19th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Survivorship and Mortality of the Yellow Mud Turtle on a Northeast Missouri Marsh
Octeva M. Johnson
Dr. Don Kangas, Faculty Mentor
Survivorship was estimated for Yellow Mud Turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) whose ages were calculated from average growth equations. Three hundred and forty-six observations of female turtles were involved in initial captures. For female turtles from different years, survivorship varied most for youngest turtles (age 1 to 10). When all females were aggregated the survivorship appears to increase from 0.38 to 1.0 by age 12. One hundred and fifty-three observations of male turtles were involved in initial captures. For male turtles from different years, survivorship varied most for younger turtles (age 3 to 12). No 1- or 2-year old males were observed. For males, year class survivorship appears to increase from 0.11 to 1.0 by age 12. These values allow estimates of instantaneous mortality of the turtles by age class and the construction of partial life tables. Reproductive data are missing from our model preventing complete life table construction.
Keywords: Life history, turtles, survivorship, mortality, life table, population biology
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 40-3
Location: VH 1432
Time: 1:45