Publication Type:
Journal ArticleSource:
Animal Conservation, Zoological Society of London, Volume 9, Issue 3, p.269-273 (2006)Call Number:
A06STE02IDUSKeywords:
Chelydra serpentina, Chrysemys picta, Glyptemys insculpta, gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, Painted Turtle, Snapping Turtle, wood turtleAbstract:
Recent studies suggest that freshwater turtle populations are becoming increasingly male-biased. A hypothesized cause is a greater vulnerability of female turtles to road mortality. The authors evaluated this hypothesis by comparing sex ratios from published and unpublished population surveys of turtles conducted on- versus off-roads. Among 38,166 turtles from 157 studies reporting sex ratios, the authors found a consistently larger female fraction in samples from on-roads (61%) than off-roads (41%). They conclude that female turtles are indeed more likely to cross roadways than males are; this trait may explain recently reported skewed sex ratios near roadways and signify eventual population declines as females are differentially eliminated.
Notes:
ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology