The Relationship Between Pond Bottom Type and Growth Rate of Western Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta belli in Iowa, a Preliminary Report

Authors

Anthony J. Quinn, Drake University
James L. Christiansen, Drake UniversityFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Chrysemys picta belli, growth rate, bottom type

Abstract

Several populations of western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta belli) were sampled during 1970 to determine the possible relationship between turtle growth rate and type of pond substrate. The populations sampled were selected because they existed in lentic habitats that had either highly organic, mud substrates or relatively inorganic, sand substrates. Age determinations based on plastral annuli showed turtles from highly organic substrates to grow more rapidly than those from substrates with less apparent organic matter. Females attained greater size than males in both habitat extremes.

Publication Date

January 1972

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

78

Issue

3-4

First Page

67

Last Page

69

Copyright

©1972 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Quinn, Anthony J. and Christiansen, James L. (1972) "The Relationship Between Pond Bottom Type and Growth Rate of Western Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta belli in Iowa, a Preliminary Report," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 78(3-4), 67-69.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol78/iss3/11