Every Bit Hurts: Quantifiable Effects of Low-level Anthropogenic Disturbance on Movement, Habitat Selection, and Energetics of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii)

Every Bit Hurts: Quantifiable Effects of Low-level Anthropogenic Disturbance on Movement, Habitat Selection, and Energetics of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 26 July 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Every Bit Hurts: Quantifiable Effects of Low-level Anthropogenic Disturbance on Movement, Habitat Selection, and Energetics of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) Authors : Reta Lingrui Meng 0000-0002-9819-8021 [email protected] , Keith Nahwegahbow , and Patricia Chow-Fraser Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175353485.57292303/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 236 views 166 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Anthropogenic development negatively affects biodiversity worldwide, particularly wildlife with low fecundity, long lifespans, and extensive habitat requirements such as freshwater turtles. While large-scale habitat degradation’s effects on freshwater turtles are well-documented, the impact of low-level disturbances remain understudied, even though these subtler disturbances may alter movement patterns, increase energetic demands, and reduce reproductive success, threatening population viability. Understanding the impacts of all disturbance levels, including those considered minimal, is critical for effective conservation of sensitive species. In this study, we examined the response of the endangered Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) to a narrow range of low-level human disturbances in Northern Mnidoo Gamii (Georgian Bay), Ontario, Canada that included a reference site with no visible disturbance (REF), a site experiencing moderately low disturbances (DIS1; with roads), and a site experiencing higher levels of anthropogenic disturbances (DIS2; roads, industrial development). Using radio telemetry, we tracked 14 individuals (501 relocations) in REF during 2021 and 2022, as well as seven individuals (199 relocations) in DIS1, and 13 individuals (367 relocations) in DIS2 during 2023 and 2024. Turtles in DIS2 exhibited significantly larger home-range size, longer home-range length, and greater daily distance travelled than those in REF. Significant habitat selection was observed only in DIS2 at the landscape scale, whereas turtles in DIS1 and REF showed no significant selection at either the landscape or home-range scale. The increased movement in DIS2 was estimated to cost females the energetic equivalent of producing 1.85 more eggs per active season (18.5% of a full clutch). These findings highlight that even moderate habitat disturbances can impose substantial energetic burdens on freshwater turtles, and that there may be a disturbance threshold above which the long-term population viability is compromised. Conservation strategies should prioritize minimizing even low levels of habitat degradation to support the viability of at-risk freshwater turtle populations. Supplementary Material File (meng et al. 2025 final submission.docx) Download 6.42 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 26 July 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 17 Nov 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords description ecosystem freshwater multiple natural history none of the above statistical vertebrate Authors Affiliations Reta Lingrui Meng 0000-0002-9819-8021 [email protected] McMaster University View all articles by this author Keith Nahwegahbow Whitefish River First Nation View all articles by this author Patricia Chow-Fraser McMaster University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 236 views 166 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Reta Lingrui Meng, Keith Nahwegahbow, Patricia Chow-Fraser. Every Bit Hurts: Quantifiable Effects of Low-level Anthropogenic Disturbance on Movement, Habitat Selection, and Energetics of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Authorea . 26 July 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175353485.57292303/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. 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