Effects of Hurricane Agnes on a Painted Turtle Population

Comparisons of preand post-Hurricane Agnes size, age structures, sex and juvenile-adult ratios were made on a population of Chrysemys picta to determine the effects of hurricane flooding. Flooding of nesting sites in June, 1972 resulted in small juveniles not being incorporated into the population. This caused shifts in size and age-class percentages which favored adults. Habitat destruction forced turtles into more shallow areas and predation on adults increased.