The First Turtle Survey Of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Reveals More Than Mermaids

During a survey of turtles in Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Florida, USA, in March 2015, we captured, marked, and released 182 turtles representing 11 species, including Florida Softshell (Apalone ferox), Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Florida Chicken Turtle (Dierochelys reticularia), Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii), Suwannee River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), Florida Red-bellied Cooter (P. nelsoni), Peninsula Cooter (P. peninsularis), Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), Loggerhead Musk Turtle (S. minor), Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), and Yellow-bellied Slider (T. s. scripta). Five of these (A. ferox, P. nelsoni, S. minor, T. s. elegans, T. s. scripta) are new county records. The most abundant species was S. odoratus with 101 individuals captured and a relative abundance of 55.49. Among the three Pseudemys species, the presence of P. c. suwanniensis is important, since this is a species of special concern in Florida. Weeki Wachee Springs had the highest species richness (11 species) and the second highest diversity (H’ = 1.34) of turtles among five Florida springs we surveyed