GRAPTEMYS GEOGRAPHICA : CONCERVATION CONCERNS

The Graptemys Geographica, commonly known as the northern map turtle, is a medium-sized
freshwater turtle broadly distributed in eastern and central North America. In Canada, its range is limited to
southwestern Qubec and southeastern Ontario. The Latin name geographica means map, and refers to the
lines on the carapace which resemble the lines on a map. The Graptemys Geographica is a strong example
of sexual size dimorphism (Gibbons and Lovich, 1990). Adult females measure up to 265 mm long, while
males only measure up to 130 mm (Bult and Blouin-Demers, 2009). The carapace of both sexes is brown
with yellow lines, but the patterns fade as the turtle ages.
Graptemys Geographica is a specialist predator, with its diet comprised of mollusks and insects
larvae (and sometimes aquatic invertebrates) (Lindeman, 2006). Zebra mussels have become a part of the
Northern map turtles diet (Bult and Blouin-Demers, 2008). Zebra mussels are not native to North America,
and are highly invasive. It has been documented that zebra mussel act as contaminants in aquatic food webs;
consumption by map turtles could increase the trophic transfer of contaminants (mercury) (Custer and
Custer, 2000).
Globally, GRANK ranks the northern map turtles as secure, but COSEWIC ranks the species as
special concern, as they may become a threatened or endangered because of a combination of biological
characteristics and identified threats. The Graptemys Geographica population is mostly threatened by
anthropogenic reasons. High levels of commercial (fishing) and recreational (canoeing, boating) activities
affect the population. As a result, mortality caused by collision with powerboats has been documented (Bult
et al., 2010). Bult examined 1317 Graptemys Geographica from the St-Lawrence Island National Park
(SLINP) and Lake Opinicon for propeller injuries. They found that 8.3% of the turtles from SLINP had
propeller scars compared to 3.8% in Lake Opinicon. Additionally powerboats disrupt basking behaviours
which potentially affects their energy budget. Graptemys Geographica is ectotherms so they need the
environment to regulation their body temperatures (Bult et al., 2010). Inland commercial bycatch issues are
relatively understudied in comparison to marine systems. Evidence of turtle bycatch mortality is seen
(Carrire, 2007). This turtle bycatch mortality is of particular concern, since seven of the eight species of
turtles in Ontario are considered at risk at the national level (COSEWIC, 2010). Another potential threat is
road kills, most of which are not well documented or studied. Adult female turtles often use the gravely or
sandy shoulder of roads to lay their eggs. Thus adult females are especially vulnerable to road mortality
during the nesting season (Steen et al., 2006). The Graptemys Geographica niche is in large lakes and rivers
with shallower microhabitats and underdeveloped shorelines. Development of the shorelines will hamper
their habitat and hibernation sites (Carrire, 2005).
Conservation of Graptemys Geographica is important as they keep the level of invasive Zebra
mussels low in the ecosystem. Initiatives to restrict both over-fishing and boat traffic should be taken. More
research involving road killings and commercial bycatch is needed, as these sectors remain understudied.
Global warming and climate change will likely affect the Graptemys population, as they hibernate in well
oxygenated water. Oxygen uptake during hibernation is enhanced by an increase in the affinity of blood for
oxygen at low temperatures. Temperature increases will create anoxic conditions that will limit their
distribution and affect mating (Bult et al., (2010). Human activities decrease the survivorship of adult
turtles, and in turn lead to important population declines. Graptemys Geographica are not only restricted by
range, but also have long life histories (high adult survivorship and long reproductive lifespans) (Bult et al.,
2010), which cause them to fair worse when faced with habitat loss.
River turtles help ecosystems function by maintaining food web dynamics (Carrire, 2005). The
importance of northern map turtles is underplayed; their long life-span, paired with their reliance on the
same water resources as humans make them good indicators of water quality. If turtles are impacted by poor
water quality, humans are likely affected too. Assessment of the northern map turtle, a protected species in
Canada, can essentially increase human populations.


References cited:
Steen, D. A. 2006. Relative vulnerability of female turtles to road mortality. Animal Conservation
9:269-273.
Bult, G., and G. Blouin-Demers. 2008. Northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica) derive
energy from the pelagic pathway through predation on zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha).
Freshwater Biology 53:497-508.
Carrire, M. A. 2005. Effects of commercial fishing traps on a map turtles population in
Thompsons bay, St-Lawrence River. in C. a. a. r. c. network, editor. Annual meeting of the
Canadian amphibian and reptile conservation network, Ottawa, ON
COSEWIC. 2002. Assessment and status report on the northern map turtle, Graptemys
geographica, in Canada. Committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Reese, S. A., C. E. Crocker, M. E. Carwile, D. C. Jackson, and G. R. Ultsch. 2001. The physiology
of hibernation in common map turtles (Graptemys geographica). Comparative Biochemistry and
Physiology a-Molecular and Integrative Physiology 130:331-34
Maginniss, L. A., S. A. Ekelund, and G. R. Ultsch. 2004. Blood oxygen transport in common map
turtles during simulated hibernation. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 77:232-241.
Dorcas, M. E., J. D. Wilson, and J. W. Gibbons. 2007. Crab trapping causes population decline and
demographic changes in diamondback terrapins over two decades. Biological Conservation:334-
340.