Whitmer Morgan, Pinnix Elizabeth, Finn Sarah, Jarvis Jessie, Sutton Hope, Williard Amanda Southwood
University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington North Carolina USA.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Raleigh North Carolina USA.
Ecol Evol. 2025 Jun 17;15(6):e71526. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71526. eCollection 2025 Jun.
The diamond-backed terrapin ( Schoepff, 1793) is an elusive species that is difficult to study due to its semi-aquatic nature and a lack of specific information about where populations occur. The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with diamond-backed terrapin sightings at two estuarine monitoring sites in North Carolina using data collected via community science head count surveys. Incorporating community scientists into long-term ecological studies allows researchers to increase the scope of data collection while engaging community members in conservation efforts for species of concern. Diamond-backed terrapin sighting data were used as the response variable in binomial models that included time of day, air temperature, habitat type, season, and distance from the nearest possible nesting location as explanatory variables. Diamond-backed terrapins were significantly more likely to be sighted during morning surveys and during Spring compared with Fall at both study sites. There was a negative correlation between air temperature and diamond-backed terrapin sightings. At one of the two study sites, there was a positive correlation between distance from the nearest possible nesting beach and diamond-backed terrapin sightings, and diamond-backed terrapins were significantly more likely to be sighted in aquatic habitats with mud substrate. Spatial and temporal patterns in diamond-backed terrapin sightings may be influenced by foraging patterns and behaviors associated with thermal and osmotic regulation, as well as environmental conditions that affect detectability. The results of this study lay the groundwork for additional studies of diamond-backed terrapin presence and abundance at our study sites, expansion of survey efforts into different regions, and broader efforts to assess population responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors in this salt marsh species.
菱斑龟（Schoepff，1793年）是一种难以捉摸的物种，由于其半水生习性以及缺乏关于种群分布地点的具体信息，很难对其进行研究。本研究的目的是利用通过社区科学点数调查收集的数据，评估北卡罗来纳州两个河口监测点与菱斑龟目击情况相关的因素。将社区科学家纳入长期生态研究，使研究人员能够扩大数据收集范围，同时让社区成员参与到对相关物种的保护工作中。菱斑龟目击数据被用作二项式模型中的响应变量，该模型将一天中的时间、气温、栖息地类型、季节以及与最近可能筑巢地点的距离作为解释变量。在两个研究地点，与秋季相比，菱斑龟在春季的早晨调查期间被目击的可能性显著更高。气温与菱斑龟目击情况之间存在负相关。在两个研究地点中的一个，与最近可能筑巢海滩的距离与菱斑龟目击情况之间存在正相关，并且菱斑龟在有泥质底质的水生生境中被目击的可能性显著更高。菱斑龟目击情况的时空模式可能受到觅食模式以及与热调节和渗透调节相关的行为的影响，以及影响可探测性的环境条件的影响。本研究的结果为在我们的研究地点进一步研究菱斑龟的存在和数量、将调查工作扩展到不同地区以及更广泛地评估该盐沼物种对环境和人为压力源的种群反应奠定了基础。
