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.
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN
WORKING GROUP
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MEETING
Hosted by Turtle Survival Alliance and Georgia Southern University
Friday, November 5th
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
1
Schedule
2021 Southeast Regional Meeting of the
Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
—Virtual—
November 5, 2021
(All sessions are listed in Eastern Daylight Time)
Friday, November 5, 2021
5:00
Opening Remarks
JORDAN GRAY
North Carolina
5:05
Implementation of Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas as a Bycatch Reduction Strategy in the North
Carolina Blue Crab Fishery
JOE FACENDOLA
5:20
Assessment of the Impact of Gear Modifications on Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Bycatch in the
North Carolina Crab Fishery
BRETT WILSON
South Carolina
5:35
Sampling Biases During Long-Term Study of Diamondback Terrapins at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
KRISTEN CECALA
Georgia
5:50
Clear and Present Danger: Terrapin Mortality on the U.S. Highway 80 Causeway
JORDAN GRAY*
6:05
A Tybee Terrapin Tale: Recognizing the Need for Conservation and Education to Prevent Further Decline of
Local Diamondback Terrapin Populations
NIKE PAPPAS
6:20
Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah (TERPS): A 2021 Update
KATHRYN S. CRAVEN
6:35
Independent Loss of Cloacal Bursae and Age-dependent Surfacing Postures in Diamond-Backed Terrapins
(Malaclemys terrapin)
MEGAN WRIGHT
6:50
Evaluating Monitoring Methods to Detect Management Responses in Diamondback Terrapins
DANIELLE R. BRADKE
7:05
2021 Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Downing-Musgrove Causeway Conservation Program
JAMIE GAMBY
7:20
Research-informed Placement of a 1,000-foot Fence to Reduce Terrapin Mortality
DAVID ZAILO
7:35
Medical and Surgical Management of Traumatic Injuries in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin
carolina)
TERRY M. NORTON
Discussion and Q&A
7:50
Moderated by Jordan Gray
DBT
Closing Remarks
JORDAN GRAY
* Indicates proxy representation
2
ABSTRACTS
2021 Southeast Regional Meeting of the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
—Virtual—
November 5, 2021
Clear and Present Danger: Terrapin Mortality on the U.S. Highway 80 Causeway
CHANTAL AUDRAN1, NIKE PAPPAS2, JORDAN GRAY3, AND KATHRYN S. CRAVEN4
1Tybee Island Marine Science Center, Tybee Island, Georgia, 31328, USA
2College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
3Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, USA
4Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia, 31419, USA
[chantal@tybeemarinescience.org]
U.S. Highway 80 connects Wilmington Island, GA, and Tybee Island, GA, and laterally bisects Fort Pulaski
National Monument as a 9.6 km causeway. The Carolina Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin
centrata) utilizes the causeway’s shoulders, embankments, and adjacent man-made upland habitats for nesting
and dispersal between April-July. Adult female and juvenile (aged ~3-4 yrs.) terrapins are found to cross the
causeway from north to south and south to north. With overland movements by females and juveniles
coinciding with increased vehicular traffic of the late spring and summer months, the causeway is a source of
high annual terrapin mortality. The Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah and Tybee Island
Marine Science Center has since 2005 collected quantitative and qualitative data on terrapin activity and
mortality. Annually, 100-200 female and juvenile terrapins are fatal victims of auto strikes. In 2021, Chantal
Audran and Nike Pappas continued the data collection effort. The mobile application HuntWise™ continued to
be used as the primary method for recording GPS points, as well as a Beta version of TRAX - The Roadkill
App, an in-development product of Animex® Wildlife Fencing & Mitigation Solutions, was tested. In addition
to GPS data point collection, photo vouchers of each deceased terrapin were recorded at their point of origin, as
well as photographs taken of habitat adjacent to the north and south asphalt boundaries. To ensure terrapin
fatalities were not recounted, carcasses were collected and discarded at the time of data collection. In 2021, we
recorded 137 road mortalities including 73 females and 64 juveniles. Data collected in 2021 continues to
demonstrate the entire length of the causeway to be traversed by terrapins, resulting in terrapin-automobile
interactions. These annual interactions continue to pose a clear and present danger to both terrapins and
motorists utilizing the U.S. Highway 80 causeway corridor.
Evaluating Monitoring Methods to Detect Management Responses in Diamondback Terrapins
DANIELLE R. BRADKE1, BRIAN A. CRAWFORD2, JOHN C. MAERZ1
1 Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
2 Compass Resource Management, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6B 2M1, Canada
[danielle.bradke25@uga.edu]
Monitoring is fundamental to adaptive management; however, programs rarely evaluate the sensitivity of
monitoring approaches to detect population changes. The result can be high uncertainty about whether
management actions have been effective. This is particularly important when evaluating actions with high
uncertainty or for species with low detection. Among the key threats to diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys
terrapin) populations is bycatch mortality in commercial and recreational crab pots. The impact of crab fisheries
on terrapins has prompted states throughout the species’ range to consider bycatch reduction measures. Our
objective was to determine the likelihood that our current monitoring approach using manual seining of tidal
creeks would be sufficient to detect a true increase in terrapin survival over a 15-year period with the
implementation of bycatch reduction devices. We used a 10-year robust-design dataset of diamondback
3
terrapins captured via manual seining methods to develop a Bayesian model of annual survival, availability, and
capture probability. Using this model, we simulated 100 independent datasets assuming that monitoring was
conducted over 15 years and that crabbing regulations resulted in a 20% increase in mean terrapin survival. The
mean estimated effect on survival among all 100 data sets accurately reflected the true increase in survival;
however, survival increases were detected in only 28% of simulated datasets. In other words, current monitoring
methods would be relatively unlikely to detect a real management effect at a single site. Our results indicate that
monitoring bycatch reduction will require more than a few study sites or the use of more robust capture
methods. We discuss potential ways to integrate more monitoring approaches to increase the likelihood of
detecting bycatch reduction effects.
Sampling Biases During Long-Term Study of Diamondback Terrapins at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
KRISTEN CECALA1, PHILIP GOULD2, CRIS HAGEN3, AND WHIT GIBBONS4
1Department of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, 37383, USA
2School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 42310, USA
3Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, USA
4Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, 29802, USA
[kkcecala@sewanee.edu]
Long-term data are necessary for understanding the population dynamics of organisms, but even more so for
long-lived species like turtles. Recent modeling efforts have demonstrated that monitored populations should be
expected to decline due to biases associated with selecting sampling locations. Therefore, it should be
unsurprising that the methodology used to sample terrapins during long-term study may also be subject to
biases. Using the long-term dataset of diamondback terrapin captures at Kiawah Island using seines, we
evaluated environmental factors that may influence the detection of terrapins and potentially bias the
conclusions we may draw about the current status or trajectory of populations. Recent surveys on Kiawah Island
have detected far more young and new individuals than previous sampling, and environmental factors such as
tide amplitude and time of year significantly influence our ability to capture terrapins with seines. We are
optimistic that these data signal a potential recovery of terrapin populations at Kiawah Island, but more years of
data will be necessary to determine if this trend will continue. Furthermore, these data indicate that we should
interrogate our capture method for bias and carefully use that information to either adjust our methods or
incorporate additional modeling terms to provide more accurate estimates of ongoing population trends.
Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah (TERPS): A 2021 Update
KATHRYN S. CRAVEN1 AND JORDAN GRAY2
1 Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia, 31419, USA
2 Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, USA
[kcraven@georgiasouthern.edu]
The Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah (TERPS), based out of Georgia Southern University-
Armstrong Campus, has remained active during the pandemic and into the new normal. Although student
involvement was minimized until fall 2021, we continued with successful incubation and release efforts of
Carolina Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) eggs collected through eggectomy of deceased
roadkill females and inducement of injured females. Hatchlings are additionally transferred to Tybee Island
Marine Science Center and Oatland Island Wildlife Center for their head start and educational programs. Our
outreach went virtual and our collaborations stayed confident. Our next goal is to contribute to the
understanding of the local genetics of M. t. centrata inhabiting Fort Pulaski National Monument. Throughout
the summer of 2021, tissue samples were collected from salvaged roadkill specimens on U.S. Highway 80, a 9.6
km causeway connecting Wilmington and Tybee islands, Chatham County, GA. In particular, we have
questions about the genetic profiles of the different age classes of terrapins that cross the highway.
4
Implementation of Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas as a Bycatch Reduction Strategy in the
North Carolina Blue Crab Fishery
JOE FACENDOLA
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28405, USA
[Joe.Facendola@ncdenr.gov]
The issue of incidental capture of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in the North Carolina blue crab
(Callinectes sapidus) pot fishery was addressed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries in the May
2020 Revision to the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission
fisheries adopted a framework by which multiple and discrete Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas
(DTMAs) will be created, in which all crab pots fished within are required to use approved terrapin excluder
devices (BRD). Multiple factors were considered in development of this targeted bycatch reduction method,
such as: water depth and distance from shore, terrapin presence or absence, dimensions of the BRD, and the
season which fishing occurs. This management strategy was implemented as a focused means to offer
diamondback terrapin populations the greatest protection from bycatch mortality while having minimal
potential impacts to the statewide blue crab pot fishery. Using the criteria established in the framework, two
initial DTMAs totaling 16,419 acres have been created in waterbodies where commercial crab potting effort
occurs. Preliminary monitoring of terrapin populations in these management areas indicates truncated size
distributions when compared to a population in an area closed to crab potting. Ongoing long-term monitoring in
the DTMAs will be required to detect any changes in terrapin demography and to fully assess the efficacy of
this management strategy.
2021 Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Downing-Musgrove Causeway Conservation
Program
JAMIE GAMBY
Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island, Georgia, 31527, USA
[jgamby@jekyllisland.com]
The Downing-Musgrove Causeway (DMC) leading to Jekyll Island, Georgia, is a hot spot for nesting
diamondback terrapins, with road mortality and nest predation driving population declines. The Georgia Sea
Turtle Center (GSTC) has been monitoring the DMC for nesting diamondback terrapins since 2007. Road
surveys are conducted on the causeway mid-April through August. For the 2021 nesting season the GSTC
encountered 443 diamondback terrapins total with 69% alive and uninjured at time of encounter. Of the 443
terrapins encountered, 435 were females with 70% alive and uninjured. The GSTC provided medical care to 13
injured female terrapins and thus far have successfully released six. This on-going program utilizes a wide
range of strategies in an attempt to better conserve this species around Jekyll Island, GA.
Medical and Surgical Management of Traumatic Injuries in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys
terrapin carolina)
TERRY M. NORTON, RACHEL OVERMEYER, AND STEPHANIE STOWELL
Georgia Sea Turtle Center/Jekyll Island Authority, Department of Veterinary Services and Rehabilitation,
Jekyll Island, Georgia, 31527, USA
[tnorton@jekyllisland.com]
Approximately 200 to 300 Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin carolina) are hit by automobiles
annually on the Jekyll Island causeway. For those that survive, attention must be paid to emergency care,
development of a prognosis, diagnostic testing (radiographs) and supportive care. Initial stabilization typically
includes pain management, antimicrobials, and fluid therapy. Minimizing stress at this stage is critical.
Fractures and wounds should be gently cleaned and flushed with saline or dilute betadine or chlorhexidine.
Initial stabilization of shell fractures can be accomplished by using Steristrips and tissue glue, and various
5
bandaging materials. Oxygen therapy may be useful in some cases. Principles of wound care that are utilized on
other species should be followed including regular debridement and lavage. Topical wound care products that
have proven useful include Rediheal (Avalon Medical) with bone cement or tissue glue, Doxirobe gel
(Pharmacia & Upjohn Company), raw honey, Medi-honey (Derma Sciences), Buck Mountain wound balm, and
a variety of silver-based products. Traumatic injuries that pull the skin away from the shell can be difficult to
manage. Some innovative methods have been used to repair these types of wounds. Bra hooks are adhered to
the shell using epoxy cement and then the skin is sutured to the hooks. Vacuum Assisted Wound care has been
successfully used for some wounds. Therapeutic laser therapy decreases the overall healing time. Most shell
fractures are stabilized with screws and wires with marine epoxy putty placed over top providing waterproofing
and further stability. Since most terrapins are in the process of nesting when they are hit, a high percentage still
have eggs in their oviducts. Managing egg laying is a critical part of the rehabilitation process. A combination
of fluids, calcium, prostaglandins, and oxytocin are used to induce oviposition. Some causes of dystocia include
pelvic fractures, eggs in the urinary bladder or coelomic cavity, and malposition of an egg at the pelvic inlet.
Intervention may include lubrication of the cloaca and manual removal of the egg, aspiration of the egg contents
with a needle if it can be visualized through the cloaca, and in some cases surgical removal of the eggs.
A Tybee Terrapin Tale: Recognizing the Need for Conservation and Education to Prevent Further
Decline of Local Diamondback Terrapin Populations
NIKE PAPPAS AND NICK FUHRMAN
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
[nikepappas@me.com]
Although the public is often exposed to wildlife, including turtles, through unplanned encounters on roads, little
is known about the public’s general knowledge about turtles. Also, little is also known about people’s
perceptions of wildlife fences to prevent turtle strikes. The researcher and professor created two separate online
instruments, the first identified the current knowledge level of citizens living along coastal Georgia regarding
turtles. The second was created based on the findings from the first instrument which showed most people have
a low level of knowledge regarding turtles or the species diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) but have
a positive attitude towards assisting turtles. The second survey measured participant’s perceptions towards a
wildlife fence preventing diamondback terrapin from vehicle strikes and revealed that most participants have a
positive perception of wildlife fences. Due to the findings of the two instruments, it is recommended that local
organizations collaborate to test fencing along terrapin vehicle strike hotspots and that educational campaigns
build turtle knowledge in those living along coastal Georgia.
Assessment of the Impact of Gear Modifications on Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Bycatch
in the North Carolina Crab Fishery
BRETT WILSON1, AMANDA SOUTHWOOD WILLIARD1, JOE FACENDOLA2
1University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28403, USA
2 North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28405, USA
[bmw3952@uncw.edu]
The Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is listed as a species of “special concern” by the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and faces a number of threats including loss of nesting
habitat, road mortality, and incidental bycatch in recreational fishing gear. Range wide efforts to reduce terrapin
bycatch by fitting bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) to the funnel openings on crab pots have typically been
met with strong resistance by crabbers due to perceived reductions in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) catch
rates. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (NCMFC) and North Carolina Division of Marine
Fisheries (NCDMF) have created two Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas (DTMAs) in which BRDs are
required in order to protect terrapins, but the need to explore alternative gear modifications that exclude
terrapins while minimizing impacts to blue crab catch has been acknowledged. North Carolina crabbers have
6
proposed new gear modifications that narrow the pot funnel entry without a need for a BRD fitted over the
funnel opening, and this novel approach may have less impact on crab entry behavior. Fisheries-independent
experimental field trials were conducted from May 2021 – September 2021 with traditional crab pots (control),
a “reinforced” funnel, and a narrow funnel. Pots were set in a triplicate design, with 5-10 triplicates deployed at
multiple sites, including the two DTMAs. All crab pots were modified with wire chimneys to insure that
captured terrapins had access to air throughout the tidal cycle. Out of 65 terrapin captures, 10 and 19 captures
were in the narrow and reinforced designs, respectively. Preliminary data suggests that the narrow funnel design
effectively excludes adult females, but adult males and juvenile females/males are susceptible to incidental
bycatch. An ongoing fisheries-dependent phase will be used to assess the impacts of these novel designs on
blue crab catch rates in a commercial setting, and genetic studies will be conducted to assess terrapin population
structure in Southeastern North Carolina. Industry sourced bycatch reduction designs have the potential to lead
to broadly acceptable solutions to the problem of terrapin bycatch in the blue crab fishery, but must continue to
be rigorously tested in the field before approval.
Independent Loss of Cloacal Bursae and Age-dependent Surfacing Postures in Diamond-Backed
Terrapins (Chelonia: Emydidae: Malaclemys terrapin)
JADYN M. SETHNA 1,4, OLLIE SHINN1,4, MEGAN WRIGHT1,4, SAM RIVERA2, ALLAN P. PESSIER3, AND JOSEPH
R. MENDELSON III1, 2
1School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA
2Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, 30315, USA
3Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington,
99164, USA
4These authors contributed equally to the project; listed alphabetically
[mwright87@gatech.edu]
Malaclemys terrapin is a species of turtle that lives in brackish waters along the eastern coast of the United
States from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Corpus Christi, Texas. We documented distinctive underwater
postures during surfacing in hatchling versus individuals after one year (yearlings). Hatchlings approached the
water’s surface in horizontal postures, while yearlings approached in a vertical posture. Because one function of
cloacal bursae is to control buoyancy in freshwater turtles, we investigated their potential role in determining
surface postures. We discovered that cloacal bursae are absent in M. terrapin, and thus, we attribute this
absence to the osmoregulatory challenges presented by the brackish habitats of this species. We posit that the
horizontal postures in the hatchlings create a broader visual target to both aerial and aquatic predators and that
the younger turtles likely do not have the strength, muscle mass, lung-volume coordination, or sufficient
carapacial bone density to adopt the visually streamlined vertical posture at the surface.
Research-informed Placement of a 1,000-foot Fence to Reduce Terrapin Mortality
DAVID ZAILO1 AND STEVE BÉGA2
1Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island, Georgia, 31527, USA
2Animex International HQ, Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9FX, United Kingdom
[dzailo@jekyllisland.com; steve@animexinternational.com]
Terrapin populations around Jekyll Island, GA, have been a focus of significant research and conservation
action since 2007; coinciding with the opening of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and research collaborations
with the University of Georgia and other partners. The Downing-Musgrove Causeway (DMC), which connects
Brunswick, GA, to Jekyll Island, GA, bisects salt-marsh in the form of a ~8.7 km causeway. This causeway
serves as an attractive nesting area for female diamondback terrapins; however, road mortality of adult female
terrapins is predicted to be contributing to population decline. To combat such this, the Jekyll Island Authority
is partnering with Animex® to install two 1,000-linear foot sections of customizable, ~51 cm height semi-
permanent fencing in winter of 2022 prior to the start of nesting forays. We chose the location for future
7
placement after examining 14-years of road crossing data. Since monitoring began in 2007, over 4,000
diamondback terrapin road crossing attempts have been documented along the DMC. The fencing in our
proposed ‘hot spot’ location is the most active documented location for road crossing along the DMC. The area
within and around the proposed location is responsible for ~25% of known encounters along the DMC. It is our
hope that this proposed management action will result in considerable benefits to the diamondback terrapin
populations around Jekyll Island, GA, and will serve as a resilient, repeatable regime that will benefit imperiled
wildlife.
Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
Southeast Regional Meeting Zoom Invitation Link
Jordan Gray - Turtle Survival Alliance is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: DTWG Southeast Regional Meeting
Time: Nov 5, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82997644268?pwd=R1NwNG5MMlg0NDZCbkRKS1UxSTlYZz09
Meeting ID: 829 9764 4268
Passcode: TERPS
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,82997644268#,,,,*968269# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,82997644268#,,,,*968269# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 829 9764 4268
Passcode: 968269
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kLRqQT1m4
WORKING GROUP
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MEETING
Hosted by Turtle Survival Alliance and Georgia Southern University
Friday, November 5th
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
1
Schedule
2021 Southeast Regional Meeting of the
Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
—Virtual—
November 5, 2021
(All sessions are listed in Eastern Daylight Time)
Friday, November 5, 2021
5:00
Opening Remarks
JORDAN GRAY
North Carolina
5:05
Implementation of Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas as a Bycatch Reduction Strategy in the North
Carolina Blue Crab Fishery
JOE FACENDOLA
5:20
Assessment of the Impact of Gear Modifications on Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Bycatch in the
North Carolina Crab Fishery
BRETT WILSON
South Carolina
5:35
Sampling Biases During Long-Term Study of Diamondback Terrapins at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
KRISTEN CECALA
Georgia
5:50
Clear and Present Danger: Terrapin Mortality on the U.S. Highway 80 Causeway
JORDAN GRAY*
6:05
A Tybee Terrapin Tale: Recognizing the Need for Conservation and Education to Prevent Further Decline of
Local Diamondback Terrapin Populations
NIKE PAPPAS
6:20
Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah (TERPS): A 2021 Update
KATHRYN S. CRAVEN
6:35
Independent Loss of Cloacal Bursae and Age-dependent Surfacing Postures in Diamond-Backed Terrapins
(Malaclemys terrapin)
MEGAN WRIGHT
6:50
Evaluating Monitoring Methods to Detect Management Responses in Diamondback Terrapins
DANIELLE R. BRADKE
7:05
2021 Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Downing-Musgrove Causeway Conservation Program
JAMIE GAMBY
7:20
Research-informed Placement of a 1,000-foot Fence to Reduce Terrapin Mortality
DAVID ZAILO
7:35
Medical and Surgical Management of Traumatic Injuries in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin
carolina)
TERRY M. NORTON
Discussion and Q&A
7:50
Moderated by Jordan Gray
DBT
Closing Remarks
JORDAN GRAY
* Indicates proxy representation
2
ABSTRACTS
2021 Southeast Regional Meeting of the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
—Virtual—
November 5, 2021
Clear and Present Danger: Terrapin Mortality on the U.S. Highway 80 Causeway
CHANTAL AUDRAN1, NIKE PAPPAS2, JORDAN GRAY3, AND KATHRYN S. CRAVEN4
1Tybee Island Marine Science Center, Tybee Island, Georgia, 31328, USA
2College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
3Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, USA
4Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia, 31419, USA
[chantal@tybeemarinescience.org]
U.S. Highway 80 connects Wilmington Island, GA, and Tybee Island, GA, and laterally bisects Fort Pulaski
National Monument as a 9.6 km causeway. The Carolina Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin
centrata) utilizes the causeway’s shoulders, embankments, and adjacent man-made upland habitats for nesting
and dispersal between April-July. Adult female and juvenile (aged ~3-4 yrs.) terrapins are found to cross the
causeway from north to south and south to north. With overland movements by females and juveniles
coinciding with increased vehicular traffic of the late spring and summer months, the causeway is a source of
high annual terrapin mortality. The Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah and Tybee Island
Marine Science Center has since 2005 collected quantitative and qualitative data on terrapin activity and
mortality. Annually, 100-200 female and juvenile terrapins are fatal victims of auto strikes. In 2021, Chantal
Audran and Nike Pappas continued the data collection effort. The mobile application HuntWise™ continued to
be used as the primary method for recording GPS points, as well as a Beta version of TRAX - The Roadkill
App, an in-development product of Animex® Wildlife Fencing & Mitigation Solutions, was tested. In addition
to GPS data point collection, photo vouchers of each deceased terrapin were recorded at their point of origin, as
well as photographs taken of habitat adjacent to the north and south asphalt boundaries. To ensure terrapin
fatalities were not recounted, carcasses were collected and discarded at the time of data collection. In 2021, we
recorded 137 road mortalities including 73 females and 64 juveniles. Data collected in 2021 continues to
demonstrate the entire length of the causeway to be traversed by terrapins, resulting in terrapin-automobile
interactions. These annual interactions continue to pose a clear and present danger to both terrapins and
motorists utilizing the U.S. Highway 80 causeway corridor.
Evaluating Monitoring Methods to Detect Management Responses in Diamondback Terrapins
DANIELLE R. BRADKE1, BRIAN A. CRAWFORD2, JOHN C. MAERZ1
1 Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
2 Compass Resource Management, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6B 2M1, Canada
[danielle.bradke25@uga.edu]
Monitoring is fundamental to adaptive management; however, programs rarely evaluate the sensitivity of
monitoring approaches to detect population changes. The result can be high uncertainty about whether
management actions have been effective. This is particularly important when evaluating actions with high
uncertainty or for species with low detection. Among the key threats to diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys
terrapin) populations is bycatch mortality in commercial and recreational crab pots. The impact of crab fisheries
on terrapins has prompted states throughout the species’ range to consider bycatch reduction measures. Our
objective was to determine the likelihood that our current monitoring approach using manual seining of tidal
creeks would be sufficient to detect a true increase in terrapin survival over a 15-year period with the
implementation of bycatch reduction devices. We used a 10-year robust-design dataset of diamondback
3
terrapins captured via manual seining methods to develop a Bayesian model of annual survival, availability, and
capture probability. Using this model, we simulated 100 independent datasets assuming that monitoring was
conducted over 15 years and that crabbing regulations resulted in a 20% increase in mean terrapin survival. The
mean estimated effect on survival among all 100 data sets accurately reflected the true increase in survival;
however, survival increases were detected in only 28% of simulated datasets. In other words, current monitoring
methods would be relatively unlikely to detect a real management effect at a single site. Our results indicate that
monitoring bycatch reduction will require more than a few study sites or the use of more robust capture
methods. We discuss potential ways to integrate more monitoring approaches to increase the likelihood of
detecting bycatch reduction effects.
Sampling Biases During Long-Term Study of Diamondback Terrapins at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
KRISTEN CECALA1, PHILIP GOULD2, CRIS HAGEN3, AND WHIT GIBBONS4
1Department of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, 37383, USA
2School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 42310, USA
3Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, USA
4Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, 29802, USA
[kkcecala@sewanee.edu]
Long-term data are necessary for understanding the population dynamics of organisms, but even more so for
long-lived species like turtles. Recent modeling efforts have demonstrated that monitored populations should be
expected to decline due to biases associated with selecting sampling locations. Therefore, it should be
unsurprising that the methodology used to sample terrapins during long-term study may also be subject to
biases. Using the long-term dataset of diamondback terrapin captures at Kiawah Island using seines, we
evaluated environmental factors that may influence the detection of terrapins and potentially bias the
conclusions we may draw about the current status or trajectory of populations. Recent surveys on Kiawah Island
have detected far more young and new individuals than previous sampling, and environmental factors such as
tide amplitude and time of year significantly influence our ability to capture terrapins with seines. We are
optimistic that these data signal a potential recovery of terrapin populations at Kiawah Island, but more years of
data will be necessary to determine if this trend will continue. Furthermore, these data indicate that we should
interrogate our capture method for bias and carefully use that information to either adjust our methods or
incorporate additional modeling terms to provide more accurate estimates of ongoing population trends.
Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah (TERPS): A 2021 Update
KATHRYN S. CRAVEN1 AND JORDAN GRAY2
1 Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia, 31419, USA
2 Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, USA
[kcraven@georgiasouthern.edu]
The Terrapin Educational Research Program of Savannah (TERPS), based out of Georgia Southern University-
Armstrong Campus, has remained active during the pandemic and into the new normal. Although student
involvement was minimized until fall 2021, we continued with successful incubation and release efforts of
Carolina Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) eggs collected through eggectomy of deceased
roadkill females and inducement of injured females. Hatchlings are additionally transferred to Tybee Island
Marine Science Center and Oatland Island Wildlife Center for their head start and educational programs. Our
outreach went virtual and our collaborations stayed confident. Our next goal is to contribute to the
understanding of the local genetics of M. t. centrata inhabiting Fort Pulaski National Monument. Throughout
the summer of 2021, tissue samples were collected from salvaged roadkill specimens on U.S. Highway 80, a 9.6
km causeway connecting Wilmington and Tybee islands, Chatham County, GA. In particular, we have
questions about the genetic profiles of the different age classes of terrapins that cross the highway.
4
Implementation of Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas as a Bycatch Reduction Strategy in the
North Carolina Blue Crab Fishery
JOE FACENDOLA
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28405, USA
[Joe.Facendola@ncdenr.gov]
The issue of incidental capture of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in the North Carolina blue crab
(Callinectes sapidus) pot fishery was addressed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries in the May
2020 Revision to the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission
fisheries adopted a framework by which multiple and discrete Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas
(DTMAs) will be created, in which all crab pots fished within are required to use approved terrapin excluder
devices (BRD). Multiple factors were considered in development of this targeted bycatch reduction method,
such as: water depth and distance from shore, terrapin presence or absence, dimensions of the BRD, and the
season which fishing occurs. This management strategy was implemented as a focused means to offer
diamondback terrapin populations the greatest protection from bycatch mortality while having minimal
potential impacts to the statewide blue crab pot fishery. Using the criteria established in the framework, two
initial DTMAs totaling 16,419 acres have been created in waterbodies where commercial crab potting effort
occurs. Preliminary monitoring of terrapin populations in these management areas indicates truncated size
distributions when compared to a population in an area closed to crab potting. Ongoing long-term monitoring in
the DTMAs will be required to detect any changes in terrapin demography and to fully assess the efficacy of
this management strategy.
2021 Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Downing-Musgrove Causeway Conservation
Program
JAMIE GAMBY
Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island, Georgia, 31527, USA
[jgamby@jekyllisland.com]
The Downing-Musgrove Causeway (DMC) leading to Jekyll Island, Georgia, is a hot spot for nesting
diamondback terrapins, with road mortality and nest predation driving population declines. The Georgia Sea
Turtle Center (GSTC) has been monitoring the DMC for nesting diamondback terrapins since 2007. Road
surveys are conducted on the causeway mid-April through August. For the 2021 nesting season the GSTC
encountered 443 diamondback terrapins total with 69% alive and uninjured at time of encounter. Of the 443
terrapins encountered, 435 were females with 70% alive and uninjured. The GSTC provided medical care to 13
injured female terrapins and thus far have successfully released six. This on-going program utilizes a wide
range of strategies in an attempt to better conserve this species around Jekyll Island, GA.
Medical and Surgical Management of Traumatic Injuries in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys
terrapin carolina)
TERRY M. NORTON, RACHEL OVERMEYER, AND STEPHANIE STOWELL
Georgia Sea Turtle Center/Jekyll Island Authority, Department of Veterinary Services and Rehabilitation,
Jekyll Island, Georgia, 31527, USA
[tnorton@jekyllisland.com]
Approximately 200 to 300 Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin carolina) are hit by automobiles
annually on the Jekyll Island causeway. For those that survive, attention must be paid to emergency care,
development of a prognosis, diagnostic testing (radiographs) and supportive care. Initial stabilization typically
includes pain management, antimicrobials, and fluid therapy. Minimizing stress at this stage is critical.
Fractures and wounds should be gently cleaned and flushed with saline or dilute betadine or chlorhexidine.
Initial stabilization of shell fractures can be accomplished by using Steristrips and tissue glue, and various
5
bandaging materials. Oxygen therapy may be useful in some cases. Principles of wound care that are utilized on
other species should be followed including regular debridement and lavage. Topical wound care products that
have proven useful include Rediheal (Avalon Medical) with bone cement or tissue glue, Doxirobe gel
(Pharmacia & Upjohn Company), raw honey, Medi-honey (Derma Sciences), Buck Mountain wound balm, and
a variety of silver-based products. Traumatic injuries that pull the skin away from the shell can be difficult to
manage. Some innovative methods have been used to repair these types of wounds. Bra hooks are adhered to
the shell using epoxy cement and then the skin is sutured to the hooks. Vacuum Assisted Wound care has been
successfully used for some wounds. Therapeutic laser therapy decreases the overall healing time. Most shell
fractures are stabilized with screws and wires with marine epoxy putty placed over top providing waterproofing
and further stability. Since most terrapins are in the process of nesting when they are hit, a high percentage still
have eggs in their oviducts. Managing egg laying is a critical part of the rehabilitation process. A combination
of fluids, calcium, prostaglandins, and oxytocin are used to induce oviposition. Some causes of dystocia include
pelvic fractures, eggs in the urinary bladder or coelomic cavity, and malposition of an egg at the pelvic inlet.
Intervention may include lubrication of the cloaca and manual removal of the egg, aspiration of the egg contents
with a needle if it can be visualized through the cloaca, and in some cases surgical removal of the eggs.
A Tybee Terrapin Tale: Recognizing the Need for Conservation and Education to Prevent Further
Decline of Local Diamondback Terrapin Populations
NIKE PAPPAS AND NICK FUHRMAN
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
[nikepappas@me.com]
Although the public is often exposed to wildlife, including turtles, through unplanned encounters on roads, little
is known about the public’s general knowledge about turtles. Also, little is also known about people’s
perceptions of wildlife fences to prevent turtle strikes. The researcher and professor created two separate online
instruments, the first identified the current knowledge level of citizens living along coastal Georgia regarding
turtles. The second was created based on the findings from the first instrument which showed most people have
a low level of knowledge regarding turtles or the species diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) but have
a positive attitude towards assisting turtles. The second survey measured participant’s perceptions towards a
wildlife fence preventing diamondback terrapin from vehicle strikes and revealed that most participants have a
positive perception of wildlife fences. Due to the findings of the two instruments, it is recommended that local
organizations collaborate to test fencing along terrapin vehicle strike hotspots and that educational campaigns
build turtle knowledge in those living along coastal Georgia.
Assessment of the Impact of Gear Modifications on Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Bycatch
in the North Carolina Crab Fishery
BRETT WILSON1, AMANDA SOUTHWOOD WILLIARD1, JOE FACENDOLA2
1University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28403, USA
2 North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28405, USA
[bmw3952@uncw.edu]
The Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is listed as a species of “special concern” by the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and faces a number of threats including loss of nesting
habitat, road mortality, and incidental bycatch in recreational fishing gear. Range wide efforts to reduce terrapin
bycatch by fitting bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) to the funnel openings on crab pots have typically been
met with strong resistance by crabbers due to perceived reductions in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) catch
rates. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (NCMFC) and North Carolina Division of Marine
Fisheries (NCDMF) have created two Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas (DTMAs) in which BRDs are
required in order to protect terrapins, but the need to explore alternative gear modifications that exclude
terrapins while minimizing impacts to blue crab catch has been acknowledged. North Carolina crabbers have
6
proposed new gear modifications that narrow the pot funnel entry without a need for a BRD fitted over the
funnel opening, and this novel approach may have less impact on crab entry behavior. Fisheries-independent
experimental field trials were conducted from May 2021 – September 2021 with traditional crab pots (control),
a “reinforced” funnel, and a narrow funnel. Pots were set in a triplicate design, with 5-10 triplicates deployed at
multiple sites, including the two DTMAs. All crab pots were modified with wire chimneys to insure that
captured terrapins had access to air throughout the tidal cycle. Out of 65 terrapin captures, 10 and 19 captures
were in the narrow and reinforced designs, respectively. Preliminary data suggests that the narrow funnel design
effectively excludes adult females, but adult males and juvenile females/males are susceptible to incidental
bycatch. An ongoing fisheries-dependent phase will be used to assess the impacts of these novel designs on
blue crab catch rates in a commercial setting, and genetic studies will be conducted to assess terrapin population
structure in Southeastern North Carolina. Industry sourced bycatch reduction designs have the potential to lead
to broadly acceptable solutions to the problem of terrapin bycatch in the blue crab fishery, but must continue to
be rigorously tested in the field before approval.
Independent Loss of Cloacal Bursae and Age-dependent Surfacing Postures in Diamond-Backed
Terrapins (Chelonia: Emydidae: Malaclemys terrapin)
JADYN M. SETHNA 1,4, OLLIE SHINN1,4, MEGAN WRIGHT1,4, SAM RIVERA2, ALLAN P. PESSIER3, AND JOSEPH
R. MENDELSON III1, 2
1School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA
2Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, 30315, USA
3Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington,
99164, USA
4These authors contributed equally to the project; listed alphabetically
[mwright87@gatech.edu]
Malaclemys terrapin is a species of turtle that lives in brackish waters along the eastern coast of the United
States from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Corpus Christi, Texas. We documented distinctive underwater
postures during surfacing in hatchling versus individuals after one year (yearlings). Hatchlings approached the
water’s surface in horizontal postures, while yearlings approached in a vertical posture. Because one function of
cloacal bursae is to control buoyancy in freshwater turtles, we investigated their potential role in determining
surface postures. We discovered that cloacal bursae are absent in M. terrapin, and thus, we attribute this
absence to the osmoregulatory challenges presented by the brackish habitats of this species. We posit that the
horizontal postures in the hatchlings create a broader visual target to both aerial and aquatic predators and that
the younger turtles likely do not have the strength, muscle mass, lung-volume coordination, or sufficient
carapacial bone density to adopt the visually streamlined vertical posture at the surface.
Research-informed Placement of a 1,000-foot Fence to Reduce Terrapin Mortality
DAVID ZAILO1 AND STEVE BÉGA2
1Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island, Georgia, 31527, USA
2Animex International HQ, Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9FX, United Kingdom
[dzailo@jekyllisland.com; steve@animexinternational.com]
Terrapin populations around Jekyll Island, GA, have been a focus of significant research and conservation
action since 2007; coinciding with the opening of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and research collaborations
with the University of Georgia and other partners. The Downing-Musgrove Causeway (DMC), which connects
Brunswick, GA, to Jekyll Island, GA, bisects salt-marsh in the form of a ~8.7 km causeway. This causeway
serves as an attractive nesting area for female diamondback terrapins; however, road mortality of adult female
terrapins is predicted to be contributing to population decline. To combat such this, the Jekyll Island Authority
is partnering with Animex® to install two 1,000-linear foot sections of customizable, ~51 cm height semi-
permanent fencing in winter of 2022 prior to the start of nesting forays. We chose the location for future
7
placement after examining 14-years of road crossing data. Since monitoring began in 2007, over 4,000
diamondback terrapin road crossing attempts have been documented along the DMC. The fencing in our
proposed ‘hot spot’ location is the most active documented location for road crossing along the DMC. The area
within and around the proposed location is responsible for ~25% of known encounters along the DMC. It is our
hope that this proposed management action will result in considerable benefits to the diamondback terrapin
populations around Jekyll Island, GA, and will serve as a resilient, repeatable regime that will benefit imperiled
wildlife.
Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
Southeast Regional Meeting Zoom Invitation Link
Jordan Gray - Turtle Survival Alliance is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: DTWG Southeast Regional Meeting
Time: Nov 5, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82997644268?pwd=R1NwNG5MMlg0NDZCbkRKS1UxSTlYZz09
Meeting ID: 829 9764 4268
Passcode: TERPS
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,82997644268#,,,,*968269# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,82997644268#,,,,*968269# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 829 9764 4268
Passcode: 968269
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kLRqQT1m4