Ontogenetic Melanism in Three Populations of Red-Eared Slider Turtles (Trachemys scripta) in Oklahoma

We compared incidence and average size of melanistic, adult male Trachemys scripta among three populations in Oklahoma. Proportion and size of melanistic males differed among two uncontaminated sites and one site contaminated with heavy metals. Average size of melanistic animals collected from one l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Southwestern naturalist 2009-03, Vol.54 (1), p.82-85
Main Authors: Hays, Kimberly A, McBee, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Genetic aspects
Heavy metals
Male animals
Males
Mathematical minima
Melanism (Evolutionary adaptation)
Melanosis
Physiological aspects
Population size
Reptiles & amphibians
Superfund sites
Trachemys scripta
Turtles
Wildlife refuges
Wildlife sanctuaries
Zoology
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Summary:We compared incidence and average size of melanistic, adult male Trachemys scripta among three populations in Oklahoma. Proportion and size of melanistic males differed among two uncontaminated sites and one site contaminated with heavy metals. Average size of melanistic animals collected from one locality were larger than melanistic animals collected at the same locality 50 years ago; however, minimum size of melanistic males at all sites was consistent with published values for populations of T. scripta throughout its range. The proportion of melanistic males among the three sites differed significantly and the smallest proportion of melanistic males was in a population of T. scripta from Tar Creek Superfund Site, Ottawa Co., Oklahoma, an area contaminated with heavy metals.
ISSN:0038-4909
1943-6262
DOI:10.1894/WL-18.1