SOUTHWESTERN POND TURTLE DEMOGRAPHIC SIZE AND SEX RATIO CHANGES AFTER DROUGHT AND FIRE AT THE SANTA ROSA PLATEAU ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Barry S Nerhus; Endemic Environmental Services Inc. ; bnerhus@endemicenvironmental.net; Hailey Laskey

After a decadal long drought and the recent Tenaja Fire at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in Riverside County, CA, a southwestern pond turtle population was sampled and demography assessed in Spring 2023. The population experienced a change from previous data, where turtle growth was stunted and the sex ratio shifted to a male bias sex ratio. The changes in population demography indicate that these stochastic events are causing a disruption in population stability and may have long term effects. There is a need to further investigate and monitor this population to better understand the long term effects these events will have on this turtle population.

Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles - III