Movements of Western Alligator Snapping Turtles, Macrochelys temminckii Troost in Harlan, 1835, in an urban ecosystem: Buffalo Bayou, Houston, Texas

Little is known about many life history traits of the Western Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macrochelys temminckii, including the species’ ecology within urban ecosystems. Our study population inhabits waterways of Houston, Texas, the third-largest city in the United States. We conducted a telemetry study on 19.5 km of the Buffalo Bayou that laterally bisects inner metropolitan Houston. Ten radio transmitters were attached to six male and four female M. temminckii. Turtle movements were monitored biweekly between November 2018 and May 2020, except when the area experienced excessive water fluctuations and flooding. We recorded a total of 242 turtle locations. Turtles were almost always associated with structure (fallen logs, vegetative banks, cut banks) and showed strong preference for areas of the bayou exhibiting greater tree canopy/in-channel debris. Many observations documented turtles at the same locations throughout the study period, at times with multiple individuals sharing the same location. Pooled mean linear range for all turtles was 575.4 m. Males and females moved for 284–2285 m and 686–4226 m, respectively, with females averaging both greater movement distances as well as total observed range. Turtle movement increased in early spring, peaked in late spring, and decreased to little or no movement in the summer and winter months. Compared to most previously published data on the species, this population showed more limited movement. This could be due to physical barriers, including man-made structures (dams, bridges, and other flood control structures). These data could help with future conservation efforts for this species in the Houston area and other urbanized habitats, including minimizing habitat alteration/destruction throughout their associated waterways, and aiding in the preservation of undervalued urbanized ecosystems.