Distribution and Habitat Associations of the Western Chicken Turtle in Texas

Chicken Turtle Reporting Tool

Purpose/Objectives

The primary objectives for this study were to:

1. Conduct surveys utilizing various methods at sites representative of all habitat types within the western chicken turtle’s range in Texas.
2. Estimate the current range and distribution and determine habitat associations for the western chicken turtle in Texas.
3. Evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of various survey methods for western chicken turtles.

Study Area

Eastern Texas, focused on the historic range of the western chicken turtle per USFWS assessment (Figure 1).

Project Period

2020 – 2022

Description

The southeastern United States represents one of the most ecologically diverse habitats in the world, especially in regards to wetland dwelling amphibians and reptiles. Urban and agricultural land development has led to fragmentation of formerly expansive wetland habitats utilized by these amphibian and reptile populations. This habitat loss may be particularly detrimental to certain freshwater turtle populations (such as the chicken turtle) due to their dependency on intermittent wetlands. The purpose of the project was to assess the status of the western chicken turtle (WCT; Deirochelys reticularia miaria) in Texas to inform the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Species Status Assessment (SSA) process. In addition, the proposed project supported future landscape-level research and management by evaluating threats and potential conservation measures for both the species and their essential habitat.

A shorter life span, faster growth rate, smaller population size, omnivorous diet, unique reproductive strategy, and early/prolonged onset of aestivation distinguish the WCT from other turtle species in this region. A recent population assessment of WCTs in Texas identified wetland loss and fragmentation in urban and urbanizing areas as the greatest current and future threats to populations. During range-wide surveys conducted in 2015, only three individuals were observed, each by a different sampling method, indicating that future work should include a combination of traditional and novel sampling techniques. The research utilized various methods of detection including environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and remote sensing (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV], camera trap) methodologies in conjunction with traditional trapping and range-wide surveys. The goal of using these novel techniques was to improve the rate of detection of these cryptic and seasonal organisms that are otherwise difficult to detect with traditional sampling methods.

This research focused on three primary objectives: (1) estimating the current range, distribution, and habitat associations of WCTs in Texas; (2) evaluating the efficacy and efficiency of various survey methods in observing WCTs; and (3) identifying recommended landscape-level research needs for WCT in Texas, emphasizing assessment of anthropogenic threats to the species and their associated habitat. Researchers utilized traditional and novel sampling techniques focused in areas where WCT had been previously observed to maximize detectability and were employed at sites representative of all habitat types within the species’ range.

Publications and Presentations

Gordon, M., Nagro J., DeChellis, D., Oakley, J.W., Apodaca, J.J., Collins, L., Speight, L., Mokrech, M., Bush, D., and Guillen, G. 2023. Distribution and habitat association of western chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) in Texas. Final report. Prepared for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Contract 20-6997BG. EIH Report 23-001, 133 pp.

Gordon, M.L., Nagro, J., DeChellis, D., Collins, L.,  Nelson, H., Apodaca, J.J., Oakley, J., and Guillen, G.J. 2023. Use of environmental DNA for detecting cryptic species in wetland habitats: a case study of the western chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria). Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Houston, TX. Presentation.

Nagro, J. 2023. Effectiveness of drones for freshwater turtle surveys aimed toward detecting the cryptic western chicken turtle. (Deirochelys reticularia miaria). University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston.

DeChellis, D., Guillen, G., and Gordon, M. 2022. Preliminary analyses of landscape-scale impacts on western chicken turtles in Texas. Texas Academy of Science, 125th Annual Meeting, Houston, TX. Presentation.

Gordon, M., Speight, L., and Collins, A. 2022. Nose to the ground: using detector dogs to sniff out the cryptic western chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria). Texas Academy of Science, 125th Annual Meeting, Houston, TX. Presentation (presented by D. DeChellis).

Gordon, M. 2021. East Texas aquatic turtle surveys: western chicken turtles and alligator snapping turtles. Cypress Basin Clean Rivers Program Stakeholder Meeting. Virtual presentation.

Gordon, M. 2021. Western chicken turtle project updates, online reporting tool debut, and announcement of alligator snapping turtle project. East Texas Initiative Stakeholder Meeting. Virtual presentation.

Gordon, M. 2020. Can eDNA identify the needle in a haystack: searching for the western chicken turtle in Texas. East Texas Initiative Stakeholder Meeting. Virtual presentation.

Project Sponsors

• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Natural Resources Program

Related links

Brazos River Authority: Western Chicken Turtle Rare Species Spotlight

iNaturalist: Western Chicken Turtle Observations

NETMWD: Turtle Alert!

Sabine River Authority: Conservation Studies

TAMU Natural Resources Institute: About the Western Chicken Turtle

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Species Profile

News

The Brown Pelican: Western Chicken Turtles, Feb. 2021

East Texas Landscape Initiative Report, Nov. 2020

Texas Comptroller’s Office hosting virtual meeting to provide updates on endangered species research, listing decisions, Oct. 8, 2020

EIH searches for elusive chicken turtles, Aug. 4, 2020

Texas Comptroller's Office partners with the University of Houston-Clear Lake to perform western chicken turtle surveys, Jan. 10, 2020