Re: Digest Number 334

[Alex Netherton]

Alex Netherton

October 20, 2001 at 12:27 pm #16098

Hey gang, look at the normal range of the turtles in question. Northerns are from the coastal strand from Cape Hatteras NC north to Cape Cod. These guys likely hibernate, but there is no hard data to suggest that this would enhance fertility. For Ornates, who live on the coast of Florida, from about the Keys up the west coast to about west of Tallahassee (a subtropical zone for the most part – water temp here probably doesn’t get much below 70� F. in winter), they, if hibernated, would wonder what the heck is going on. Probably why no hatchlings, as this would mess up their whole cycle, causing infertility rather than the opposite. Northerns, on the other hand, would have to do something, as the water would get down to about 50� F. in winter, and even a human would die after exposure to this. My suggestion from a Naturalist’s view, taking into account environmental factors (average winter temps, food supply, stuff like that)? Don’t try to hibernate any but Northerns; they are the only ones that likely engage in this activity (or lack of activity) in the wild, thus are likely the only population with this adaptation firmly implanted, thus are the only ones who would likely benefit from it. Alex Netherton The Appalachian Naturalist Asheville, NC http://www.appalachian-naturalist.com alex@…

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