Seasonal and Annual Movements of Riverine Map Turtles, Graptemys geographica

Abstract

Annual and seasonal movement patterns of map turtles were determined along 6600 m of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, Pennsylvania, over 5 years. Annual movement patterns included: (1) late spring and summer movement, primarily by males, upstream from a deep, slow area and return downstream to it in late summer; (2) late spring downstream movement, mainly by males, from the deep, slow area and upstream return to it in late summer; and (3) confinement to small areas along the river. High water appeared to inhibit normal upstream movement and enhance downstream movement. Move- ment of juveniles was mainly downstream and that of gravid females upstream; movement patterns of most females were unclear. Males, females, and juveniles showed no significant differences between distances between successive captures within years. Several long distance movements over short time spans were recorded; the highest was 1457.5 m/day. Over the years, range lengths of males were significantly greater than those of females.