Anthony Lau and Gerald R. Johnston

ABSTRACT: During 2006, we conducted a mark-recapture study of the turtle assemblage in a stretch of the Santa Fe River within River Rise Preserve State Park. Sampling with baited hoop nets and hand capture while snorkeling yielded 6 species, including 2 Florida Species of Special Concern – Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis and Macrochelys temminckii. Species diversity (Shannon-Weiner) and species evenness were 1.185 and 0.661, respectively. The most abundant species was P. c. suwanniensis, comprising 43.2% of all individuals captured and 67.4% of the total turtle biomass. This is the first study of a Florida turtle assemblage occurring in a spring-fed blackwater stream habitat. Comparisons will be made with assemblages studied in other Florida lotic habitats.
Poster Session: (Student)

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