Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biological Sciences
Committee Chair
Matthew Niemiller
Committee Member
Zachary Culumber
Committee Member
Skylar Hopkins
Research Advisor
Matthew Niemiller
Subject(s)
Box turtle--Alabama, Box turtle--Diseases, Viruses, Animal ecology, Urbanization
Abstract
Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) are susceptible to many threats, including development, urbanization, and disease. A novel Ranavirus has been attributed to mortality in both captive and wild box turtles, including one known occurrence in a captive box turtle in Alabama, but no further assessment has been made. The aims of this study were to assess if Frog Virus 3-like Ranavirus infects wild box turtles and if its prevalence is related to urbanization in North Alabama, USA. I conducted visual encounter surveys in eight survey areas in North Alabama that occur across a gradient of urbanization and development. Twenty-six unique box turtles were measured and swabbed for oral and cloacal cells to screen for Ranavirus via subsequent quantitative PCR. Ranavirus was detected in four turtles, all from one survey area – Sharp-Bingham Mountain Preserve in Jackson County. Three of these test-positive turtles were deceased, suggesting that the virus can cause outbreaks and have severe impacts on populations. Ranavirus does not seem to be correlated with urbanization, as the only turtles who tested positive were from the least urbanized site. This study demonstrates the need for continued assessment of disease dynamics in wild populations as well as actions to slow development and loss of habitat
Recommended Citation
Jordan, Emma M., "An assessment of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in North Alabama with a focus on ranavirus prevalence and urbanization" (2024). Theses. 723.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/723