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The Newsletter of the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group Volume 5 Issue 1 Summer 2020 The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group (DTWG) held the 8th Symposium on the Ecology, Status and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin in Wilmington, North Carolina October 11—13, 2019. The Symposium is held every three years to provide diamondback terrapin researchers and conservationists with the opportunity to share the results of their work, catch up with friends and colleagues, build new collaborations, and plan the way forward to insure there are healthy populations of diamondback terrapins in our coastal marshes for future generations. The 2019 meeting was attended by 68 participants from across the country. The program included 42 presentations, 15 of which were presented with students as the first author; we awarded nine $450 travel grants to support symposium attendance by students. Dr. Russell Burke received the 2019 Terrapin Conservation Award in recognition of his numerous contributions to our understanding of terrapin biology and his long-term research and conservation initiatives in Jamaica Bay, New York. Joseph Facendola, a Fisheries Biologist with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, opened the Symposium with a keynote presentation entitled “Mitigating Diamondback Terrapin Interactions with the North Carolina Blue Crab Fishery: Past, Present, and Future Challenges”. Fisheries interactions present one of the most pressing conservation challenges for the diamondback terrapin in the coastal Carolinas and throughout the species’ range. (continued on page 3) 2019 Symposium Summary 3 Terrapin Conservation Award 4 2019 Business Meeting 5 2020 Research Grants 5 DTWG Goals 6 Recent Publications 7-8 Grant Opportunities 9 Inside this issue: Summary of the 8th Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin Photo: Julia Singer Photo: Amanda Williard Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 2 DEDICATED TO DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT, AND EDUCATION The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group was formed in 2004 by individuals from academic, scientific, regulatory and private institutions/organizations working to promote the conservation of the diamondback terrapin, the preservation of intact, wild terrapin populations and their associated ecosystems throughout their range. The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group is committed to and supports research, management, conservation, and education efforts with the above goals in mind. OFFICERS AND REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Senior Co-Chair Amanda Williard University of North Carolina Wilmington Junior Co-Chair John Maerz University of Georgia Secretary Sarah Finn NC Wildlife Resources Commission Treasurer Joe Butler University of North Florida Past Co-Chairs Christina Mohrman Gulf of Mexico Alliance Russell Burke Hofstra University Willem Roosenburg Ohio University Joe Butler University of North Florida Northeast Representative Barbara Brennessel Wheaton College Russell Burke Hofstra University Mid-Atlantic Representatives Randy Chambers College of William and Mary John Wnek Monmouth University Southeast Representatives Jordan Gray Turtle Survival Alliance Kathryn Craven Georgia Southern University Florida Representative Ben Atkinson Flagler College Chris Lechowicz Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Gulf Representatives Tom Mohrman The Nature Conservancy Aaron Baxter Texas A&M Corpus Christi Terrapin Times is the newsletter of the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group Editors Christina Mohrman & Amanda Williard The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group (DTWG) Is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Photo: Christina Mohrman f Join the DTWG Listserv www.dtwg.org Find us on Facebook Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 3 Megan Sporre won the Best Student Oral Presentation award at the Symposium. Photo: Julia Singer Best Student Oral Presentation Megan Sporre, College of Charleston and Texas A&M Galveston Advisors Allan Strand and Ron Eytan “Increased frequency of multiple paternity in diamondback terrapins from a male dominated population” First Place - Student Poster Presentation Kyra Reisenfeld, College of Charleston Advisor Eric McElroy “Functional Ecomorphology in the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin); the effect of head- starting on morphology and bite force” Second Place - Student Poster Presentation Amanda Lyon, Brown University and Wetlands Institute Advisors Tyler Kartzinel and Lisa Ferguson “A Comparison of Methods for Surveying Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Populations in Tidal Creeks” The 9th Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin will be hosted by John Maerz in Athens, Georgia in 2022. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! Access Program and Abstracts for the 8th Symposium HERE Summary of the 8th Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin (continued from cover page) The issue of fisheries bycatch mitigation was the theme for a Discussion Group moderated by Amanda Williard (University of North Carolina Wilmington) on the last day of the Symposium. Additional Discussion Groups covered the topics of Population Surveys (Moderator Sarah Finn, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) and Gulf Terrapin Conservation Plan (Moderator Tom Mohrman, The Nature Conservancy). The topics covered during the Discussion Groups and during the DTWG Business Meeting (11 October 2019) served as the basis for developing goals and actions for the DTWG over the next three years (see page 6 for DTWG 2019 – 2022 Goals). Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 4 2019 Terrapin Conservation Award Tribute by Joe Butler Dr. Russell L. Burke was presented the 2019 Terrapin Conservation Award at the 8th Symposium on the Ecology, Status and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin in Wilmington, North Carolina. Russ is the 5th winner of this award and he served as the 3rd co-chair of DTWG. Russ earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1994 (oddly, he did his undergraduate work at Ohio State so one wonders how UM accepted him!) and has been teaching at Hofstra University since 1996. I first met him while he was studying Gopher Tortoise relocation success for his dissertation. Russ has been the Chairperson of Biology at Hofstra and has won the Distinguished Ecology Professor award. In addition to Anatomy and Physiology, Russ teaches organismal biology courses concerning Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation Biology. And he is a whizz with statistics! He is beloved by both graduates and undergraduates alike, although I noticed on Rate-My- Professor that some students think Russ is a tough grader. Imagine that! Russ is mentor to numerous graduate students and always has a cadre of them with him presenting posters and talks at various professional conferences. Russ possesses an extremely eclectic taste for which organisms he studies. I mentioned his dissertation on gopher tortoises, but a perusal of his over 100 publications reveals he has studied numerous turtle species including box, wood, and snapping turtles, Galapagos, European, and African tortoises, and of course diamondback terrapins. His interests have included other reptiles such as wall lizards, lava lizards, banded and Mediterranean geckos, and hognose snakes. Then there are the mammal studies on raccoons, white- tail deer, and coyote, and his parasitology work with Lyme disease and the terrapin fluke. Considering only topics on terrapins, Russ has papers on diet, various aspects of nesting ecology, predation by raccoons, hatchling movements, temperature dependent sex determination, road mortality, climate effects, and intestinal parasites. He is co-author of three chapters of the recent book, “Ecology and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin” by Roosenburg and Kennedy. The DTWG and diamondback terrapins are very fortunate to have captured Russ Burke’s interest, enthusiasm, and expertise. We are proud to present him with the 2019 Terrapin Conservation Award. Keep it up, Russ! We know you will. Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 5 2019 Business Meeting The 2019 DTWG Business Meeting was held on 11 October 2019 in Wilmington, NC. In attendance: Ben Atkinson, Barbara Brennessel, Joe Butler, Randy Chambers, Elizabeth Colhoun, Sarah Finn, Whit Gibbons, George Heinrich, John Maerz, Christina Mohrman, Tom Mohrman, Willem Roosenburg, Hope Sutton, Amanda Williard, Roger Wood. The meeting agenda included a discussion of the 2019 Research Proposal Awards, the Treasurer’s Report, the Secretary’s Report, Regional Representative Reports, and a discussion of 3-year range-wide goals for the DTWG. The 2019 Research Proposal Awardees were Carolyn Decker (Quantifying habitat use and movements of juvenile diamondback terrapins), Nicole M. Conner (Developing ePCR Technology for Evaluating the Ecology and Distribution of the Diamondback Terrapin in Alabama), and Kyra A. Reisenfeld (Functional Ecomorphology in the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin); the effect of head-starting on head morphology and bite force). Officers noted that the high quality of recent Research Proposal submissions and that the number of applicants has increased since the shift to a fixed award amount (cap of $1,000). The meeting attendees discussed the possibility of considering high quality proposals that focused on education/outreach, rather than just basic scientific research, in the future. Joe Butler (Treasurer) reported $14,003 in the DTWG General Account and an additional $4,000 in the Meeting Account. Willem Roosenburg pointed out that the DTWG has an Amazon Smiles account and members should be encouraged to designate DTWG when making purchases on Amazon Smiles. Sarah Finn (Secretary) reported that there were 84 DTWG members in 2019 and membership was distributed fairly evenly throughout the range. Students represent only 15-20% of the membership and we have low retention of students. A motion was made and seconded to adopt a 3-year membership cycle beginning in 2022. The motion passed with all in favor and none opposed. A second motion to include the 3-year membership fee in the registration fee for the 2022 Symposium was tabled and will be revisited at a later date. Regional Representatives provided updates. Barbara Brennessel noted that while only 3 Northeast Region members were attending the triennial Symposium, they have reliably good attendance (30 – 50 attendees) at their annual regional meetings. Randy Chambers reported that the Mid-Atlantic Region had a meeting in Spring 2019 and that John Wnek holds a meeting in New Jersey every year. Jordan Gray and Kathryn Craven will be the new representatives for the Southeast region. The Florida Region had a meeting at the University of North Florida in 2019. Aaron Baxter is the new Representative for the Gulf Region. Following the reports from each region, the meeting attendees discussed the importance of having regularly scheduled regional meetings, and at least one meeting per region in between the triennial Symposia. Congratulations to the 2020 DTWG Research Grant Recipients! Danielle Bradke, University of Georgia Using Genetics to Estimate Dispersal of Diamondback Terrapin on Jekyll Island, GA Iwo Gross, Auburn University Sexy sons and darling daughters: Overcoming sexual conflict in a polyandrous reptile through temperature -dependent sex determination Amanda Lyons, Brown University Genetic Analysis of Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Populations of the Northeastern United States Marianne Walch, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays Inland Bays Diamondback Terrapin and Survey and Conservation Project Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 6 1. Coordinate with the Center for Biological Diversity and the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust to support efforts to protect terrapins from incidental capture in recreational and commercial crab pots through the Regulatory Petition process. 2. Develop a DTWG Position Paper and Resolution regarding fisheries interactions with diamondback terrapins and recommended actions to mitigate the negative effects of fisheries bycatch on terrapin populations. 3. Develop a Task Force to discuss ways to standardize and compile terrapin population survey data collected in different regions so that these data can be used for broader assessments of species status. 4. Support the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) initiative to develop a Conservation Action Plan for terrapins in the Gulf Region. 5. Shift to a 3-year membership cycle starting in 2022. 1. Identify priority terrapin research, conservation, and management issues - Discussion groups at the 2019 Symposium highlighted fisheries bycatch, population surveys, and a conservation plan in the Gulf of Mexico as focus areas in the coming years 2. Develop goals based on those priority issues - DTWG initiated collaborative efforts with other conservation groups to promote implementation of bycatch reduction devices in crab fisheries. DTWG served as a Co-Petitioner with the Center for Bio- logical Diversity and the Florida Conservation Trust to petition the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commis- sion to require use of bycatch reduction devices on all recreational and commercial crab pots. - At the 8th Symposium, we set the goal of establishing a task force to assess options for broadscale population surveys and coordination between regions. - Tom Mohrman received a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance to develop a conservation plan for Gulf terrapins and has made good progress towards achieving this goal. 3. Review current dues and grant award structures for possible improvements - A motion to move to a three-year dues structure beginning in 2022 was passed at the 2019 Business Meeting held at the 8th Symposium. 4. Webinar series to improve communication & collaboration, share DTWG grant funded projects - Tom Mohrman received a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance to develop a conservation plan for Gulf terrapins. As one component of this work, he has conducted a series of webinars to coordinate regional stakeholders and has made good progress towards achieving this goal. DTWG Goals for 2016-2019 Revisited DTWG Goals for 2019-2022 Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 7 Recent Publications Rowe CL, Liang D, Woodland RJ. 2020. Effects of constant and fluctuating incubation temperatures on hatching success and hatchling traits in the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) in the context of the warming climate. Journal of Thermal Biology 88: 102528, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102528 Rash R, Lillywhite HB. 2019. Drinking behaviors and water balance in marine vertebrates. Marine Biology 166: 122, https:// doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3567-4 Breininger DR, Stolen ED, Breininger DJ, Breininger RD. 2019. Sampling rare and elusive species: Florida east coast diamondback terrapin population abundance. Ecosphere 10(8):e02824, doi/10.1002/ecs2.2824 Levasseur P, Sterrett S, Sutherland C. 2019. Visual head counts: A promising method for efficient monitoring of diamondback terrapins. Diversity 2019, 11, 101; http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d11070101 Selman W, Pearson SH, Wiebe JJ. 2019. Comparisons of population structure and morphology of a saltmarsh keystone species (Malaclemys terrapin) across coastal Louisiana. Estuaries and Coasts 42: 1138-1148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237 -019-00548-8 Williard AS, Harden LA, Jones TT, Midway SR. 2019. Effects of temperature and salinity on body fluid dynamics and metabolism in the estuarine diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). Journal of Experimental Biology 222 (10); 202390, doi:10.1242/jeb.202390 Erazmus KR, Figueras MP, Luiselli L, and Burke RL. 2019. Do diets vary over large spatial or temporal ranges? A test using interannual and interpopulation data on diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) diets. Canadian Journal of Zoology 97: 251-257, http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2018-0211 Castro-Santos T, Bolus M, Danylchuk AJ. 2019. Assessing risk from harbor dredging to the northernmost population of diamondback terrapins using acoustic telemetry. Estuaries and Coasts 42: 378-389, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-018- 0481-9 Denton MJ, Demopoulos AWJ, Baldwin JD, Smith BJ, Hart KM. 2019. Stable isotope analysis enhances our understanding of diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) foraging ecology. 42: 596-611, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-018-0476-6 Bangma JT, Ragland JM, Rainwater TR, Bowden JA, Gibbons JW, Reiner JL. 2019. Perfluoralkyl substances in diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in coastal South Carolina. Chemosphere 215: 305-312. Donini J, Lechowicz C, Valverde R. 2018. Comparisons of summer and winter patterns in ovarian development, plasma vitellogenin, and sex steroids in female diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in southern Florida. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 17(2): 227-235, https://doi-org/10.2744/CCB-1310.1 Sherwood N, Wu M, Weis P. 2018. Mercury contamination in diamondback terrapins in New Jersey. Environmental Management 62: 756-765. Edmunds SE, Kasparov CN, Yoon JB, Kanonik AK, Burke RL. 2018. Twelive years later: Reassessing visual and olfactory cues raccoons use to find diamondback terrapin nests. Journal of Herpetology 52(3); 307-312, https://doi.org/10.1670/17-029 Agha M, Ennen JR, Bower DS, Nowakowski AJ, Sweat SC, Todd BD. 2018. Salinity tolerance and use of saline environments by freshwater turtles: implications of sea level rise. Biological Reviews 93: 1634-1648, https://doi-org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1111/ brv.12410 Figueras MP, Bastarache BA, Burke RL. 2018. Water exchange relationships predict overwintering behavior in hatchling turtles. Canadian Journal of Zoology 96: 928-932, http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0132 Selman W. 2018. Life in skinny water: Observations of juvenile diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) utilizing shallow water habitats. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 13(2): 399-407. Crawford BA, Moore CT, Norton TM, Maerz JC. 2018. Integrated analysis for population estimation, management impact evaluation, and decision-making for a declining species. Biological conservation 222: 33-43, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.biocon.2018.03.023 Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 8 Reinke B, Pearson S, Selman W. 2018. Plastron pigmentation variation in a coastal turtle species of conservation concern (Malaclemys terrapin). Herpetologica 74(2): 141-145. Cook CE, McCluskey AM, Chambers RM. 2018. Impact of invasive Phragmites australis on diamondback terrapin nesting in Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries and Coasts 41(4): 966-973, DOI: 10.1007/s12237-017-0325-z Rowe CL. 2018. Standard metabolic rates of early life stages of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), an estuarine turtle, suggest correlates between life history changes and metabolic economy of hatchlings. Zoology 127: 20-26, DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2018.03.001 Walker RD, Jones GA. 2018. Consumer-driven depletion of the northern diamondback terrapins in Chesapeake Bay. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 10(2): 132-143, DOI: 10.1002/mcf2.10009 Arendt MD, Schwenter JA, Dingle J, Evans CA, Waldrop E, Czwartacki B, Fowler AE, Whitaker JD. 2018. A "BRD" in the Hand Worthy of Four in the Trap: Validation of Optimal Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) Size to Maximize Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Entry and Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin Exclusion Through Theoretical Modeling and Application. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 38(2): 411-423, DOI: 10.1002/nafm.10045 Herrel A, Petrochic S, Draud M. 2018. Sexual dimorphism, bite force and diet in the diamondback terrapin . Journal of Zoology 304(3): 217-224, DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12520 Grubbs SP, Funkhouser H, Myer P, Arendt M, Schwenter J, Chambers RM. 2018. To BRD or Not to BRD? A Test of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) for the Blue Crab Fishery. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 38(1):18-23, DOI: 10.1002/nafm.10017 Burke RL, Clendening B, Kanonik A. 2018. Long-term increases in clutch size in common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). Journal of Natural History 52:1723-1732, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1483539 Rowe CL. 2018. Maximum standard metabolic rate corresponds with the salinity of maximum growth in hatchlings of the estuarine northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin): Implications for habitat conservation. Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology 86:79-83, DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2017.12.005 NEW BOOK ON TERRAPIN BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION! Ecology and Conservation of the Diamond-backed Terrapin. 2018. Editors: WM Roosenburg and VS Kennedy. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. This book contains 19 chapters that summarize the current state of knowledge on terrapin natural history, behavior, ecology, physiology, and conservation. DIAMONDS IN THE MARSH IS NOW FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE! Access the entire book HERE Diamonds in the Marsh: A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin. 2006. Barbara Brennessel University Press of New England, Lebanon, NH. https://digitalrepository.wheatoncollege.edu/handle/11040/24803 Recent Publications (cont.) Terrapin Times - Volume 5 Issue 1 - Summer 2020 - Diamondback Terrapin Working Group - http://www.dtwg.org 9 Grant Opportunities Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) Roger Conant Grants in Herpetology Award amount: $500 Deadline: 15 December 2020 Who can apply: Student members of SSAR Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Grant amount: $1,000 Deadline: 1 October 2020 Who can apply: undergraduate and graduate students who need funds for travel to/from research sites or for purchase of non-standard lab equipment HCI Michael Dee Grant Grant amount: $1,200 Deadline: rolling Who can apply: undergraduate and graduate students American Wildlife Conservation Foundation Grant amount: variable Deadline: 1 August 2020 Who can apply: universities, government agencies and other non-profit institutions/organizations which focus on fish/wildlife species-habitat relationships, human-wildlife interaction or conservation education projects Virginia Herpetological Society Grants in Herpetology Scholarship amount: $500 Deadline: 15 January 2021 Who can apply: VHS members New England Herpetological Society Scholarship amount: up to $1,000 Deadline: rolling Who can apply: persons, projects and organizations within the New England area only
