Successful post-translocation reproduction and genetic integration of eastern box turtles

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 299; p. 110796
• Main Authors: Rimple, Ryan J., Shamblin, Brian M., Buhlmann, Kurt A., Rhodes, Olin E., Kohl, Michel T., Tuberville, Tracey D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal translocation; ecology; Genetic parentage; Illegal wildlife trade; parentage; Post-release monitoring; progeny; reproductive performance; Savannah River Site; South Carolina; species; sympatry; Terrapene carolina; trade; wildlife; Wildlife repatriation; Savannah River Site; South Carolina; Post-release monitoring; Wildlife repatriation; Animal translocation; Genetic parentage; Illegal wildlife trade
• ISSN: 0006-3207
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110796

Translocation is a conservation tool increasingly used in the recovery of at-risk species, including turtles, which are one of the world's most imperiled taxa. Post-release monitoring is essential to determine the outcomes of a given intervention and inform future efforts. However, monitoring typically focuses on post-release survival and spatial ecology whereas few studies assess the genetic and demographic outcomes. The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is in decline throughout its range and is increasingly likely to be subject to translocations, including efforts to repatriate animals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade. In 2019–2021, we translocated two groups of box turtles to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA, including confiscated turtles (n = 208) and surrendered long-term captive turtles (LTC; n = 35). In 2022, we monitored a subset of confiscated (n = 12), LTC (n = 15), and sympatric resident (n = 8) females for reproductive output and genotyped their offspring and candidate sires to assign parentage. We found that all groups of females produced eggs at a similar rate and produced viable offspring but that the most recently translocated group (LTCs) displayed lower hatching success. Parentage assignment revealed that all groups sired offspring and mated with each other. Our results broadly indicate that confiscated and LTC box turtles can successfully reproduce and genetically integrate following their release into wild populations, and that translocation may serve as a valuable tool for local population recovery. •Reproduction determines the genetic and demographic effects of translocations.•All groups of translocated turtles produced viable offspring following release.•Recently released turtles had lower fertility, possibly due to reduced mate access.•Translocated turtles successfully mated with the resident population.