Off the Record: How golf courses can be unexpected havens for threatened turtle species
Over a two-year study, researchers from Columbia University and the State University of New York explored how golf courses, urban areas and wildlife refuges influenced snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in Onondaga County, N.Y. The USGA funded the research through the Wildlife Links Program.
(Photo: Andrei310 / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Although this ancient group of reptiles has existed for more than 220 million years, nearly half of the approximately 300 turtle species are threatened or endangered today. As freshwater turtles face global declines, primarily due to habitat loss and degradation, the researchers set out to determine if golf courses could serve as critical habitats in increasingly urbanized landscapes.
The study conducted habitat analyses of sampled wetlands using aerial photos, field inspections and on-the-ground measurements. Using mapping software, researchers analyzed landscape composition, including land cover types and road extent. Turtle population and individual parameters (e.g., occurrence, abundance, sex and age, body length and mass) were integrated with wetland characteristics across different landscapes.
In Onondaga County, 25 percent of the 80,000 acres of wetlands were in urban areas with the highest road densities. Wildlife refuges had the most significant percentage of wetlands, while golf courses and urban areas had comparable amounts.
Wetlands in wildlife refuges were surrounded by the highest percentage of forest and herbaceous land cover. At the same time, golf courses had the least because they classified grass greens, tees, fairways and rough as developed land. They sampled 88 wetlands using a standardized trapping effort (three baited hoop nets per wetland for three nights, totaling nine trap nights per wetland). They checked traps daily and marked turtles with a single notch on their shell to identify their wetland of capture before being released within 30 minutes.
Researchers used species, sex and various physical traits to identify turtles. Throughout their study, they captured and marked 249 snapping and 164 painted turtles. Then, in 2009 and 2010, they measured turtle habitats at 88 wetlands in urban areas, on golf courses and at wildlife refuges near Syracuse, N.Y.
Their research found wetlands on golf courses had the smallest area, the most circular shapes, predominantly inorganic substrates and the greatest extent of rooted vegetation. Uplands surrounding the golf course wetlands had relatively little forest and grassland and much lower road densities.
The probability of occurrence and fraction of female turtles captured did not vary among golf courses, urban areas and wildlife refuges. The capture success for both species was lowest in golf course wetlands, and the relative mass of individuals was greater in wetlands than in wildlife refuges.
The researchers concluded that while golf course wetlands offer some protection from road mortality and over-harvesting due to restricted access and minimal traffic, there is room for improvement. Enhancing these habitats by increasing wetland area, diversifying wetland shapes, promoting native vegetation and expanding nearby forests and grasslands could help bolster turtle populations in these semi-natural environments.
Kristin Winchell of Columbia University, who received her master’s degree on this project, commented, “The habitat measures fell short of the quality provided by wildlife refuges. Despite this, we did not note any major turtle population anomalies in the golf course wetlands, and we believe that some modest habitat enhancements can lead to big improvements in habitat for freshwater turtles on golf courses.”
References
Winchell, Kristin M.; Gibbs, James P. 2012. Golf courses as refuges for freshwater turtles in urban landscapes. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online. April 1. 11(4):1-10.
Nus, Jeff. 2012. TURTLES: Ancient Wildlife on Your Golf Course. USGA Green Section Record 50(15), p1-5.
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