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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

Turtle Guardian of the Year Award 2018 – Kelly Wallace

The Turtle Guardian of the Year Award recognizes an individual or group within Ontario that has made significant contributions to turtle recovery, including through raising awareness, providing education, or by directly advancing conservation and mitigation.

Kelly Wallace, Think Turtle Conservation Initiative has been chosen as the recipient for the 2018 Award.

Kelly has worked selflessly and tirelessly to raise awareness and educate the public about the need to save our ancient relatives, the turtles. The advances that have been realized because of Kelly’s work, have been remarkable and have effectively changed the paradigm for turtle recovery in Ontario.

Kelly began by prudently learning about the issues and needs facing turtles by consulting with experts and conducting thorough research. She then respectfully and considerately engaged and collaborated with agencies, groups and individuals within the conservation sector to further her cause. With the same care, dedication and determination, Kelly created a credible and solid platform in order to raise awareness and educate the public. From this vantage she works tirelessly with the public to cultivate respect and understanding. Kelly attends local Farmer’s markets, fairs, and events. She nurtures the extensive social media presence she has created. Kelly provides presentations across communities. And she cultivates and maintains the relationships and awareness that she has established through care and consistency always being available and responding to inquiries through email, phone and text.

It is extraordinary that with each effort Kelly undertakes, she does so with humility, thoughtfulness and attention to detail.

Most remarkable is that Kelly strives to reach each person and build a sense of community. She tries to understand the perspectives of each person and to tailor her message and her programs to them. With this view Kelly designed the “Watch 4 Turtles” signs -  because she felt strongly that many people desired to help and contribute to wildlife conservation, but may not have the time, resources, or expertise.  Therefore, Kelly designed a simple and uniform sign as a statement, which people could easily install on their property, knowing this would allow them to participate in conservation and help raise awareness. People were empowered to become part of the effort and show the world that they care about turtles. The thoughtfulness that Kelly used to create this initiative is what has made it an incredible success. The Watch 4 Turtles signs have raised more awareness for turtles on roads than any government or NGO effort has done previously. The program is so effective that it has gone “viral” and has spread throughout the province, and into other parts of the country. Kelly has humbly and quietly inspired communities, people and children of all ages across Ontario. Her contributions to turtle recovery and wildlife conservation are certain and lasting. She is a model to follow.

It is with great respect, appreciation and gratitude that the Turtle Guardians Program recognizes and presents Kelly Wallace with the Turtle Guardian Award of 2018.

 

Since early June The Land Between through the Turtle Guardians program and Scales Nature Park have been involved in turtle-research. Ecologists and biologists have been hired for the summer to “run the roads” across Simcoe, Muskoka, Parry Sound, Haliburton, north Peterborough, and City of Kawartha Lakes to assess where and how many turtles are travelling, crossing, and also being injured on roads. “The data will give us a picture of what changes and fixes need to take place to save turtles in these areas” says Leora Berman, COO of The Land Between and coordinator of the Turtle Guardians program. In addition to road surveys, the crew will assess the relative health of turtles found in  the area through wetland and habitat reconnaissance and, under permits issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change and Parks, to take body condition measurements , and to estimate sex ratios and age classes of turtles here.

Leora says, “community members can also help.” The Team are offering training for community volunteers to monitor wetlands, roads, nest sites and aid in other Citizen Science and conservation efforts. To support the initiative, simply log on to turtleguardians.ca and register as a guardian, or send Leora an email through info@thelandbetween.ca, leora@turtleguardians.ca or text her at 705-854-3578

Walks will raise awareness for turtles.....a harbringer species: See articles in the Haliburton Echo/Minden Times

Turtle Guardians is happy to announce Turtle Guardian Camps!

Starting July 3rd, these three-day camps offer a unique experience for kids to learn about Ontario's turtles, and how to help them. Kids will reconnect with nature and explore wetland and pond habitats, learn to identify bugs and grubs, butterflies and dragonflies, turtles and fishes too. Participate in crafts and take the turtle test to become a level 1 Guardian!

Camps $60/day for the 3-day week. ($20/day).

For all camp dates and details download the poster. To register visit the events page 

Post by: Kelly Wallace of Think Turtle Conservation Initiative in Bancroft; a partner of the Turtle Guardian's Program

RED-EARED SLIDERS

Prompted by the Think Turtle post on 21/10/2018 the following article is to do with the red-eared slider and why I view this turtle species as the "underdog" of the turtle world. This is in fact a topic I have wanted to write about for a while but have been too busy.