1951 Initiation of studies in ecology on the Savannah River Site by the University of Georgia.
1951 Initiation of studies in ecology on the Savannah River Site by the
University of Georgia.
1967 First turtle marked on the Savannah River Site.
1968 First drift fence constructed to enclose a large aquatic habitat.
1969 First report of fall and winter nesting by chicken turtles.
1976 First turtle X-rayed to determine the presence of eggs (now a technique used with oviparous reptiles worldwide).
1977 Publication of ecology and life history of the Florida cooter.
1978 Began photocopying turtles for identification based on plastron suture patterns.
1978 Confirmation that over wintering in the nest by hatchling turtles is a common strategy of freshwater turtles.
1983 Technique developed to allow discrimination of Kinosternon bauri (striped mud turtle) from K. subrubrum. Confirmed occurrence of K. bauri in South Carolina.
1984 First report on genetic differentiation of local slider turtle populations.
1986 Geographic comparisons made between southern (S.C.) and northern (Mich.) turtle populations, including snapping turtles and stinkpots.
1987 Determination that pelvic girdle opening size constrains egg size in turtles.
1989 First report of biomass productivity of freshwater turtles.
1990 Major synthesis of the ecology and life history of a turtle species: "Life History and Ecology of the Slider Turtle," Whit Gibbons, editor.
1992 Discovery that mud turtles nest primarily during rainstorms.
1992 Experimental verification of a water-finding ability by slider turtles when on land.
1967-93 More than 29,000 turtles captured in mark-release studies.
This fact sheet was produced by the Outreach Program of the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.
Last review: October 12, 2007