LE3 .A278 2012

2012

Herman, Tom
Bondrup-Nielsen, Soren

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

In this study, I developed a novel approach to better understand growth and climate variables influencing growth in the endangered Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Using growth increments on plastral scutes, we were able to determine that the Nova Scotia Blanding’s turtle’s plastron increments are forged annually, that in their 12 scutes, the sets of rings in each pair of scutes are symmetrical while the 6 sets of pairs are asymmetrical, and that they fit a Von Bertalanffy growth model. Using dendrochronology software, I used techniques and software common to the discipline of dendrochronology and dendroclimatology to illustrate that plastron growth increments crossdate well, are positively influenced by the previous year’s May temperature and current year’s August temperature, and negatively influenced by the previous year’s October temperature. Plastron growth-rings were not significantly influenced by precipitation. This information will be useful for further research in modelling climate change impacts on growth, for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, for fluctuating asymmetry studies and to better understand the relationship between growth, clutch size and hatchling success.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:262