Pitfall trapping at Bonnie Doone, SC

Since December 2009 I have been conducting my master's research at Boonie Doone Plantation, located in the ACE Basin in Colleton County, South Carolina. This area is characterized by historically being planted in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) with many depressional wetlands occurring in the landscape. Just recently this area has been converted to longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), and prescribed fire has been implemented. Around 11 of the depressional wetlands that occur drift fence / pitfall arrays were installed to monitor migrating herp populations. At each cardinal direction (N,S,E,W) a 10m long drift fence occurs with 4 pitfall traps (5 gallon buckets) occurring at each end. This totals 440m of drift fence, and 176pitfall traps, which equals a lot of work!

During the end of February and beginning of March for two weeks all the pitfall traps were opened. During this time many herp species were captured. One of the more pleasant captures was a turtle. By examining the shell I could tell that this individual had a reduced plastron with two hinges, suggesting it is in the famile Kinosternidae. Under closer inspection I could tell that the individual has 2 hinges and triangular scutes, making it a mud turtle in the genus Kinosternon.

Locally we have two species in the genus Kinosternon, the eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) and the striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii). The striped mud turtle has 3 distinct dorsal longitudional stripes on its carapace. This turtle lacks the 3 stripes, and has a bright yelow plastron, making it an eastern mud turtle.

As I mentioned earlier the turtle was captured in a pitfall trap 10m from a wetland. This animal was probably migrating to the wetland to feed or mate. Until next time.

(Ryan M. Wenzel Charleston, SC)