Ecological Notes on the Turtle Clemmys insculpta in Northwestern New Jersey

An intensive ecological study of the wood turtle, Clemmys insculpta, was conducted in northwestern New Jersey from 1978-1981. Population density averaged 10.7 turtles/ha over all years. Nearly half (45.5%) of the population consisted of adults >140 mm in plastron length. The adult female-to-male ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. Secondary sexual differences became apparent in the ninth year, but maturity was not attained until the 14th year. While there was little difference in plastron length of adult males and females, males had longer carapaces than females of the same age. Plastral growth decreased from 84% in the first year to 2.3% in the sixth year, but showed an increase to 9.2 and 10.3% in years eight and nine. Since the ratio of abdominal scute to plastron length varied between captures, the use of abdominal scute length to estimate plastron length in Clemmys insculpta seems inappropriate. Courtship and mating occurred in the spring and fall. Females nested in June on elevated, well-drained, fully exposed sites near the stream. Clutch size averaged 8.5 and emergence of hatchlings occurred 70-71 days after nesting. Wood turtles were primarily diurnal throughout the year, but some courtship and nesting activity continued after dark. Estivation did not occur in the field; aquatic hibernation lasted from late November through early March. From May to October wood turtles assumed a solitary, terrestrial life style. Cloacal temperature was more closely correlated with substrate and water temperature than with air temperature. Comparison of temperatures among all activities showed that cloacal temperatures of turtles basking or moving on land were significantly higher than those of turtles found in water. Basking turtles accounted for 45.8% of all captures. Over the four year study period 16.8% of all turtles were found with injuries attributed primarily to raccoons (Procyon lotor). Almost 90% of all animals captured in early