Christopher Manis and Thomas P. Wilson

We report on a community ecology study of a freshwater turtle assemblage occurring in the Tennessee River Gorge. During 2000 to 2005, 2,900 turtles representative of nine species from four families were collected. Cumberland sliders (Trachemys scripta troosti) were more abundant, followed by common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus), river cooters (Pseudemys concinna), snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), common map turtles (Graptemys geographica), stripeneck musk turtles (Sternotherus minor), and spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera). Species richness increased relative to trapping effort and community diversity did not differ significantly within the study area. Sex ratios of two commonly occurring species (S. odoratus and P. concinna) were compared based on trap years, trap seasonality, and trap type. Sex ratio male bias was consistently observed in all years with S. odoratus (mean=66.7% males), but not with P. concinna (mean=41.0% males).
International conservation/field research Oral

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