A general habitat description is a technical document that provides greater clarity on the area of habitat protected for a species based on the general habitat definition found in the Endangered Species Act, 2007. General habitat protection does not include an area where the species formerly occurred or has the potential to be reintroduced unless existing members of the species depend on that area to carry out their life processes. A general habitat description also indicates how the species' habitat has been categorized, as per the policy "Categorizing and Protecting Habitat Under the Endangered Species Act", and is based on the best scientific information available.

Habitat categorization for Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Category 1: Nest and the area within 30 m or Overwintering sites and the area within 30 m

Category 2: The wetland complex (i.e. all suitable wetlands or waterbodies within 500 m of each other) that extends up to 2 km from an occurrence, and the area within 30 m around those suitable wetlands or waterbodies

Category 3: Area between 30 m and 250 m around suitable wetlands/waterbodies identified in Category 2, within 2 km of an occurrence

Category 1

Nest sites and overwintering sites are essential features and along with the 30 m area surrounding them are considered to have the lowest tolerance to alteration. Blanding’s Turtles depend on these areas for sensitive life processes including egg-laying, incubation, hatching of young, and hibernation. A 30 m radius (average tree height) buffer around nesting and overwintering sites is important to maintain the microclimate conditions (e.g., thermal, vegetative and lighting features). These areas are habitually used and may support concentrations of individuals.

Nesting sites

Blanding’s Turtle nests are created in open habitats with low vegetation cover and high sun exposure such as in forest clearings, meadows, shorelines, beaches, rock outcrops, cornfields, gravel roads, road shoulders, ploughed fields, gardens, powerline rights-of-ways, yards and abandoned railroad beds ( Linck et al. 1989, Ross and Anderson 1990, Kiviat 1997, Standing et al. 1999, Joyal et al. 2001, Congdon et al. 2008, Downing et al. 2010, Refsnider and Linck 2012). Females often show high fidelity to the same general nesting areas (Congdon et al. 1983, McNeil 2002, Congdon et al. 2011).

Overwintering sites

Overwintering sites are typically occupied for at least six months during the overwintering period in Ontario (Edge et al. 2009, Edge et al. 2010, Davy 2011 unpublished data, Paterson unpublished data 2013, NHIC 2013). Blanding’s Turtles display overwintering site fidelity, using some sites year after year (Power 1989, McNeil 2002, Caverhill 2006 in Newton and Herman 2009, Edge et al. 2009). Many individuals may aggregate at one site while overwintering (Anderson 1990, St-Hilaire 2003 in COSEWIC 2005, Ross and, Congdon et al. 2008, Edge et al. 2009).

Suitable Blanding’s Turtle overwintering habitat typically includes permanent bogs, fens, marshes, ponds, channels or other habitats with free (unfrozen) shallow water (Joyal et al. 2001, Edge 2010, Seburn 2010). Blanding’s Turtles studied in Algonquin Provincial park overwintered in wetlands with free water depths of 7 cm - 50 cm (Edge et al. 2009).This species may also hibernate within graminoid shallow marsh areas of larger marsh complexes by burying into substrates in areas of pooled water (Gillingwater unpublished data 2013). Blanding’s Turtle’s may also overwinter in seasonal pools or small excavated areas with standing water (Joyal et al. 2001, Rouse unpublished data 2012).

Category 2

The wetland complex that extends up to 2 km from an occurrence and 30 m around these suitable wetlands/waterbodies (Category 2) will be considered to have a moderate level of tolerance to alteration before their function is compromised. For the purpose of general habitat protection for Blanding’s Turtle, a wetland complex is defined as all wetlands that are within 500 m of each other. This definition is based on the biology of the species and its documents movement patterns between adjacent suitable wetlands/waterbodies. In cases where an occurrence is not within suitable aquatic habitat, the nearest wetland should be considered the starting point for delineating the wetland complex.

Blanding’s Turtles depend on these wetlands and the surrounding habitat throughout their home range for life processes including feeding, mating, thermoregulation, movement, and protection from predators.

Blanding’s Turtle home range sizes and lengths in Ontario vary significantly between individuals within the same population and between different populations. In Algonquin Provincial Park, the average range length of radio-tracked Blanding’s Turtles was 1.8 km (1.2 standard deviation), with a maximum of 4.3 km (Edge 2013 unpublished data). Recent Ontario studies documented a 90th percentile home range length of radio-tracked Blanding’s Turtles in Parry Sound District and Bancroft District of 2.0 and 2.3 km, respectively (Rouse unpublished data 2013, Cameron unpublished data 2013). Average range length of a population on Grenadier Island, Ontario, was 813 m, with a maximum range length just over 2 km. In a Minnesota population, average range length was just over 1.6 km, with a maximum range length just over 5 km (Pappas et al. 2000).

Blanding’s Turtles regularly move between wetlands or other aquatic areas in order to access mates, overwintering sites, nesting sites, other seasonally required resources and thermoregulation sites (Congdon et al. 2008, Edge et al. 2010). In a study from Algonquin Provincial Park, Blanding’s Turtles made an average of four movements between wetlands each year with an average movement distance of 231 m for males and 497 m for females (Edge et al. 2010). Average interwetland movement distances of a population in Maine was 680 ± 550 m (Joyal et al. 2001). Rouse and Cameron (unpublished data 2013) found that Blanding’s Turtles primarily moved through wetlands and other water and were rarely located more than 200 m from water. Since interwetland movements tend to average about 500 m, wetlands that are separated by more than 500 m from other suitable wetlands have a lower likelihood of being occupied.

A 30 m radius (average tree height) buffer around suitable wetlands helps to maintain microclimate conditions. Buffers of 30 m are widely recognized as providing a range of functional benefits to aquatic features and wetlands such as maintaining water quality by filtering sediment and nutrients, input of woody debris, and cooling water temperatures by shading and infiltrating surface runoff (OMNR 2010). Blanding’s Turtles have also been shown to generally bask within 30 m of wetlands (Joyal et al. 2001).

Suitable habitat for Blanding’s Turtles during the active season includes a variety of wetlands such as marsh, swamps, ponds, fens, bogs, slow-flowing streams, shallow bays of lakes or rivers, as well as graminoid shallow marsh and slough forest habitats that are adjacent to larger marsh complexes (Joyal et al. 2001, Gillingwater 2001, Gillingwater and Piraino 2004, 2007, Congdon et al. 2008, Edge et al. 2010; Seburn 2010). Suitable wetlands used during the active season are typically eutrophic (mineral or organic nutrient-rich), shallow with a soft substrate composed of decomposing materials, and often have emergent vegetation, such as water lilies and cattails (COSEWIC 2005, Congdon et al. 2008).

Category 3

The area between 30 m and 250 m around suitable Category 2 wetlands/waterbodies will be considered to have the highest tolerance to alteration. Blanding’s Turtles depend on these areas as movement corridors between wetlands, which are essential for carrying out life processes associated with Category 1 and 2 habitats.

Blanding’s Turtle nests are typically close to permanent wetlands and reported average distances between nests and the nearest wetland range from 99.5 to 242 m, with maximum distances of 256 m to just over 400 m (Joyal et al. 2001, Beaudry et al. 2010, Congdon et al. 2011, Paterson et al. 2012, Refsnider and Linck 2012). Consequently, the area within 250 m of suitable aquatic habitat provides critical movement corridors through with hatchling Blanding’s Turtles access wetlands after hatching. This habitat is also used by some hatchlings as overwintering habitat in their first year (Paterson et al. 2012).

Although Blanding’s Turtles nest close to water, they often travel considerable distances from their wetland of origin during nesting migrations, with movements of 6 km being documented in some Ontario populations (Edge et al. 2010). Although wetlands and ponds are used as movement corridors when available, females make extensive movements through upland habitat to access nesting sites (Congdon et al. 2008). As mentioned in the previous section (see Category 2), Blanding’s Turtles also make regular overland movements between wetlands throughout the active season in order to access Category 1 and 2 habitats within their home range. Category 3 habitat provides essential movement corridors of up to 500 m between wetlands, which will encompass the areas that are most likely to be used for overland movement.

Activities in Blanding’s Turtle habitat

Activities in general habitat can continue as long as the function of these areas for the species is maintained and individuals of the species are not killed, harmed, or harassed.

Generally compatible:

  • Recreational use of the water such as swimming, boating, and fishing.
  • Small-scale alterations to land cover that do not impede overland movements or impair nesting sites.

Generally not compatible footnote * :

  • Significant draining, infilling, dredging, or other significant alteration of wetlands or other suitable waterbodies.
  • Significant alteration of shorelines, especially hardening (e.g. the use of gabion baskets, rip-rap, and rock armour).

Key terms

  • Thermoregulation: Some animals, such as turtles, use thermoregulation to alter their internal body temperature through behavioural patterns, such as basking in the sun to increase body temperature or seeking out cool areas to lower body temperature.

Sample application of the general habitat protection for Blanding’s Turtle

Map showing the general habitat protection for Blanding’s Turtle

Category 1 habitat (lowest tolerance to alteration): Nest + 30 m.

Category 2 habitat (moderate tolerance to alteration): The wetland complex (i.e. all suitable wetlands or waterbodies within 500 m of each other) that extends up to 2 km from an occurrence, and the area within 30 m around those suitable wetlands or waterbodies.

Category 3 habitat (highest tolerance to alteration): Area from 30 m and 250 m around suitable wetlands or waterbodies.

References

Beaudry, F., P.G. DeMaynadier and M.L. Hunter Jr. 2010. Nesting movements and the use of anthropogenic nesting sites by Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) and Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5 (1): 1-8

Cameron, G. 2013. Unpublished data. Species at Risk Biologist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Caverhill, B.P. 2006. Blanding’s turtle conservation in Nova Scotia: linking science and stewardship through public education. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, N.S.

Congdon, J.D., D.W. Twinkle, G.L. Breitenbach and R.C. Van Loben Sels. 1983. Nesting ecology and hatching success in the turtle Emydoidea blandingii. Herpetologica 39(4):417-429.

Congdon, J.D., Graham, T.E., Herman, T.B., Lang, J.W., Pappas, M.J., and Brecke, B.J. 2008. Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook 1838) – Blanding’s Turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., and Iverson, J.B. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 015.1-015.12, DOI:10.3854/crm.5.015. blandingii. v12008, http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/.

Congdon, J.D., O.M. Kinney and R.D. Nagle. 2011. Spatial ecology and core-area protection of Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Canadian Journal of Zoology 89: 1098-1106

COSEWIC 2005. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 32 pp.

Davy, C. 2011. Unpublished data from survey and monitoring work at Rondeau Provincial Park. University of Toronto, Ontario.

Dowling, Z. Hartwig, T. Kiviat, E. and Keesing, F. 2010. Experimental Management of Nesting Habitat for Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Ecological Restoration 28:2.

Edge, C.B., Steinberg, B.D., Brooks, R.J., and Litzgus, J.D. 2010. Habitat Selection by Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in relatively pristine landscape. Ecoscience 17(1):90-99.

Edge, C.B., Steinberg, B.D., Brooks, R.J., and Litzgus, J.D. 2009. Temperature and site selection by Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) during hibernation near the species northern range. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87:825-834.

Edge, C.B. 2013 Unpublished data from MSc. Research in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario.

Gillingwater, S. D. 2001. A Selective Herpetofaunal Survey Inventory and Biological Research Study of Rondeau Provincial Park. Report submitted to ESRF, World Wildlife Fund. 94 pp.

Gillingwater, S.D. 2013. Unpublished data from long-term survey and monitoring work provided through e-mail correspondence to Joe Crowley. Species at Risk Biologist, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

Gillingwater, S.D. and T.J. Piraino. 2004. Chelonian Survey and Research Study of the Big Creek National Wildlife Area (2003) and Selective Herpetofaunal Survey, Inventory and Research Study of the Long Point National Wildlife Area (1996-1999, 2003). Final report submitted to the Canadian Wildlife Service. 65+pp.

Gillingwater, SD and TJ Piraino. 2007. Turtle Research and Herpetofaunal Survey of the Long Point National Wildlife Area Update Report 2007. Report submitted to Canadian Wildlife Service

Joyal, L.A., M. McCollough and M.L. Hunter Jr. 2001. Landscape ecology approaches to wetland species conservation: a case study of two turtle species in southern Maine. Conservation Biology 15(6): 1755-1762

Kiviat, E., G. Stevens, R. Brauman, S. Hoeger, P.J. Petokas and G.G. Hollands. 2000. Restoration of wetland and upland habitat for the Blanding’s turtle, Emydoidea blandingii. Chelonian Conservation Biology 3:650-657.

Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC). 2013. Biodiversity Explorer: Species Lists, Element Occurrence and Natural Areas databases. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario.

Newton, E.J. and Herman, T.B. 2009. Habitat, movements, and behaviour of overwintering Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Nova Scotia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87:299-309.

OMNR. 2010. Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario. 211 pp.

Paterson, J. 2013. Unpublished data from M.Sc. research. Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario.

Paterson, J.E., B.D. Steinberg and J.D. Litzgus. 2012. Revealing a cryptic life-history stage: difference in habitat selection and survivorship between hatchlings of two turtle species at risk (Glyptemys insculpta and Emydoidea blandingii).

Power, T. 1989. Seasonal movements and nesting ecology of a relict population of Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook)) in Nova Scotia. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, N.S.

Piepgras, S. A., and J. W. Lang. 2000. Spatial ecology of Blanding’s Turtle in central Minnesota. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3(4):589-601.

Refsnider, J.M. and M. H. Linck. 2012. Habitat use and movement patterns of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Minnesota, USA: a landscape approach to species conservation. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7(2): 185-192.

Ross, D.A. and R.K. Anderson. 1990. Habitat use, movements, and nesting of Emydoidea blandingiin central Wisconsin. Journal of Herpetology 24:6-12.

Rouse, J. 2013. Unpublished data. Species at Risk Biologist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Seburn, D.C. 2010. Blanding’s Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, Habitat Use During Hibernation in Eastern Ontario. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 124(3): 263-265.

Standing, K.L., T.B. Herman and I.P. Morrison. 1999. Nesting ecology of Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in Nova Scotia, the northeastern limit of the specie’s range. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77:1609-1614.

This general habitat description is available in PDF format upon request. Please email PDF requests to recovery.planning@ontario.ca.