A population of wood turtles, Clemmys insculpta, was studied in South-Western Ontario from 1991-1993.  A total of 270 turtles (83 males, 136 females and 51 juveniles) was captured, measured and individually marked. Population size at the study site was estimated to be 412.9 turtles.  Wood turtles conform to a predicted pattern of body size and age at maturity changes in turtles over a wide range of latitudes, such that northern populations mature later and at a larger body size.  In 26 observed nests there is a positive correlation between female body size and mean egg width, which suggests that wood turtle egg width is constrained by pelvic size opening.  Using temperature sensitive radio-telemetry equipment, activities of ten wood turtles were recorded, in an area of high human impact.  Contrary to my prediction, the wood turtles in the high human impact area had the same mean size of home range (5.7) as in an area of low human impact (Algonquin Park, Ontario). Habitat use, average monthly temperatures and average distance moved away from the tributary all differed between the sexes.  Although this is the largest known population in Canada, I believe this population exhibits signs of human pressure.  The age class structure is heavily skewed to adults (81.2% adults), the annual recruitment is low and the propbability of egg or hatchling mortality (80% - 83% nests destroyed) and injury (72.2% have injuries) is high.

© Dina A. Foscarini  1994