San Diego Management & Monitoring ProgramThe southwestern pond turtle (Emys marmorata pallida) is California’s only extant native freshwater turtle and is in decline throughout its range, having been extirpated from much of coastal southern California. Historically, the pond turtle inhabited coastal draining streams, ponds, and lakes feeding primarily on small aquatic invertebrates and vegetation while having no native aquatic predators). However, threats to the pond turtle now include altered hydrology (dams and diversions), habitat fragmentation and direct mortality from roads and development, and predation by nonnative aquatic species including bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). The San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP) supports the MSCP and has developed the Management Strategic Plan to define the management area (the western portion of San Diego County; MSPA) with distinct management units (11 management units grouping preserves and preserve complexes; MU) within the MSPA to assist with prioritizing management actions to conserve the 75 species covered by the MSCP, including the pond turtle. Since 2002, USGS, in support of Sandag and SDMMP, has been conducting research on the natural history of southwestern pond turtle to understand the demography of rare and listed taxa in the region which includes the MSPA. This research includes studying the responses of the pond turtle to large scale threats, such as drought and wildfire, as well as smaller scale threats, such as from nonnative taxa. Specifically, our research seeks to understand the causes of decline of the pond turtle on conserved lands, which includes lands within the MSPA, and how the populations respond to management actions including pond turtle translocation and nonnative aquatic species removal.
Project type: Habitat restoration
Target species: Southwestern pond turtle
Data steward: Chris Brown
Investigator: Robert N. Fisher
Main implementing entity: U.S. Geological Survey
Partner: California Department of Fish & Wildlife; San Diego Zoo
Point of contact: Chris Brown
Project Page manager: Sarah McCutcheon
SDMMP lead: Chris Brown
Study lead: Chris Brown