Population size and spatial ecology of Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in South March Highlands, Ottawa, Canada

Between 2010–2011, an arterial road was constructed within provincially significant wetlands in the South March Highlands (SMH) located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The wetlands and adjacent upland areas were determined to be sensitive habitat for Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) during the approval and permitting process and a population study was required as part of the road construction project. The study consisted of a four-year mark-and-recapture program and a movement study of radio-tagged adult turtles. General findings included the identification of 27 adult males and 55 females and a population estimate of 93 adults (95 % Cl; 86–118). A 1:2.32 male to female sex bias was also found. Mean home range size was 19.06 ha and tagged turtles moved on average more per observation in 2013 (191.40 m compared to 89.75 m and 123.04 m in 2011 and 2012, respectively). Previously reported differences in movement patterns between males, females, and gravid females were not observed. The SMH Blanding’s turtle population should be closely monitored as urban development continues in the area, which may further reduce the population size. Understanding the biology of imperiled populations across species ranges is necessary to promote conservation and adaptive wildlife management.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author