Seasonal Migrational Movements of a Population of the Western Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii (Reptilia, Testudines, Testudinidae)

Abstract

Migrational movements of a population of C. picta bellii were observed during 1974 and 1975 in an oxbow lake complex composed of several separate sections in eastern Nebraska [USA]. Recaptures of individual marked turtles indicated seasonal movements due to changes in water levels of the different oxbow sections. Emigration from semipermanent hibernacula to outlying areas occurred in spring, as a response to the filling of these areas with water. Migration back to more permanent areas of water occurred when the outlying sections began to dry up in late June. Reasons for the emigrational movements from the permanent areas in spring may be crowning effects and the generally greater productivity effects and the generally greater productivity of aquatic plant material in the shallower, less permanent areas.