Turtle survey of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park reveals more than mermaid

During a survey of turtles in Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Florida, USA, in March 2015, we captured, marked, and released 182 turtles representing 10 species, including Florida Softshell ( Apalone ferox ), Eastern Snapping Turtle ( Chelydra serpentina ), Florida Chicken Turtle ( Deirochelys reticularia chrysea ), Striped Mud Turtle ( Kinosternon baurii ), Suwannee Cooter ( Pseudemys suwanniensis ), Florida Red-bellied Cooter ( P. nelsoni ), Peninsula Cooter ( P. peninsularis ), Eastern Musk Turtle ( Sternotherus odoratus ), Loggerhead Musk Turtle ( S. minor ), and Pond Slider ( Trachemys scripta). Two subspecies of T. scripta (Red-eared Slider [ T. s. elegans ], and Yellow-bellied Slider [ T. s. scripta ]) were captured and both are new county records. The most abundant species was S. odoratus with 101 individuals captured and a relative abundance of 55.49. Among the three Pseudemys species, the presence of P. suwanniensis is important since it is currently listed as a species of special concern in Florida. Weeki Wachee Springs had the highest species richness (10 species) and the second highest overall diversity (H’ = 1.33) of turtles among five Florida springs that we surveyed during a spring 2015 sample.