake, noise through the night, etc. Note: A former resident from the area has pointed out that camping is not allowed in Foster Lake Park. Meaning the council may be looking to see about getting the boat motor hp restrictions and camping lifted for the event.

Watercross racing has been shunned in some communities due to the noise and impact to wildlife and the environment. With all due respect it doesn't make sense to support an event that has unhealthy aspects for nearby residents, wildlife and the natural environment as well as the participants and spectators.If OWRA is really committed to lessening the ecological impact of watercross racing leaving Ontario's lake alone is the best way to go about that. Continuing to use the lakes and other bodies of water in this way negates efforts made to appear environmentally conscious. If watercross racing manages to have a future at a time when more and more people are in support of eco-friendly activities and experiences looking to a constructed aquatic facility specifically for the sport in one location would be an alternative. All said and done watercross racing events are about making money. Using the natural beauty of a lake and the picturesque views that accompany it is for show to make lots of dough.

Thank you for reading this. It is hoped the content of this post provides information that is helpful to people in other communities as well that a Watercross racing event has been proposed. If such an event has been proposed I would encourage those involved in the decision making process and the people in the community to check out videos to get a better sense of what is being proposed and to consult with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in your district and/or other conservation organizations. An ecological impact assessment should be looked into prior to approving such an event.

You may not see yourself as being a steward to the earth but we all are or at least should be as we all have a vested interest. Moving forward it would be great to see tourism generated in communities in Ontario by emphasizing a community's commitment to environmental concerns and teaching fellow travelers how to respect wildlife and the natural environment as we do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It would be greatly appreciated if you could share this information with family, friends and associates and ask them to do the same.

Please be safe on the roads and mindful of wildlife we share the roads with this time of the year.

Kindest Regards,

Kelly Wallace

Think Turtle Conservation Initiative

Cell: 647-606-9537

E-mail: thinkturtle@yahoo.com

Facebook: thinkturtleci

Username: Wallace Kathleen Kelly

Facebook Post #463

Carlo Mayo Town Council

Reeve Bonnie Adams

Telephone: 613-332-1112

Email: bonnieadams@carlowmayo.ca

Councillor - Ward One (Carlow)

Mike Cannon

Telephone: 613-338-9972

Email: mikecannon@carlowmayo.ca

Councillor - Ward One (Carlow)

Dan Hughey

Telephone: 613-332-6661

Email: danhughey@carlowmayo.ca

Councillor- Ward Two (Mayo)

Richard Dillabough

Telephone: 613-332-8009

Email: richarddillabough@carlowmayo.ca

Councillor -Ward Two (Mayo)

Eldon Stewart

Telephone: 613-332-4588

Email: eldonstewart@carlowmayo.ca

 

 

 

Turtles are commonly perceived as disease carrying animals, having many nasty germs that they can spread to humans. The bacteria you have most likely been warned about in relation to turtles is Salmonella. This is the same group of bacteria that can be found in raw chicken and eggs. It can cause severe flu-like symptoms that may require hospital treatment.

So what’s the deal, can you catch Salmonella from a turtle? Well it depends if the turtle in question is a captive turtle, or a wild turtle. A turtle you encounter in the wild in Canada will likely not give you Salmonella, but your neighbor’s pet turtle Timmy could, although washing your hands after holding Timmy greatly reduces this risk.

Studies assessing rates of wild turtles in North America with Salmonella found very low infection rates of less than 5% (Brenner et al. 2002, Richards et al. 2005, Saelinger et al. 2006). In contrast, studies that have investigated prevalence of Salmonella in pet turtles in North America and Europe have found infection rates to vary from as low as 5% to as high as 80%  (Cain et al. 2009, Heynol et al. 2015). That sounds concerning - up to 80% of pet turtles testing positive for Salmonella?!

It is important to keep in mind that proper precautions can prevent a pet turtle from spreading harmful bacteria to humans that handle them. Washing your hands after touching a captive turtle, or anything that has come in contact with its enclosure will keep you safe while interacting with our turtley cool pals. Regular cleaning of pet reptile enclosures is also important for preventing Salmonella bacteria from building up in the small volume of water in a turtle’s aquarium. For a more detailed list of best practices for staying healthy while handling and caring for captive turtles see https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/publications/healthy-around-reptiles-and-amphibians.html

Turtles with Salmonella living in their intestines rarely show symptoms, and sometimes when tested for the bacteria, infected turtles will not test positive because they can release the bacteria at such low rates (Saelinger 2006). There is evidence that suggests turtles release more Salmonella in their feces when they are stressed (DuPonte et al. 1978, Mitchell 2005), and some researchers speculate that the distress turtles feel while in captivity causes them to release more Salmonella. This combined with the relatively small volumes of water in their enclosures explains why captive turtles exhibit higher rates of Salmonella (Richards et al. 2004). In the wild, it is also likely that turtles that are infected with Salmonella release such small amounts into their environment, that when they are swabbed for Salmonella it isn’t detected (Saelinger et al. 2006).

Negligible amounts of Salmonella in wild turtles is good news for all Turtle Guardians, and other conscientious citizens that stop to help turtles across the road during their active season (May - October). It means that if we help turtles across roads, or transport injured ones to turtle care facilities, we have a very small chance of getting sick from this. However, wild turtles may carry other diseases that don’t affect humans but that can make other turtles sick. And in any and all cases, it is still recommended that you wash your hands after handling a wild turtle- in fact this is recommended after handling any wild animal!!

Written by Meredith Karcz, Conservation Technician

References 

• Brenner, D., Lewbart, G., Stebbins, M. and Herman, D.W., 2002. Health survey of wild and captive bog turtles (Clemmys muhlenbergii) in North Carolina and Virginia. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 33(4), pp.311-316.
• Cain, C.R., Tyre, D. and Ferraro, D., 2009. Incidence of Salmonella on reptiles in the pet trade. RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences, 4(1), p.1.
• DuPonte, M.W., Nakamura, R.M. and Chang, E.M., 1978. Activation of latent Salmonella and Arizona organisms by dehydration of red-eared turtles, Pseudemys scripta-elegans. American journal of veterinary research, 39(3), pp.529-530.
• Heynol, V., Heckers, K.O., Behncke, H., Heusinger, A. and Marschang, R.E., 2015. Detection of bacteria in oral swabs from healthy common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) and West African mud turtles (Pelusios castaneus). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 25(1-2), pp.33-39.
• Mitchell, M.A., Bauer, R., Nehlig, R. and Holley-Blackbum, M.C., 2005. Evaluating the Efficacy of Baquacil® Against Salmonella sp. in the Aquatic Habitat of the Red-Eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans. Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 15(2), pp.9-14.
• Richards, J.M., Brown, J.D., Kelly, T.R., Fountain, A.L. and Sleeman, J.M., 2004. Absence of detectable Salmonella cloacal shedding in free-living reptiles on admission to the wildlife center of Virginia. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 35(4), pp.562-563.
• Saelinger, C.A., Lewbart, G.A., Christian, L.S. and Lemons, C.L., 2006. Prevalence of Salmonella spp in cloacal, fecal, and gastrointestinal mucosal samples from wild North American turtles. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229(2), pp.266-268.

 

Images

https://www.flickr.com/photos/su-lin/3572016633/in/photolist-6rDw6F-73NAvc-FWUPV8-PVVCku-27LWwV4-4xU3qJ-dBk9Gv-oFcvXE-nxRBHL-4hfvfH-5pdjNP-WAxU1B-VQVb38-31etZm-oVzJfs-86rDF4-XBdngY-6CCzg-8Wuae7-27ZpkY-cZSqrG-peqizE-XRfFX-fapyG9-JgQZmT-dvn8D-Vue7jX-87vVvu-rEvTWp-3RNcDi-j7ZPYN-HSoMwe-Qq4Bd1-27ZpdS-22wRuWb-2MnYPT-52QLEn-xPQRrZ-4jacqB-KVPk1S-ta6vW-nsY1zy-vCtorR-4pyEFn-uHx8T2-2gMaC-GRFjeY-23MQBJ1-dKjJfq-24iqJgu/

 

 

Environmental DNA: using poop to detect and protect disappearing and mysterious species

In order to protect disappearing wildlife and their habitat, we need to know where the species are. This might seem obvious, and simple to do, but that’s not always the case: When a species is rare their populations are very small and scattered. If they are a territorial species, individuals may be spread out across the landscape with only one or two in an area at a time. How can we find them easily if there are so few at any given site? What if the species is really small-bodied and hides in the mud or under vegetation? What if the species lives underwater and does not come to the surface or shore regularly? There are so many factors that can make finding species in the wild difficult.

Traditional methods of surveying areas to determine which species are present and also how many are there, usually involves some kind of capturing, or less intrusively - at least seeing or hearing them. To catch, hear, or see a species in the wild (particularly a rare species), expert knowledge, time, money, and other equipment may be needed. And when it comes to rare and declining species, traditional surveying methods can be ineffective, preventing us from being able to manage or protect them and their habitat accordingly.

An emerging tool in molecular biology is making things easier for researchers to determine when those disappearing species are present in freshwater ecosystems, without having to actually locate them (Kelly et al. 2014). This tool is called environmental DNA (eDNA).

Environmental DNA is genetic material that an organism leaves through cells from urine, feces, sweat, skin, hair etc.

Depending on conditions like temperature, or natural forces like water flow, eDNA can remain fresh and near the location it was released for a couple weeks (Thomsen and Willerslev 2015). This means, in many areas, researchers may be able to collect samples of water, sediment or moist soil and also some cells in their sample. Then, with the right procedure, they can identify which species’ DNA is contained in each sample, effectively showing them who was recently (and in many cases still is) present in the area!

The amazing way DNA is analyzed

The first step of processing a sample of eDNA is to filter the sample to separate any cells and organic matter from the medium it is in (water, sediment, soil). The DNA is then extracted and isolated, and then it is time to target the species’ gene of interest.

To identify a target gene, scientists choose one that is distinct for the particular species they are searching for; a gene that can distinguish the focus species from others closely related to it, and that may occur in the same sampling area. For instance, there are genes that can distinguish a Blanding’s turtle from a Painted turtle. It also has to be a gene that has many copies in each cell (such as genes found in mitochondria, where sugar is broken down to make energy, or in chloroplast, where photosynthesis occurs in plant cells) (Thomsen and Willerslev 2015).

Once the gene is “targeted”, it is time to “amplify it” - to make many copies of it so there is more genetic material to work with. This is done through a process called a Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) which takes a few hours.

When genetic material is successfully amplified within a sample, it can be detected by researchers, and once detected they know that the target species is present (or was very recently present) at the location that was sampled.

eDNA can identify species and confirm presence when other avenues may not work. Field surveys require expertise to see, catch, or hear a species - and if the target species resembles other species, any data collected by non-experts may be inaccurate. Also traditional survey methods might also miss cryptic species and conclude that they are not present in sites where they actually do occur. eDNA may also reduce costs, effort and the level of intrusion when searching for rare and secretive species (Davy et al. 2015).

eDNA in action 

In freshwater systems, eDNA has largely been used to study fish, amphibians and molluscs (for fish see: Jane et al. 2014, Takhara et al. 2013, amphibians: Goldberg et al. 2011, Pilloid et al. 2013, molluscs: Egan et al., 2015, Diener et al. 2015). Environmental DNA has successfully confirmed suspected presence of invasive fish and frog species before they were physically found by researchers (Dejean et al. 2012, Takahara et al. 2013). Secretive species of frogs and giant salamanders that are declining in the United States have also been successfully detected using eDNA (Olson et al. 2014, Goldberg et al. 2011). These instances of effective eDNA sampling were important for conserving species and ecosystems because early detection of invasive species allowed for quick implementation of mitigation strategies, and detection of secretive declining species enabled protection of occupied habitat.

How about turtles?

Recently turtle researchers have begun to employ eDNA techniques, and they have even begun to use eDNA onsite and in the field with faster results. In 2018 in Vietnam, eDNA allowed researchers to locate one of the world’s rarest turtle species, the Swinhoe's Softshell Turtle. This turtle was previously unknown to occur in that lake.

To learn more about this story and the newest technology using eDNA watch this informative video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=YycZOCuDjBE&feature=emb_logo

Turtles- Closer to home

Researchers from Peterborough and Guelph, Ontario have successfully developed and tested the DNA primers necessary to perform PCR on target genes for eDNA from the eight Ontario turtle species, as well as one invasive turtle species (Davy et al. 2015).

Preliminary tests using their DNA primers sampled eDNA from aquariums of captive turtles, and one outdoor pond housing invasive turtle species in Orillia at Scales Nature Park (Davy et al. 2015). The tests were successful at identifying all target species of turtles, allowing the primers to be used across Ontario.

Since then, during the winters of 2017 and 2018, eDNA has been used to successfully detect the presence of overwintering (hibernacula) Northern Map Turtles in an 8 km² lake in southeastern Ontario (Feng et al. 2019). A remotely powered underwater drone was then put under the ice of the lake, which confirmed that Northern Map Turtles were hibernating in the areas of the lake where high concentrations of their eDNA were found (Feng et al. 2019).

This find is significant because Northern Map Turtle populations are declining. In Southcentral Ontario and Southwestern Quebec, they are at the northernmost part of their range, and finding suitable places to overwinter where water temperatures stay above freezing is crucial for their survival. Northern Map Turtles do not tolerate low oxygen conditions well, and overwintering sites also need to have high dissolved oxygen levels (Maginniss et al. 2004). Since this Northern Map Turtles require such specific conditions for overwintering, conservation efforts need to ensure that suitable overwintering habitat is protected for them. This study in southeastern Ontario is an excellent example of how the use of eDNA accomplished something that traditional surveying methods would have struggled to do (Feng et al. 2019). Without the extensive eDNA sampling (which is relatively low cost and does not take much time), running the drone under the ice to search for overwintering turtles in such a large lake would have been ineffective, and costly.

Written by Meredith Karcz, Conservation Technician, The Land Between charity, Turtle Guardians Program

 Download a pdf of this article: eDNA What You Leave Behind Matters...Even if You Are a Turtle. Using eDNA for detection

 

 

References 

Davy CM, Kidd AG, Wilson CC. Development and validation of environmental DNA (eDNA) markers for detection of freshwater turtles. PloS one. 2015 Jul 22;10(7):e0130965.

Dejean, T., Valentini, A., Miquel, C., Taberlet, P., Bellemain, E., Miaud, C., 2012. Improved detection of an alien invasive species through environmental DNA barcoding: the example of the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus. J. Appl.Ecol. 49, 953–959.

Deiner, K., Walser, J.C., Mächler, E. and Altermatt, F., 2015. Choice of capture and extraction methods affect detection of freshwater biodiversity from environmental DNA. Biological Conservation, 183, pp.53-63.

Egan, S.P., Grey, E., Olds, B., Feder, J.L., Ruggiero, S.T., Tanner, C.E. and Lodge, D.M., 2015. Rapid molecular detection of invasive species in ballast and harbor water by integrating environmental DNA and light transmission spectroscopy. Environmental science & technology, 49(7), pp.4113-4121.

Feng, W., Bulté, G. and Lougheed, S.C., 2019. Environmental DNA surveys help to identify winter hibernacula of a temperate freshwater turtle. Environmental DNA.pp 1-10.

Goldberg, C.S., Pilliod, D.S., Arkle, R.S., Waits, L.P., 2011. Molecular detection of vertebrates in stream water: a demonstration using rocky mountain tailed frogs and idaho giant salamanders. PLoS ONE 6, e22746

Hashizume, H., Sato, M., Sato, M.O., Ikeda, S., Yoonuan, T., Sanguankiat, S., Pongvongsa, T., Moji, K. and Minamoto, T., 2017. Application of environmental DNA analysis for the detection of Opisthorchis viverrini DNA in water samples. Acta tropica, 169, pp.1-7.

Jane, S.F., Wilcox, T.M., McKelvey, K.S., Young, M.K., Schwartz, M.K., Lowe, W.H., Letcher, B.H. and Whiteley, A.R., 2015. Distance, flow and PCR inhibition: e DNA dynamics in two headwater streams. Molecular ecology resources, 15(1), pp.216-227.

Kelly, R.P., Port, J.A., Yamahara, K.M., Martone, R.G., Lowell, N., Thomsen, P.F., Mach, M.E., Bennett, M., Prahler, E., Caldwell, M.R. and Crowder, L.B., 2014. Harnessing DNA to improve environmental management. Science, 344(6191), pp.1455-1456.

Kirtane AA, Wilder ML, Green HC (2019) Development and validation of rapid environmental DNA (eDNA) detection methods for bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii). PLoS ONE 14(11): e0222883.

Maginniss, L. A., Ekelund, S. A., & Ultsch, G. R. 2004. Blood oxygen transport in common map turtles during simulated hibernation. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 77, 232–241.

Martellini, A., Payment, P., Villemur, R., 2005. Use of eukaryotic mitochondrial DNA to  differentiate  human,  bovine,  porcine  and  ovine  sources  in  fecally contaminated surface water. Water Res. 39, 541–548.

Olson, Z.H., Briggler, J.T., Williams, R.N., 2013. An eDNA approach to detect eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) using samples of water. Wildl. Res. 39, 629.

Pilliod, D.S., Goldberg, C.S., Arkle, R.S. and Waits, L.P., 2013. Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 70(8), pp.1123-1130.

Takahara, T., Minamoto, T. and Doi, H., 2013. Using environmental DNA to estimate the distribution of an invasive fish species in ponds. PloS one, 8(2)

Thomsen, P.F. and Willerslev, E., 2015. Environmental DNA–An emerging tool in conservation for monitoring past and present biodiversity. Biological Conservation, 183, pp.4-18.

Before we talk turtles, we need to understand what biodiversity is and why it is important for us:

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life that is found in an area, a region, or on the Earth as a whole. Biodiversity includes all living things from plants and animals, to fungi, and all the way down to tiny microorganisms! 

We live in ecosystems: Ecosystems are communities of organisms interacting with each other and their environment. Ecosystems contain many natural resources and diverse wildlife that provide humans with essential products and services. These products and services are irreplaceable and cannot be provided or recreated by humans. Some examples are: services of water filtration; pest control; nutrient and pollution filtration; pollinators that support the growth of foods; and even agents that spread seeds are found in nature. These processes and species ensure that biodiversity continues. In ecosystems we also find sources of food, medicines and even our building materials. Finally, from star-gazing, to recreational activities, our mental and spiritual health also benefits from nature. 

How do ecosystems operate? Ecosystems rely on a

cycle of nutrients that is driven by the amount or the level of biodiversity that exists within them. In fact, biodiversity is essential to how productive and resilient each ecosystem will be.

For example, how fertile the soil is in an area is determined by the amount of microbes and fungi found there, which is then determined by how rich and productive the plants are, and the plant life helps and is helped by all the birds, fish, turtles, and other animals found there, and so forth.  So it is all connected!  The health and variety of wildlife, the quality of our water, air, food and life really relies on the the diversity of all living nature interacting together. 

Everything is so connected that the loss of just one species can result in the collapse of a whole ecosystem. One way to look at- when we remove a plant, bug, animal from an area, it is like removing blocks from a Jenga tower. The tower may not collapse right away but it has become weaker and could collapse when another block (species of plant, bug, or animal) is removed. Today, we have removed too many blocks! We humans have changed so much of the world’s ecosystems. We have transformed the landscapes by removing or relocating species partially or sometimes entirely. “Shaving” so much of the earth’s surface clean, even in your own backyard, has changed many essential processes. Removing native plants and trees, hardening surfaces, installing artificial lights at night and spraying insecticides, have all reduced biodiversity on a global scale, and have even contributed to the increase of the overall surface temperature of the Earth. 

The results are huge losses of species that have depended on the natural processes and nutrient cycles within an ecosystem. The local losses may still be small, but they have become thousands across the world and in every landscape, putting the earth on the course to a sixth mass extinction. A mass extinction is defined as a loss of more than three-quarters of the Earth’s species in a relatively short time period. So life as we know it is at risk.  

Why turtles are our heroes

We can take small deliberate actions to change and restore biodiversity- and that’s exactly what many people are doing in their homes, yards, neighbourhoods and communities! And one very important way you can help biodiversity is by helping our wild turtles! 

Turtles are one-of-a-kind vertebrates that have incorporated a shell into their skeleton. A turtle’s shell is made up of a fused rib cage and spine which has remained relatively unchanged for nearly 200 million years! Turtles were likely here before all the dinosaurs, they certainly have outlived the dinosaurs and they survived five mass extinctions. 

Not only do turtles have a distinct skeleton and body shape, but they also have a very unique lifestyle. One very important characteristic is that turtles have aquatic AND terrestrial territories. Turtles have incredible navigation abilities, and using chemicals in their brain as well as the sun, they travel between many habitats and ecosystems following very specific routes. They always know exactly where they are going! It’s not only where turtles go that is important, but what they are doing there, carrying and delivering! 

Many turtles are scavengers and get their nutrients by eating dead things from the bottom of waterbodies, in addition to eating small living plants and animals. In the lakes, rivers, ponds and wetlands that they occupy, they are effectively the cleaning crew, removing sources of harmful bacteria. This “nutrient” cycling keeps all of the living things in those ecosystems, including us, healthy. Because turtles travel between both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems they are a major source of energy transfer between the two. Turtles’ diets and unique digestive systems means that they carry and deliver the seeds, bacteria and nutrients from one habitat to another. They essentially leave the gift of restoration. Turtles help new plants grow and ecosystems thrive; they bring new seeds and the necessary plant fertilizers across wide expanses as they travel between ecosystems, through their droppings!

But turtles are not just any harbingers of biodiversity: Turtles, and vertebrates in general, retain a large proportion of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, in their bones. Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential nutrients needed by plants for their growth. Because turtles have such a long life span and grow slower and slower as they age, adult turtles no longer use these nutrients for bone growth; instead, they become stable sources of large supplies of essential nutrients. The extra nitrogen and phosphorus that they get from the environment then gets carried and dropped off as they travel through their territories! For the seeds they leave behind, and the other plants in that habitat, turtles leave a trail of healthy and enriched biodiversity wherever they go!  

Despite being on the planet for eons and surviving mass extinctions, turtles are now at risk of disappearing too. Mortality from cars on roads, misinformed persecution (dangerous, threat to fish populations, etc.), and removal of turtles from their natural territories and environment, are all threatening the future of our heroes. When any turtle species disappears from an ecosystem, a very large role, that cannot be filled by any other creature is left. Become a turtle guardian in your community! Watch out for them on roads, keep them in lakes, and spread the word. 

There are so many reasons to love turtles, and a healthy environment is just one of them, let’s try and keep these guys around for as long as possible! For more information on how to help, check out the Turtle Guardians website! www.turtleguardians.com

Written by Jaime Kearnan

“So guys…should we stay in or go out?” A Painted Turtle Hatchling Dilemma

Turtle species in Ontario lay their nests in the spring and eggs start to hatch at the end of summer into early fall. Small hatchling turtles are faced with many challenges once they leave the relative safety of their nests. First, there is the feat of actually breaking through the ‘nest plug’ of soil that overlays their nest cavity. This plug can be quite dry and crusted by the end of summer, making it difficult for small hatchlings to break through (Costanzo et al. 2008). Next, the hatchlings need to navigate to nearby water and somehow avoid being eaten by a hungry predator like a migratory bird who is stocking up on fuel before their long journey south, or a Mink who can catch them on land or in water.

The hatchlings that make it to water safely, then have to avoid aquatic predators such as Bass or Muskie, then need to find enough food to offset the energetic costs of leaving the nest, and to fuel themselves for winter hibernation. Their last challenge before winter sets in is then to find a hibernacula; a safe spot underwater where they can hibernate all winter. Therefore, the risk of being eaten or not getting enough to eat are both very high for new hatchling turtles that leave their nests in the fall.

What if turtle hatchlings just stayed in their nest? Would they be able to survive until spring and therefore avoid all the trouble of emerging later in the summer when all the predators are most active and food sources are decreasing? By overwintering in their nests and emerging in the spring, food sources would be on the rise instead of on the decline (Costanzo et al. 2008). Some of Ontario’s turtle specie’s hatchlings are in fact able to overwinter in their nests! (Although no species uses this strategy exclusively).  Painted Turtles are the Ontario turtles that will most commonly overwinter in their nest, but hatchlings of Northern Map Turtles, Blanding's Turtles, and Snapping Turtles (in decreasing order) are also known to occasionally overwinter in their nests (Riley et al. 2014, Nagle et al. 2004, Paterson et al. 2011, Obbard and Brooks 1981).

To explain this “overwintering strategy” of remaining in their nests, let's explore the following questions about the Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta.

Do Painted Turtle hatchlings always spend their winters in the nest?

No they do not! Painted Turtle hatchlings can emerge in the fall or overwinter in the nest and emerge the next spring. Scientists believe that hatchlings can sense environmental cues when in their nest cavities, and these may dictate whether they emerge in fall or spring. However, even within the same area these cues can be different for individual nests because each nest is slightly different in aspect (slope), moisture etc., and so some nests even within close proximity to one another might use different strategies. Also, even in the same nest, there are differences in moisture and substrates. Therefore there have been some reports of hatchlings within the same nest using different strategies, meaning some will emerge and some will stay to overwinter (Carroll and Ultsch 2007).

 Is it more common for hatchlings to emerge in fall or spring?

 Patterns change from year to year, but in general the trend is that the majority of Painted Turtle hatchlings overwinter in the nest and emerge the following spring, (Lovich et al. 2014, Riley et al. 2014). For example, in Algonquin Provincial Park, Painted Turtle nests were monitored and in the cohort of 2010-2011, only 2 nests emerged in the fall, while 23 overwintered in the nest and emerged in the spring. However, in the following year 16 nests emerged in the fall and 20 overwintered and emerged in the spring (Riley et al. 2014).

What are the benefits of staying in the nest? What are the risks?

Benefits: avoiding emergence in the fall at a time of peak predator abundance and decreasing food sources; more time for small hatchlings to develop within the relative safety of the nest because predation of nests decreases with time; avoiding a year of hibernation and related risks of low oxygen and slowed metabolisms while they are small; and being able to emerge in the spring when food sources will be increasing and there are less predators too!

Risks: exposure to below freezing temperatures within the nest cavity and potential death due to cold temperatures, running out of energy stores and dying from energy depletion before spring, and drowning from nest flooding.

What factors influence whether hatchlings emerge in fall or spring?

These factors are not completely understood, but it seems that there are multiple factors at play. Presence of sarcophagid fly larvae which feed on turtle eggs and hatchlings is often associated with fall emergence as the flies will otherwise disturb the hatchlings. Also a nest on a steep slope facing towards water, especially southward slopes facing the sun, or nests in bare ground with less vegetation cover and therefore less shade seem to create circumstances for hatchings to emerge in the fall. This is perhaps because these situations increase nest temperatures which may encourage hatchlings to venture out of their nests in the fall (Riley et al. 2014).  This would also explain why some hatchlings in other, potentially colder nests, wait until warmer temperatures in spring.

 

How do hatchlings survive sub-zero temperatures in the nest? (They are supercool 😎)

Painted Turtle hatchlings are freeze tolerant to a certain degree and they are also capable of supercooling! For short periods, Painted Turtle hatchlings can tolerate their body tissues freezing at temperatures above -4℃.

But, even better than being able to tolerate body freezing, is to not freeze at all! Amazingly, Painted Turtle hatchlings are able to supercool their bodies to temperatures as low as -12 °C without actually having their body fluids freeze. The name for this process is supercooling.  (Paukstis et al. 1989, Packard and Packard 1993, Costanzo et al. 1999) and Painted Turtle hatchlings are able to do this because they do not have any “ice nucleating agents”  (INA’s) internally. INAs are particles that an ice crystal can form around. Therefore, for Painted Turtles,  freezing isn’t triggered in their bodies (Packard and Packard 1993), unless they come into direct contact with ice crystals or INA’s within the nest. Even still, their skin offers some protection from this occurring. Ironically then smaller turtles with less surface skin exposed may fair better than larger ones. Also, different substrate within the nest can buffer against soil moisture better than others and can limit ice crystal formation.

How do the features of their nest affect hatchlings’ ability to survive the winter?

The type of soil a female Painted Turtle chooses to dig her nest in can play a big role in determining whether or not the hatchings make it through the winter. During the winter, higher moisture in soils where the nests are dug, may put hatchlings at risk of coming into contact with ice crystals. Therefore, soils and sites that can remain dry will contain fewer ice crystals and are preferred locations. In areas where soil moisture is unavoidable, female Painted Turtles can still choose strategically in order to give the hatchings an advantage, by nesting in soils with more clay. Clay does not  allow much water to infiltrate and provide the necessary buffer against excess moisture (Costanzo et al. 2001).

What do hatchlings eat all winter?

Nothing! Hatchlings that remain in the nest can't eat or digest yet. Instead they rely on stored energy reserves to fuel them through the winter. Scientists used to think that leftover egg yolk was their main source of nutrition while overwintering in nests (Costanzo et al. 2008). However, research has revealed that remaining yolk from their yolk sac is primarily used up  within the first few weeks after hatching, and is almost gone by early Fall, so it cannot be the primary food source over the harsh winter months (Muir et al. 2013). Instead, energy reserves in their liver, other organs, and body tissues seem to play a key role in fueling hatchlings that remain in the nest over winter (Muir et al. 2013).

 Written by Meredith Karcz, Conservation Technician

 

 Download the article here: Do we go out, or stay in blog post. Overwintering hatchlings

References

 Birchard, G., & Packard, G. 1997. Cardiac Activity in Supercooled Hatchlings of the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta). Journal of Herpetology, 31(1), 166-169

 Carroll, Ultsch. 2007. Emergence Season and Survival in the Nest of Hatchling Turtles in Southcentral New Hampshire. Northeastern Naturalist 14(2), 307-310,

Costanzo J.P., J.B. Iverson, M.F. Wright, and R.E. Lee. 1995. Cold hardiness and overwintering strategies of hatchlings in an assemblage of northern turtles. Ecology 76:1772–1785

Costanzo, J. P., Dinkelacker, S. A., Iverson, J. B., & Lee, Jr, R. E. 2004. Physiological ecology of overwintering in the hatchling painted turtle: multiple-scale variation in response to environmental stress. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 77(1), 74-99.

Costanzo, J.P., Litzgus, J.D. and Lee Jr, R.E., 1999. Behavioral responses of hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) at subzero temperatures. Journal of thermal biology, 24(3), pp.161-166.

Costanzo, J. P., Litzgus, J. D., Larson, J. L., Iverson, J. B., & Lee Jr, R. E. 2001. Characteristics of nest soil, but not geographic origin, influence cold hardiness of hatchling painted turtles. Journal of Thermal Biology, 26(1), 65-73.

Costanzo, J. P., Lee Jr, R. E., & Ultsch, G. R. 2008. Physiological ecology of overwintering in hatchling turtles. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 309(6), 297-379.

Churchill, T. A., & Storey, K. B. 1991. Metabolic responses to freezing by organs of hatchling painted turtles Chrysemys picta marginata and C. p. bellii. Canadian journal of zoology, 69(12), 2978-2984.

Lovich, J. E., Ernst, C. H., Ernst, E. M., & Riley, J. L. 2014. A 21-year study of seasonal and interspecific variation of hatchling emergence in a Nearctic freshwater turtle community: to overwinter or not to overwinter?. Herpetological Monographs, 28(1), 93-109.

Muir,T. J.,Dishong,B. D.,Lee,R. E.,Jr and Costanzo,J. P. 2013. Energy use and management of energy reserves in hatchling turtles (Chrysemys picta) exposed to variable winter conditions. J. Therm. Biol.38, 324-330

Nagle, R. D., Kinney, O. M., Congdon, J. D., & Beck, C. W. 2000. Winter survivorship of hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in Michigan. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 78(2), 226-233.

Obbard, M. E., & Brooks, R. J. 1981. Fate of Overwintered Clutches of the Common Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina) in Algonquin Park, Ontario. Canadian field-naturalist. Ottawa ON, 95(3), 350-352.

Packard, G. C., & Packard, M. J. 1993. Hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) survive exposure to subzero temperatures during hibernation by avoiding freezing. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 163(2), 147-152.

Paukstis, G. L., Shuman, R. D., & Janzen, F. J. 1989. Supercooling and freeze tolerance in hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 67(4), 1082-1084.

Riley, J. L., Tattersall, G. J., & Litzgus, J. D. 2014. Potential sources of intra-population variation in the overwintering strategy of painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) hatchlings. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(23), 4174-4183.

Storey, K. B., Storey, J. M., Brooks, S. P., Churchill, T. A., & Brooks, R. J. (1988). Hatchling turtles survive freezing during winter hibernation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 85(21), 8350–8354. doi:10.1073/pnas.85.21.8350

Vali G. 1995. Principles of ice nucleation. Pp. 1–28 in R.E. Lee, Jr.,G.J.Warren,and

L.V Gusta,eds.BiologicalIceNucleation and Its Applications. AmericanPhytopathologicalSociety,St. Paul, Minn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastic, which comes from the Greek verb plassein that translates to “to mould or shape,” was invented and made popular in 1869 by John Wesley Wyatt. This new material offered an alternative from the natural resources humans were confined to, such as metal and wood, along with animal based resources such as ivory, coral or bone. In plastic’s infancy it was used to mimic ivory and turtle shells and it was used for items such as billiard balls, piano keys, combs and so on. Over the years, new plastic variants were developed. A large-leap occurred after the end of World War 2 where production exploded due to it being cheap, convenient and because it was easy to mass produce. This efficiency resulted in the rise of the “throw away” society we live in today.

A research article published in Science Advances 2017 titled “Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made” estimates that in 2015, all plastic that has ever been produced from raw materials amasses 6300 million metric tons. Further that from all that plastic only 9% has been recycled, 12% has been burned, and the remaining 79% has ended up in landfills or the environment. The researchers further project that if current habits continue, 12000 million metric tons of plastic will be in landfills or the environment by 2050. The article also goes on to mention that 42% (146 million tons) of all the plastic created in 2015 was for packaging. Building and construction materials (which are long-lived practical uses for plastic as opposed to single-use packaging) represent only 19% of the share. The situation is dire! Which has propelled many companies, cities and even countries to begin to tackle the issue...starting with the biggest culprit of single-use plastics such as shopping bags, packaging, straws and utensils. These common items, which we come across in our everyday lives, add convenience, but compared to the small amount of time they are in our hands, the time they last in landfills or the environment is an eternity.

There are many small and easy ways that each person can reduce their plastic footprint, and yet make a huge difference:

1. Reusable coffee cups/mugs - Grab yourself a nice personal travel mug, you can get them in many styles and often coffee shops will offer discounts to people that use a reusable vessel
2. Metal or glass water bottles - Ditching plastic water bottles is one of the best things you can do to reduce your footprint- Not only can you get very nice ones which are able to keep your water cold for hours, but refill stations are often easily found in public areas. Furthermore, the quality of your town water is monitored closely, while water bottling companies aren't bound by the same standards.
3. Reusable shopping bags - The hardest thing about reusable shopping bags is remembering to take them into the store. However, they are extremely cheap and come in a variety of styles and materials. And with stores starting to charge for bags you’ll save money in the long run as well reduce your plastic footprint. The reusable bags are also a much sturdier option for carrying your purchases. So many people are carrying these that they are traded around readily, and you never know, but another shopper might be willing to share!  Finally, as a last resort, some stores offer paper bag options.

Tips from the Land Between staff:

1. Personal care options - Shampoo bars are an excellent alternative to bottled versions and they often have no packaging. Look for stores that have a return/reuse/refill options for the containers for cosmetics such as creams, lotions and soaps. More and more specialty stores and health food stores offer these options. We hope that soon grocery stores will get on this wagon too.
2. Produce and bulk shopping - You don’t need produce bags, just put your loose produce in the cart. Alternatively, cloth drawstring bags are easy to sew and you can make them from old clothes too! They are becoming increasingly available in grocery stores. Also they don’t add significant weight to your produce when placed on the scales at the checkout counters. You can even use old stockings or socks for produce. Also, try shopping at bulk stores where you can bring your own containers, this adds use to those plastic containers you already have stocked up.
3. Litterless lunches – Bring your meals in reusable options such as containers and reusable snack/sandwich bags such as those made with beeswax. This also pairs well with the next tip: bring your own ‘city kit’ for take out when dining out- a kit has a take-out container, personal cutlery and a travel cup.
4. Garbage disposal options - Use a biodegradable garbage bag and if you throw away wet materials that cannot be composted, you can line the bag with a standard plastic one; then when you visit the dump or put the garbage out, you can remove the biodegradable one and rinse and reuse the plastic one as a liner again and again.
5. General tip - Just be a little more conscious of your purchasing habits every time you go to the store. Try to find items with the lowest amounts of packaging or wrapping and if it is difficult to avoid, look for bulk sizes, so that you can to maximize the volume to packaging ratio.

Many people might think that reducing waste is a daunting or difficult goal to achieve, but small steps work! You don’t have to jump right in, just make a few minor changes that you can stick to at first, and over time new habits will be made. Also each step and each piece that is saved from the landfills is cumulative. In no time at all, you will have made a significant impact. In 2010 the average Canadian produced 32.85 kilograms (72.42 pounds) of plastic waste. With a few of the minor habit changes listed above a few pounds can easily be shaved off.

If you are having a hard time imagining that a person could generate that much plastic waste in one year, check out this news article about Daniel Webb. He is a British artist who kept every bit of plastic waste that he generated in 2017 which tallied up to 29 kilograms (63.93 pounds), very close to our Canadian average...and only 10% of it was recyclable. He made a wall of his plastic waste! See it here:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/17/i-kept-all-my-plastic-year-4490-items-forced-rethink

 

 

Sources:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-brief-history-of-plastic-world-conquest/

https://www.sciencehistory.org/the-history-and-future-of-plastics

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full

By Meredith Karcz, Conservation Technician

For many people, encountering a snapping turtle while swimming, on the road, or on the land can be a scary experience. Many people fear that the turtle will snap at them, and that their bite will take off a finger or toe! Fear of this species is common because of the misconception that the Common Snapping Turtle (the only Snapping turtle found in Canada), is aggressive. But, in reality, the Common Snapping Turtle is not aggressive at all. In water, they will completely avoid confrontation by burying themselves in sediment or swimming away when they feel the least bit intimidated. And on land, they only act in defense- and even then, they are not as harmful as you may think.

When on land, Snapping Turtles are not able to escape quickly or hide when they encounter a threat because unlike other turtles, Snapping Turtles cannot retreat into their shells for protection. Their large head, tail, and limbs do not fit inside their shell- their bottom shell (plastron) is relatively too small as compared to other turtles. So when they feel threatened by a potential predator on land, they will snap out of self-defense – but not because of aggression or for any hunting instincts. Also, even if they snap at you, they cannot take off a finger or a toe because Common Snapping turtle beak’s do not have the required jaw strength: their average strength is 208-226 Newton. Meanwhile adult humans with molars are between 280 and 300 Newton. This means that a Common Snapping Turtle, may be able to break skin, but cannot bite through ligaments. In fact, they cannot even break an average carrot in half.

As long as you respect a Common Snapping Turtle’s space when on land, or if you encounter them when they are in water, a Snapping Turtle will have no reason to be defensive. So now, that you are not as nervous, you may wish to approach a turtle on land to help it across roads for instance. An important thing to know is that you should never lift a turtle by its tail! A turtle’s tail is part of their spine, and lifting them this way can dislocate their spine and cause permanent damage. Other useful facts are that Snapping Turtles cannot reach their heads behind their back legs or under their shells. This means there are ways to lift them or handle them without fear of their snap! Check out the Turtle Guardians website, or partner websites for instructional videos.

Now that we have dispelled the myth that Common Snapping Turtles are scary, let’s talk about why they are so important. Snapping turtles are the best cleaning crews for our lakes and ponds. When snapping turtles are in lakes, we have more assurance that the water is safe for swimming. This is because, while Snapping Turtles are omnivores, eating both plants and animals and including fish, frogs, insects, crayfish, and even small birds, they are also amazing scavengers. Snappers eat any dead and decaying animals they find along the bottom of lake and ponds. By removing decaying and potentially diseased animals, they play a vital and irreplaceable role in keeping the water healthy and free of harmful bacteria.

Turtles are also essential to the future health of our aquatic ecosystems in other ways: They spread seeds! This critical and essential ecological service provided by Snapping Turtles (and other turtles) means that there are more aquatic plants to filter nutrients, clean water, and provide fish habitat in our lakes and wetlands for future generations. How do they do this? Aquatic plants and seeds make up a large portion of the Common Snapping Turtle’s diet. Researchers have found that seeds which have passed through a turtle’s gut will germinate successfully (Kimmons and Moll 2010). Considering that Snapping Turtles will migrate up to 3.9 km to return to hibernation sites, and that females will travel up to 2 km to nesting sites, this species’ capability of dispersing aquatic plant species is significant (Brown and Brooks 1994, Petit et al. 1995). The seeds that they spread result in a proliferation of aquatic vegetation, which in turn, provides habitat and food for many species, prevents shoreline erosion, adds oxygen to the water, removes excess nutrients from the water column helping to keep algal blooms in check, and more.  Snapping Turtles’ integral role of spreading seeds helps to keep aquatic communities healthy and diverse.

So the next time you encounter a Snapping Turtle, remind yourself that there is no reason to be afraid of this awesome animal. Instead, from a respectful distance, muse at its fine details, such as the three rows of triangular bony plates on its dinosaur-like tail, its smiling beak, bright eyes, or angular shell (carapace). This species of turtle descends from ancestors who roamed the earth during the Late Cretaceous Period alongside the dinosaurs. Your next chance to spot Snapping Turtles in The Land Between will be in the spring- in early May as they emerge from their overwintering sites. Watch for them along roads and if it is safe to do so, help them across, because they are important and irreplaceable helpers. Weed them to stick around!

If you see a Snapping Turtle, note the location, take a picture and report the observation through our Turtle Guardian App or at https://www.turtleguardians.com/sighting-report-form/ so that we can understand where to install crossing signs, turtle tunnel fencing, and which habitats need to be conserved.

Download the article here- Mr. Misunderstood

References

Brown, G.P., and R.J. Brooks. 1994. Characteristics of and fidelity to hibernacula in a northern population of Snapping Turtles, Chelydra serpentina. Copeia 1994(1): 222-226.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2016. Management Plan for the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Ottawa, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, iv + 39 p.

Joyce, W. 2016. A Review of the Fossil Record of Turtles of the Clade Pan-Chelydridae. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History 57(1):21–56.

Kimmons, J. B., and D. Moll. 2010. Seed dispersal by Redeared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 9: 289–294.

Pettit, K. E., C. A. Bishop, and R. J. Brooks. 1995. Home range and movements of the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina serpentina, in a coastal wetland of Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario, Canada. Canadian Field Naturalist 109(2): 192-200.

Takaki, P., Vieira, M., & Bommarito, S. (2014). Maximum bite force analysis in different age groups. International archives of otorhinolaryngology, 18(3), 272–276

Herrel et al. 2002. Evolution of bite performance in turtles. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.

Written by: Ally Lahey, Citizen Science Coordinator

Colder temperatures mean one thing: winter is on its way. For animals and people, that means a lot of prep-work. Turtles are no exception. In fact, turtles use some incredibly unique methods to get through the winter. From using their rear-ends to breath, to forgoing oxygen altogether, and even using their shells as “Tums” to aid cramps, turtles have come up with fascinating solutions for freezing temperatures. The amazing things they do in order to survive the winter proves that turtles are, quite literally, the coolest!

Before we jump into all the amazing facts about how turtles overwinter, let’s review the basics. 

Turtles are ectotherms, or “cold blooded.” This means that instead of producing their own body heat, ectotherms rely on their environments. So, whatever temperature it is in its surroundings, is the same as the internal temperature of a turtle (or any ectotherm). That’s why you’ll see turtles basking on logs or on the sides of roads—that’s how they get warm and allow their bodies to regulate normally. Since turtles rely on their surroundings for their internal body temperatures, that means that when the temperatures start getting colder, turtles get just as cold. The implications of being an ectotherm has led to the strategy turtles have developed in order to make it through the winter. 

Adult turtles are not able to survive anything below 0° C, because the water in their bodies would crystallize and expand- and they would freeze to death. Therefore, turtles have to find places that are just above freezing temperatures to spend the winter. Luckily, deeper bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, and wetlands don’t freeze all the way through. Often, if the water is deep enough, only the part of the water closest to the surface freezes and forms a sheet of ice; meanwhile, the water below, near the bottom of lakes and ponds, remains above 0° C. This is lucky for turtles. However, turtles still have to  adjust and adapt to being so cold. 

Unlike us endotherms that can regulate their own temperature internally (most animals and humans too), turtles can’t put on layers to stay warm. When they get cold, everything slows down in their bodies. Their metabolism hits the breaks dramatically, their hearts slow down and beat extremely slowly at one beat every few minutes! They also have reduced immune-system functions and are more prone to any diseases. And during hibernation, they don’t require as much oxygen. 

Not needing to breath normally is pretty handy, considering there’s a thick brim of ice preventing them from coming up for air. So how do turtles breathe if they can’t come to the top of the water to fill their lungs with oxygen? The answer is fascinating. During hibernation turtles will develop highly vascularized tissue on their bodies that allows oxygen to be absorbed through their skin. The area that experiences this vascularization the most is in their cloaca- the cloaca is basically their bum!  That’s right. You read that correctly. During hibernation, turtles breathe through their rear-ends. The formal term for this is “cloacal respiration.”

Unfortunately, even with their fancy schmancy “cloacal respiration” getting through the cold months comes with other obstacles bum-breathing can’t solve. Quite often, the bodies of water that turtles will overwinter in have other creatures in it too. That means that the oxygen underneath the ice is limited, and it can run out completely. Also, if water bodies that they are wintering in experience changes in water depth over the winter from dam-drawdowns, this can limit the oxygen further. 

To prove, once again, that turtles are the coolest creatures, they developed another way of surviving, even when their oxygen runs out! In these times, turtles literally switch their metabolisms to another system; one that doesn’t need oxygen at all. Even more fascinating; researchers have found in the lab that turtles can use this other metabolism—that doesn’t use oxygen—for up to 100 days! Of course, an impressive feat like switching a metabolism doesn’t happen easily. When turtles burn their energy reserves without oxygen (in hypoxic situations), lactic acid builds up in their bodies. Humans experience lactic acid build up too: it’s what causes cramps in muscles after exercise. This is as uncomfortable for turtles as it would be for us- and the way they deal with it is incredible. Once again, turtles rise to the challenge and have developed a unique method for keeping lactic acid build up at bay- by using their shells! That’s right, turtles use their shells, specifically the calcium they store inside of it, in order to neutralize the acid, and subdue and calm their cramps. Just like a calcium-rich antacid you would take for heartburn, turtles use the calcium from their shells to deal with the lactic acid building up in their bodies. Too cool!

Now, surviving without oxygen in hibernation is limited to a few months and also dealing with lactic acid build up has its limitations: Near the end of winter, turtles get quite uncomfortable. In fact, when they finally emerge from hibernation, they will often be quite disoriented from any excess build up of acid and from the discomfort associated with it. Therefore, turtles in spring look immediately to warm up (whether on rocks or on roads) in order to revv up their metabolism and rid their bodies of remaining lactic acid and discomfort. This is important to understand because it means turtles need us to keep an eye out for them once they finish hibernating. With so much of their already energy depleted and their entire focus put towards getting warmer, turtles coming out of hibernation aren’t always aware of their surroundings. That means, even before nesting season, us Turtle Guardians need to keep an eye out for groggy, cramped turtles that might be on roads trying to get warm!

 

Here are other ways you can help turtles with hibernating:

-Protect the water they hibernate in! Don’t let water levels get too low in frozen ponds or wetlands where turtles are overwintering. If water gets too low, the oxygen and warmer layer below will be diminished or the water will freeze solid and that means the turtles underneath in the muck may die. 

-If you see a turtle underneath the ice, let it be! Turtles know what they are doing. It might seem impossible, but turtles know how to handle the winter months. It can be dangerous to try and “save” a hibernating turtle by removing them from the water underneath the ice and exposing them to the cold winter air. 

- Don’t take turtles out of the natural environment or move them from their natural territories; turtles know where they hibernate. They have dedicated hibernation sites. When moved, turtles will try desperately to return to these sites and will often die trying to get home. 

- Young hatchlings need to find hibernation sites. They have approximately three years to imprint routes, hibernation areas, feeding grounds, and territories into their minds. Let them be in the natural world so they can imprint these areas and survive into adulthood. 

- Don’t pollute aquatic environments; turtles are more susceptible to pollution and disease in the winter months. Studies have shown that plastics and additives have implications for our and wildlife immune systems; and nitrates can also compromise immune systems. Don’t flush toxins into septic systems or into water systems. 

- Don’t release pet turtles (often red-eared sliders) into the environment. They don’t know how or where to hibernate and they may carry and spread diseases such as herpes. 

https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/24195/20190117/natural-selections-how-do-turtles-survive-a-winter-underwater

https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/01/30/turtles-under-ice-winter-survival-hibernation-adaptation/

https://www.fieldecology.com/blog/winter-turtles

http://archive-srel.uga.edu/outreach/ecoviews/ecoview090215.htm

http://theconversation.com/the-secret-to-turtle-hibernation-butt-breathing-86727

 

Turtles: The Coolest Navigators!

Written by: Ally Lahey, Citizen Science Coordinator

If you’re a Turtle Guardian, you’re most likely familiar with at least some of the threats that turtles face, but have you ever wondered how turtles navigate through these dangerous surroundings? Well, the answer is much more multifaceted than you may have guessed! Turtles use a complex mix of features to get around their environments, and scientists are just starting to understand the different mechanisms turtles use. From magnetic fields, the position of the sun, and spatial memory/learning, turtles have fascinating abilities to help them survive…but these abilities can be used against them when people try to help without being properly informed.

Although there is much more to learn and discover, so far scientists know of at least 3 modalities that turtles use to locate their home turf, and themselves within it:

The first uses Earth’s magnetic fields (magnetoreception). Turtles are just one of many animals that use magnetoreception and researchers have found that there are two possible ways they sense the magnetic field. One way is with magnetite, which are iron clusters with strong magnetism thought to be connected to the nervous system. The other way is with a protein, called a cryptochrome, that is located in their eye. Cryptochromes have special pairs of electrons that are excited by sunlight and spin around each other when they’re exposed to certain wavelengths of light. This spinning causes turtles to have the ability to detect very weak magnetic fields such as that of the Earth (only 0.5 gauss!).

The next modality is the position of the sun. Within a day of hatching, turtles develop the ability to use only the position of the sun in order to move to where they’re going. In a recent study that investigated how hatchling Blanding’s Turtles navigated, researchers found that the position of the sun was used in order to move to wetlands upon hatching. In order to ensure the turtles were not using their geomagnetic forces to determine how to travel, the hatchlings had a magnet attached to their shells to disrupt that sense. The researchers also blocked the turtles’ ability to see the wetland by placing them in a field with large cornstalks.  After the researchers determined what direction the baby turtles had initially been heading, they were collected and held in a laboratory where half of the turtles experienced a simulation of normal daylight hours, while the other half experienced daylight hours that were six hours behind. When placed back into the field where they were collected, the turtles that experienced normal daylight hours moved as normal toward the direction of the wetland. However, the turtles that experienced daylight that was shifted six hours behind moved in a direction that was 90 degrees from their initial trajectory. The researchers said this made sense since 90 degrees is a quarter of 360, and a quarter of an entire day is 6 hours.

The last modality is through learning and memory. In a recent study of Painted Turtles, scientists moved individuals to a completely new location to test their ability to respond to changes in their habitats. The results were surprising and have important implications. They found that the young juvenile turtles, those under four years old, were able to readapt to the changes in the habitat and navigate successfully within it, locating far off water sources and moving through the landscape with the precision of the turtles local to the area. This was not the case for turtles older than four years of age. Unlike the young juveniles, the older turtles were not about to adapt to the change in habitat. This supports that turtles have a certain window of time in which they imprint on their habitat and it becomes their home. The researchers attributed this to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which influences spatial memory in animals. This was then put to the test by giving turtles a drug that temporarily blocked acetylcholine receptors, thus blocking their ability to access long-term spatial memory. What they found was fascinating! The young group of turtles were able to navigate through their environments with no changes whatsoever, whereas the older group of turtles were unable to navigate at all and “wandered aimlessly” until the drug wore off. This offers support that turtles form and utilize spatial memories in the first few years of life in order to navigate their surroundings and successfully migrate. This was the first time such a complex form of cognition during migration was found for reptiles.

 

So what does this mean for Turtle Guardians, or anyone who wants to help turtles? Most importantly, if you come across an adult turtle (over four years), do not move it or relocate it. Turtles are tied to their home habitats! Once they imprint on their “homes” they cannot be placed anywhere new or they will not survive. They will not know where to nest, where to hibernate or where to find food.

We now know of three different ways turtles are connected to their birth territories and navigate within it. With so much more to learn about turtle navigation, our understanding of the importance of their territories to their survival will only grow.

 

What you can do to help:

• Unless a turtle is on a road, the best rule of thumb is to leave it alone. Do not remove a healthy turtle from the wild. Do not relocate turtles from lakes, ponds or other areas.
• Displaced adult turtles will stop at nothing to return to their home territory, forgoing hibernation and even eating while trying to find their home. Moving an adult turtle from their home territory is akin to killing it.
• Understand that a turtle’s home range and routes can be extensive. If you come across a turtle that is injured or sick, make a note of the location where it was found so that it can be returned to this its home upon recovery. The more precise, the better!
• If you find hatchling or young juvenile turtles on the road, do not take the turtles home! The hatchling needs to orient itself finding hibernation, feeding, and basking areas so that it can survive as an adult. Turtle Guardians recommends moving them to the nearest wetland from where they were found. Try to stay within 250-500m maximum when transporting them to the closest wetland. Keeping them close to their nest sites also ensures that the integrity of the genetic diversity within the population is sound and maintained.
• If a turtle is on the road, with your safety and the safety of other drivers in mind, move the turtle in the direction it is heading. Turtles are stubborn--they will turn around and double-back across the road if they’re not moved toward where they were heading.
• Get involved by becoming a turtle guardian!
• Learn about and support provincial and federal legislation that protects the habitat for all 8 of Ontario’s at-risk turtles.
• Talk about turtles! If you care for turtles, share that love with others. Turtles are endlessly fascinating and cool! Tell others about cool turtle facts or about the dangers turtles are facing and how all 8 of Ontario’s turtles are species at-risk. Not everyone knows what turtles are up against or how to help, so share your knowledge and enthusiasm!

Download the full article here: Turtles- The Coolest Navigators

Sources:

https://waldenspuddle.org/help-for-turtles/

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/how-a-painted-turtle-finds-its-way/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181109101427.htm

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0124728