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About Turtle Survival Alliance
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) was formed in 2001 as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnership for sustainable captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises, and initially designated a Task Force of the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. The TSA arose in response to the rampant and unsustainable harvest of Asian turtle populations to supply Chinese markets, a situation known as the Asian Turtle Crisis.
Since forming, the TSA has become recognized as a global force for turtle conservation, capable of taking swift and decisive action on behalf of critically endangered turtles and tortoises. Although the TSA was organized in response to the Asian Turtle Crisis, the group has been expanded as our understanding of the scope of turtle and tortoise declines has become better understood. The TSA has been particularly involved in recovery efforts where a managed breeding component is part of an overall survival strategy. The TSA employs a comprehensive strategy for evaluating the most critically endangered chelonians that identifies whether a species is prioritized for a captive program or through range country efforts, or a combination of both.
In the past 13 years, TSA secured nonprofit 501(c)(3) status (2005) and has centralized its base operations in South Carolina by opening the Turtle Survival Center (2013). The Turtle Survival Center, which now has AZA certification (2018), is home to a collection of more than 700 turtles and tortoises, representing 30 of the world’s critically endangered species. The TSA has also grown internationally, with significant field projects or programs in Madagascar, Myanmar and India, and additional projects in Belize, Colombia, and throughout Asia.
Today, the TSA is an action-oriented global partnership, focusing on species that are at high risk of extinction, and working in turtle diversity hotspots around the world. Widely recognized as a global catalyst for turtle conservation based on its reputation for swift and decisive action, the TSA has made a bold commitment to zero turtle extinctions in the 21st Century. The TSA is a recognized force for turtle conservation globally. TSA’s conservation actions utilize a three-pronged approach:
1. Restoring populations in the wild where possible;
2. Securing species in captivity through assurance colonies; and
3. Building the capacity to restore, secure and conserve species within their range country.
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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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