Tagging the Terrapins of the Jersey Shore 2011 FIELD REPORT Background Information

Transcription

1 Taggingg the Terrapins of the Jersey Shore 2011 FIELD REPORT Background Information Lead Scientist: Dr. Harold W. Avery Project scientists: Dr. John P. Wnek, Report completed by: Dr. Harold W. Avery Period Covered by this report: Date report completed: :03:24

2 Dear Earthwatch Volunteers, I personally want to thank you all for your hard work, diligence, and support for our research on the population ecology of the diamondback terrapin at Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. During the last two years, three former Ph.D. graduate students in my lab, Emily Basile, Claire Coleman Sheridan, and John Wnek, earned their Ph.D. degrees conducting research on the ecology of the diamondback terrapin in Barnegat Bay. In addition, Mr. Andrew Harrison also earned his M.S. degree from Dr. Ed Standora s lab studying the diamondback terrapin, thanks to your help and support for their research. In addition, Lori Lester will be graduating in June, 2012, also completing her Ph.D. on the ecology of the diamondback terrapin at Barnegat Bay New Jersey. Our research on the diamondback terrapin at Barnegat Bay is broadly based to determine how variations of environmental resources and environmental quality are transduced through individuals into population dynamics of terrapin populations, and determining the mechanisms or causes of how and why changes to their populations occur. We use the diamondback terrapin as a model organism to determine how environmental variations affect the growth, habitat use, reproduction, and survival of terrapins in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. This approach has allowed my students and Co-PIs to address fundamental questions in basic ecology and in conservation biology as they pertain to biodiversity and conservation of estuarine ecosystems. We have learned much in the past two years regarding the effects of human impacts to Barnegat Bay on the ecology of the diamondback terrapin. We have found that terrapins are less able to disperse and reproduce in areas of the Bay in areas lacking saltmarsh habitat and where shorelines are dominated by human development, compared to areas with more pristine saltmarshes. Terrapins using nesting areas that receive dredged material, an ongoing management practice in Barnegat Bay, experience 100% nest failure due to salts and contaminants in the soil. Chemical pollutants, including DDT, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and components of crude oil, exist in soils and tissues of diamondback terrapins, and are in high enough concentrations in the Bay to cause lethal and sub-lethal deformities in terrapin hatchlings. We have also identified motor boat injuries as a major cause of injury and mortality of terrapins, and that terrapins are unable to avoid the engine sounds or occurrence of oncoming boats to avoid injury. We have rescued scores of terrapins from underwater crab

3 traps that had broken away from marker floats and had killed terrapins needlessly. We have documented that terrapins must travel over six times farther to nest when they confront shoreline obstructions such as bulkheading, and have elevated stress hormones, compared to terrapins that nest in unobstructed nesting areas. We have proactively taken many steps to decrease the human impacts to the diamondback terrapin and other estuarine organisms in Barnegat Bay. Through Co-PI Dr. John Wnek s MATES Academy high school student volunteers and our research staff, we have successfully obtained corporate sponsorships from Toyota, Exelon Corporation, and other donors to provide turtle exclusion device kits to vendors who sell crab traps along the coast of Barnegat Bay. Through these efforts we have saved hundreds of lives of adult female terrapins from drowning in crab traps because they cannot enter these lethal traps. We have shared data on boat injury rates to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, that has been used to identify areas to exclude motor boats and to increase local and state police law enforcement of speed limits and prohibition of motor boats, which we anticipate will prevent hundreds of sub-lethal and lethal boat injuries in coming years. Through our protection of terrapin nests at the onsite hatchery at the Lighthouse Center where our research is based, we have added over 1,200 hatchling terrapins to different areas of Barnegat Bay that would have otherwise been eaten by non-native or artificially supplemented predators such as raccoons, dogs, skunks, cats, and other mammals. On behalf of my research staff, including graduate and undergraduate college students of environmental science, and co-principal investigators Drs. Walt Bien, Ed Standora, Jim Spotila, and John Wnek, I want to thank you for your support of our important research on the diamondback terrapin at Barnegat Bay. What we learn here has consequences for management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems throughout the United States, as well as throughout the world where similar human impacts are occurring to coastal areas dominated by human populations. Dr. Harold Avery

4 SECTION ONE: Scientific research achievements Top highlight from the past season In the past year we have made several discoveries that are extremely important to understanding the ecology and conservation of the diamondback terrapin at Barnegat Bay. We have determined that terrapins exhibit significant reduction of genetic dispersal (i.e., ability to disperse and mate, which may cause inbreeding), due to human development and destruction of saltmarshes along the shores of Barnegat Bay. Therefore, ANY additional filling or destruction of saltmarsh habitat will have detrimental impacts to terrapin populations. In addition, although terrapins are physically capable of hearing the low frequencies of sounds produced by motor boats, extensive in-situ behavior trials show that terrapins do not modify their behavior due to boat sounds, and do not significantly change their course of travel or show other avoidance behavior to the approach of actual motor boats. These findings clearly suggest that human activities of shoreline development (i.e., coastal shoreline habitat fragmentation) and motor boat use (i.e., aquatic habitat fragmentation) in Barnegat Bay, if not further regulated, will lead to eventual decline and possible extirpation of terrapins in Barnegat Bay. Reporting against research objectives Nesting Ecology of the Diamondback Terrapin Optimal egg size (OES) theory predicts that in a given environment females will divide investment per offspring to produce offspring of an optimal size that will maximize maternal fitness. However, egg size is often correlated with female body size. Furthermore, egg size and clutch size often vary with latitude. Morphological constraints, such as pelvic aperture width, on egg size have been hypothesized to account for the correlation between egg size and female body size in turtles. Data from several nesting populations of the diamondback terrapin in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey were to evaluate optimal egg size theory and morphological constraints on egg size in terrapins. We also evaluate the latitudinal variation in female body size and in clutch characteristics using data from this study and other cited in the literature. We found a positive correlation between female body size and egg size suggesting a constraint on egg size in diamondback terrapins in Barnegat Bay. However, pelvic aperture width does not increase at the same rate as egg width on female body size, suggesting that pelvic aperture width is not the proximate cause of egg width constraint. Furthermore, we found a trade-off between clutch size and egg size in terrapins, supporting OES theory, but our data also supports optimization of clutch size not egg size in

5 diamondback terrapins of Barnegat Bay, NJ. Latitudinal variation in clutch size and egg size suggest that egg size is optimized in southern latitudes, while clutch size is optimized in northern latitudes. Direct and indirect factors such as soil condition, embryonic mortality, and chemical contaminants that limit offspring production will have important negative consequences for populations of terrapins. Figure 1 Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Genetic Dispersal of Terrapins Demographic studies of the diamondback terrapin indicate high habitat fidelity and low dispersal distances, but population genetics studies indicate high levels of gene flow between populations. Data are currently lacking on how habitat fragmentation affects the dispersal and mating system of the terrapin. Dispersal and mating systems are important to understand because they can affect the level of genetic diversity in a population, and therefore influence its long-term sustainability of a population. Our research examined the

6 mating system and dispersal patterns of diamondback terrapins in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, using radio telemetry, sonic telemetry, and mark-recapture as well as molecular genetic methods. We compared dispersal patterns of juvenile, male, and female terrapins. Mark-recapture and biotelemetry data over this period of reporting indicate that all individuals make relatively small dispersal movements (<2 km), but mean genetic assignment indices, first generation migrant tests, and spatial autocorrelation indicate that mature males exhibit sex-biased dispersal (i.e., disperse greater distances) and mature females exhibit natal philopatry to nesting beaches (i.e., nest repeatedly at same beaches year after year). We used a landscape genetics approach to determine how habitat fragmentation of upland areas affects dispersal and gene flow in the terrapin. These models indicate that saltmarsh vegetation is necessary for effective dispersal and therefore necessary to maintain genetic diversity of the terrapin in Barnegat Bay. Because mating systems can also affect the level of genetic diversity, we also determined paternity in 174 nests from five nesting beaches. We found that multiple paternity is common in nests, and the degree of multiple paternity differs significantly among sample locations, ranging from 12.5 to 45.7 of clutches, and exhibits a significant non-linear correlation with population sex ratio. Population sex ratios are likely altered by differential mortality of nesting females killed on roads, or of males drowning in commercial or recreational crab traps. We confirmed that terrapins use sperm storage within and between seasons to enhance fertility. However we did not find that individual terrapins make long-distance migrations or movements to mate, as suggested in the literature. We have used, and continue to use genetic methods to provide important information on terrapin dispersal and mating behavior that are particularly important to developing new conservation plans and augmenting and modifying existing conservation plans. We show that saltmarsh habitat protection and natal nesting beach protection are both necessary for the long-term survival of the diamondback terrapin in Barnegat Bay, and that differential mortality, resulting in skewed sex ratios, can have significant impacts on the mating system of diamondback terrapins.

7 Effects of Chemical Pollutants on the Hatching Success and Deformity Rates of Hatchling Terrapins Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have the potential to become health risks to wildlife by causing toxic effects and altering survival and

8 reproduction. We conducted experiments to characterize the POP contamination levels and patterns of pollution in Barnegat Bay by utilizing the diamondback terrapin as a model estuarine vertebrate. We determined that the diamondback terrapin is a highly suitable bioindicator of POP contamination and can be used as indicators of local contamination by collecting non-lethal plasma from individuals. The POP concentrations and patterns in terrapin tissues from Barnegat Bay indicate the presence of relevant levels of organic contaminants relative to other estuary species, with the exception of PBDEs. Terrapin tissues and nesting beach sediments in Barnegat Bay have an atypical PBDE pattern with a higher prevalence of hexa-brominated PBDEs instead of the normal predominance of lower tetra- and penta-brominated PBDEs. We documented the maternal transfer of all POPs and identify this as a major source of POPs to developing terrapin embryos. Transfer of PBDEs and other POPs from nesting sediment into developing eggs was negligible. Therefore transfer of POPS from natural nesting sediments into eggs in not substantial unless natural substrates are highly contaminated. Examination of three health endpoints in terrapins suggest that environmentally relevant concentrations of mirex, PCBs, and PBDEs may be associated with immune and endocrine disruption and that PBDE 47 congener may be associated with a disruption of neurobehavioral development. Our findings suggest that terrapins may also be useful as bioindicators of endocrine disruption and immunotoxicity of other organisms inhabiting the estuarine ecosystem of Barnegat Bay and other estuarine ecosystems that have similar pollution, and may also be bioindicators of endocrine disruption and immunotoxicity for human populations.

9 Effects of Dredge Soil Deposition on the Nesting Success and Survival of Terrapin Nests Saltmarsh and shoreline habitats of Barnegat Bay have been filled with sand and other soils dredged from the bay floor for over 100 years. Known as dredged sediment or dredge, these sediments may have chemicals and salts that impact organisms that use such filled areas for nesting. Terrapins use anthropogenically impacted areas for nesting and negatively impact hatching success. The introduction of non-native vegetation and human structures (e.g., fences, buildings, etc.), shade nest areas reducing nest temperature which affects incubation duration and gender of terrapin embryos. We investigated population sizes, hatching success, incubation duration of terrapin embryos in nests in different soil treatments including dredged substrate versus natural soil, and plots exposed to full sun versus shade, at North Sedge Island, Barnegat Bay. We measured nest microhabitat parameters such as temperature, soil conductivity (i.e., salt content), water potential (i.e., amount of held moisture), and gas composition in different soil types to see how anthropogenically altered soils (dredge) differed from natural soils. Our results indicate that freshly dredged substrate had the lowest water potential and highest soil conductivity of all soils tested. Fresh dredge substrate also caused 100% embryo mortality with no embryonic development past the first stage of development. Nest temperatures in open sun at North Sedge Island were at the pivotal incubation temperature of male and female sex determination. However, those that

10 were partially shaded (50% shade) were below pivotal temperatures, resulting in predominant male production. Shading of nests also caused significantly longer incubation and embryo development times, which caused delayed hatchling emergence compared to nests in open sun. Terrapin population estimates at North Sedge Island indicate that approximately 430 female terrapins utilize the island for nesting, and the earliest reproductive age of females was six years. Increased body size and earlier age of reproduction of females at North Sedge Island may be the result of being within a marine conservation zone, where larger marsh areas, limited commercial trapping or other anthropogenic influences, and ample food resources provide benefits to resident terrapins. We showed that nest site conditions, including soil type (Dredge, non-dredge, shading vs. no shading, etc.), are important for the reproductive success of diamondback terrapin populations. Effective management practices, including analysis of dredged substrate and washing it prior to its utilization by wildlife will enhance or restore wildlife habitat but to not do so may be detrimental to wildlife.

11 Effects of Anthropogenic Sound and Motorized Boats on the Behavior and Injury Rates of Diamondback Terrapins Anthropogenic sounds are increasing in many estuarine environments where recreational boats produce much of this noise. Sound detection is essential for many aquatic organisms as it allows them to communicate, find mates, locate prey, navigate, or avoid predators. As anthropogenic sounds increase in many habitats, a clearer understanding of how animals are affected by human-generated sounds is necessary. We studied whether the diamondback terrapin hearing range overlaps with anthropogenic sounds produced by recreational motor boats. We recorded auditory evoked potential (AEP) responses in terrapins (n=5) to determine underwater hearing capability. AEPs are produced when neurons in the auditory pathway are discharged simultaneously in response to an acoustic

12 stimulus. We also measured anthropogenic sound pressure levels (SPLs) in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, USA at various locations and times of year. Female terrapins responded to underwater sounds from 50 to 800 Hz, with the range of best hearing from 200 to 300 Hz. Anthropogenic sound recordings contained low-frequency sounds at SPLs that are within the terrapin hearing range. Anthropogenic (human-generated) sounds, such as those generated by recreational boats, can have negative impacts on aquatic animals both behaviorally and physiologically. We used diamondback terrapins as an indicator species to explore the effects of recreational boat engine sounds on animal behavior in an estuarine environment, at Barnegat Bay, NJ, USA. In a series of outdoor experiments, diamondback terrapins were exposed to playback recordings of approaching boat engines in situ. Behavioral response, speed, depth, and orientation of terrapins were recorded before, during, and after exposure to playback of motor sounds from various sized boats.we found that there were no significant changes in terrapin behavior in response to boat engine sounds. However,approximately 3.3% of captured terrapins, or approximately 73 of 2,221 terrapins captured and studied in the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Barnegat Bay, have scars that suggest boat strike injuries. Considering this area is a wildlife refuge, these numbers of injured terrapins is alarming. Boat strike injuries may be detrimental to long-term terrapin population viability. Partial or complete closure of wildlife areas to boating and/or strict enforcement of speed limits may be necessary to protect terrapin populations from degradation.

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15 Effects of Bulkheading on the Nesting Ecology of the Diamondback Terrapin Earthwatch volunteers help collect environmental data that are essential to interpreting the ecological and physiological constraints of terrapins. Analyses of collected data by volunteers from the last two field seasons suggests that terrapins prefer to nest when salinity, water temperature, and air temperature, are at moderate levels, i.e., not near their maximum or minimum values for the activity season. They also prefer to nest on calm, less windy days than windy days. Nesting did not directly correspond to a specific tidal phase, as suggested in the literature (i.e., highest nesting during high tide), but rather was closely related to a specific water depth. A tidal height of 0.15 ft. was the preferred condition for nesting activity. This water depth corresponded to outgoing or incoming tides. Over the last 30 years, Barnegat Bay has experienced the highest rate of human development of shorelines of any Mid-Atlantic estuary in North America. Bulkheading had replaced approximately 36 percent of the shoreline along Barnegat Bay. Because the diamondback terrapin relies on upland areas for nesting, the potential impacts of bulkheading are enormous to the viability of terrapin populations and other organisms that also require land nesting. Terrapins were analyzed for levels of stress hormones (i.e., corticosterone, testosterone) in their blood. Preliminary data indicate that there are no significant differences in stress hormone levels in terrapins that are confronted with and must circumvent a bulkheaded beach to nest, versus those that attempt to nest on beaches without bulkheading. However, these data are still being evaluated and analyzed. Behavior

16 comparisons indicate that terrapins confronted with a bulkheaded beach must travel approximately six times further distance on land to nest than terrapins that do not confront a bulkheaded beach. Further analyses are underway to determine whether terrapins that are displaced by bulkheading have different nest success than those not displaced by bulkheading.

17 SECTION TWO: Impacts Partnerships Astronomical Society of the Toms River Area (ASTRA), Toms River, New Jersey Barnegat Bay Partnership, Ocean County College, Toms River, New Jersey Cattus Island Park Advisory Committee, Toms River, New Jersey Clean Ocean Action, Atlantic Highlands, New

18 Jersey Exelon Corporation, Oyster Creek Generating Station, Forked River, New Jersey Jenkinson s Aquarium, Point Pleasant, New Jersey; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Marine Water Quality, Trenton, New Jersey, Barnegat Bay Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program, Trenton, New Jersey ; New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife - Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center, Island Beach State Park, New Jersey Natural Resource Education Foundation, Waretown, New Jersey Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Program, Project Terrapin, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences (Loveladies) and MATES (Manahawkin), New Jersey ReClam the Bay, Toms River, New Jersey Save Barnegat Bay, Barnegat Bay Student Grant Program, Lavallette, New Jersey. Contributions to conventions, agendas, policies, management plans National or regional Barnegat Bay Partnership - One of 28 Congressionally designated National Estuary Programs throughout the United States working to improve the health of nationally significant estuaries. Dr. John Wnek has represented and presented findings on diamondback terrapin injuries in Winter 2010 and 2011 and has represented our research at the Annual Barnegat Bay Festival on June 6, 2010 and June 5, This has led to increased protection and law enforcement of terrapin habitat in the Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Ms. Lori Lester, Ms. Abigail Dominy, and Ms. Julianne Winters provided research findings and recommendations for conservation related to estuarine impacts (shoreline development, boat mortality) at the The Fifth National Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin. Chauvin, LA. in November This has led to increased protection and law enforcement in estuarine ecosystems in the Mid- and southern Atlantic regions, USA. Developing Environmental Leaders Graduate Students - Ph.D. Lori Lester, Ph.D., Anthropogenic Sound Effects on Diamondback Terrapins, 2011 Julianne Winters, Ph.D., Behavioral Ecology of Diamondback Terrapins, 2013 Abigail Dominy, Ph.D., Visual Ecology of Diamondback Terrapins, 2014 Graduate Students - M.S. Jacqueline Walters (SUNY College Buffalo), M.A. Andrew Harrison (SUNY College Buffalo), M.A. Nicole Woods (SUNY College Buffalo), M.A. Undergraduate: Lauren Donaghy (STAR Student; full time research supervision during summer outcome successful completion of STAR research project and STAR program).

19 Samuel Emerson - Co-Op - Independently coordinated major component of graduate student research at remote field site, managing Earthwatch volunteers, undergraduate and graduate students alike. Successful Completion. 0.5 hr to 1 hr per week advising during summer. Advising includes direction on research project, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist. Christopher Ball - Co-Op student - Assisted in capture and processing of diamondback terrapins and telemetry data collection. Successful Completion. 0.5 hr to 1 hr per week advising during summer. Advising includes direction on research project, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist. Sydney Stutzman, Volunteer - Worked with graduate students to collect telemetry, nesting, and population dynamic data on the diamondback terrapin. Successful Completion. 0.5 hr to 1 hr per week advising during summer. Advising includes direction on research project, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist. Anna Gourlay, Volunteer Research assistant collecting and processing diamondback terrapin data collection for graduate student projects. Successful Completion. 0.5 hr to 1 hr per week advising during summer. Advising includes direction on research project, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist. Undergraduate nonmajors (with information as in majors above) Alanna Pyle, Volunteer - Facilitated diamondback terrapin research with Earthwatch volunteers at Barnegat Bay field station while assisting with graduate student projects. 0.5 hr to 1 hr per week advising during summer. Advising includes direction on research project, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist. Christopher Petito, Voluteer (Eckerd College) - Led Earthwatch volunteers and undergraduates in diamondback terrapin data collection at Barnegat Bay field station. 0.5 hr to 1 hr per week advising during summer. Advising includes direction on research project, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist. Graduate students (with information as in majors above) Elise W. Forbes, M.S.Field research assistant diamondback terrapins of Barnegat Bay NJ. Advising is approximately 1 hr per week during summer. Advising includes direction on field assistance, coursework recommendations, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist, etc.

20 Brian Kelly, M.S. Field research assistant diamondback terrapins of Barnegat Bay NJ. Advising is approximately 1 hr per week during summer. Advising includes direction on field assistance, coursework recommendations, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist, etc. Derek Dapp, M.S. Field research assistant diamondback terrapins of Barnegat Bay NJ. Advising is approximately 1 hr per week during summer. Advising includes direction on field assistance, coursework recommendations, development of scientific research skills as an ecologist, etc. Actions or activities that enhance natural and/or social capital Removal of crab ghost traps to reduce bycatch mortality of terrapins; Protection of terrapin nests from predation; Removal of invasive vegetation at North Sedge Island to enhance nesting beach habitat; Removal of dumped debris and refuse in feeding and breeding areas of Edwin S. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Conservation of Taxa Population enhancement of northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys t. terrapin)- Species of Special Concern, State of New Jersey. Baseline information on population trends and population demography. Improving management of populations to reduce anthropogenic mortality and augmentation of reproductive success by saving nests from predation. Conservation, rescue and protection of 14 species of fishes from cold kill from Oyster Creek generating plant outflow in conjunction with Jenkinson's Aquarium, Pt. Pleasant New Jersey, Exelon Corportation, Forked River, NJ, and Adventure Aquarium, Camden, NJ. Conservation of Habitats Enhancement of saltmarsh habitat and identification of importance of saltmarsh habitat to population viability of estuarine organisms including diamondback terrapin. Ecosystem Services

21 Carbon sequestration by enhancing protection of saltmarsh ecosystem and enhancing Blue Carbon. Increasing aesthetic values of saltmarsh and other estuary habitats by removing debris and litter, and establishing scientifically based management recommendations for preservation. Conservation of Cultural Heritage Enhancing and supporting intangible heritage by supporting, attending, and participating in Albert Music Hall that preserves local and regional folk music of the southern New Jersey region. Enhancing and supporting tangible heritage by supporting and participating in Tuckerton Seaport Museum. Enhancing and supporting tangible heritage by supporting, financing and encouraging ecotourism of Barnegat Bay Lighthouse. Impacting Local Livelihoods We have provided employment of four local high school students as paid team members working on terrapin field research, and have provided financial support for local student research projects and travel to scientific meetings. Local community activities Margate FunFest, September 2010, disseminate research findings to over 5000 citizens per year along New Jersey coast by running outreach table, children activities, hatchling releases of head-started terrapins, etc. Natural Resource Education Foundation, 2010, Provide multiple talks, outreach to school children and local teachers, and other activities planned at the Lighthouse Center for Environmental Education, Waretown, NJ MATES Academy School Assembly Talks, 2010, Give talks to over 1000 high school students on scientific research on the diamondback terrapin Dissemination of research results Scientific peer-reviewed publications Basile, E.R., J.M. Keller, W.F. Bien, and H.W. Avery

22 Diamondback terrapins as indicator species of persistent organic pollutants: Using Barnegat Bay, New Jersey as a case study. Chemosphere 82(2011): Published. Earthwatch Acknowledged. Sheridan, C.M., J.R. Spotila, W.F. Bien, and H.W. Avery Sex-biased dispersal and natal philopatry in the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. Molecular Ecology (2010)19: Published. Earthwatch Acknowledged. Wnek, J.P., W.F. Bien and H.W. Avery. In Press. Effects of nest substrate and shading on the development and survivorship of diamondback terrapin embryos (Malaclemys terrapin). Integrative Zoology. Earthwatch Acknowledged. Grey literature and other dissemination PRINTED ACADEMIC PH.D. THESES: Basile, Emily R Persistent Organic Pollutants in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) Tissues and Eggs, and Sediments of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. May Sheridan, Claire M Mating System and Dispersal Patterns in the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). April Wnek, John P Anthropogenic Impacts on the Reproductive Ecology of the Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. June EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: Ecology of the diamondback terrapin - lesson plans for middle school education. Prepared by Dr. John Wnek and distributed by MATES Academy, Manahawkin, NJ. MEDIA AND WEB: 2011 The Diamondback Terrapin at Margate NJ Melissa Magee, Channel 3 Feature News Video. August The Beacon Front Page Turtles losing this race. July Asbury Park Press Front Local Page Study looks at terrapin mortality within the Barnegat Bay. July The Beachcomber Nesting season for terrapins with timely help. July Wild New Jersey- Study looks at terrapin mortality within the Barnegat Bay. July CBS 3- Diamondback terrapins focus of Barnegat Bay study August Boston Herald Diamondback terrapins focus of Barnegat Bay study, Aug. 29

23 2010 Asbury Park Press Scientists continue 20-year study of diamondback terrapin Barnegat Bay, Aug MYFOXNY.COM Diamondback terrapins focus of N.J. study, Aug MSNBC.COM - Diamondback terrapins focus of Barnegat Bay Study, Aug TIMESUNION.COM - Diamondback terrapins focus of N.J. study, Aug NJ Press Media- Scientists continue 20 year study of diamondback terrapin, Barnegat Bay August Asbury Park Press Turtle Research on Barnegat Bay, Aug The Beacon Slow and steady may win the race in 20-year terrapin study program, Sept. 2. MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES: Avery, H.W Invited Plenary Lecture Award, 4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology, Kunming, China, 4-6 December Avery, H.W Invited Editor Award for Special Edition of Integrative Zoology, International Society of Zoologists, Beijing, China. Avery, H.W Invited Session Organizer Award, major session for Biological Consequences of Global Change, 4th International Symposium of Integrative Zoology, Kunming, China, 4-6 December Lester, L. A., Harrison, A. S., Standora, E. A., Bien, W. F., and H. W. Avery. (13 August 2011). Diamondback terrapins do not behaviorally respond to boat engine sounds. Acoustic Communication. Søgaardlejren, Institute of Biology SDU, Denmark. Lester, L. A., Standora, E. A., Bien, W. F., and H. W. Avery Hearing in diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin): The Auditory Brainstem Response Technique and Behavioral Responses to Boat Engine Sounds. The Fifth National Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin. Chauvin, LA. Lester, L. A., Harrison, A. S., Standora, E. A., Bien, W. F., and H. W. Avery. (8 April 2011). Diamondback terrapins do not behaviorally respond to boat engine sounds. Drexel University Research Day, Drexel University. Philadelphia, PA. Lester, L. A., Harrison, A. S., Standora, E. A., Bien, W. F., and H. W. Avery. (5 April 2011). Diamondback terrapins do not behaviorally respond to boat engine sounds. College of Arts and Sciences Research Day, Drexel University. Philadelphia, PA.

24 Appendices _HhbxMzwl_Basile_Chemosphere.pdf _gGvbuX1P_Basile_Chemosphere2.pdf _KFzTwS8t_Dissertation_Claire_Sheridan.pdf _VjaaBuKc_Dissertation_Emily_Basile.pdf _7tEmTaKd_Dissertation_John_Wnek.pdf _uVn6S1qq_Sheridan_Molecular_Ecology.pdf _dYXyLj5g_Hal_Avery_Vitae_October_2011_Final.pdf