Spatial ecology of northern map turtles in Lake Erie using satellite telemetry

Our study focused on the northern map turtle, the most abundant species found in Lake Erie. This turtle's ability to thrive in both river and lake habitats makes it an ideal model for understanding how aquatic turtles respond to environmental changes, such as climate change and harmful algal blooms. By utilizing satellite telemetry, we aimed to provide the first-ever insights into the spatial ecology, movement patterns, and home range sizes of map turtles in Lake Erie. Three adult female map turtles were equipped with satellite transmitters on an Ottawa County, Ohio nesting beach in June 2022. These transmitters, utilizing the ARGOS satellite network, remotely obtained geographic coordinates of each turtle's location multiple times a day. By analyzing the data within a geographic information system, we measured the total straight-line distance traveled, home range size (minimum convex polygon), and core activity area (95% kernel) of each turtle using ArcMap 10. Over the course of x weeks, the three turtles covered distances ranging from 0.03 to 0.08 km, while their home range sizes varied from 7.85 to 61.17 square km. Although the turtles predominantly stayed within their core activity areas, they occasionally ventured away for a few days before returning. These excursions may indicate foraging trips, particularly as northern map turtles are known to consume zebra mussels. Our research not only provides a groundbreaking description of movement patterns and spatial ecology for northern map turtles in Lake Erie but also demonstrates the effective use of satellite telemetry in monitoring the precise movements of aquatic turtles in the Great Lakes. This newfound knowledge of their geographic range and spatial distribution can significantly contribute to conservation efforts aimed at protecting other vulnerable and declining turtle species.