Distribution and habitat Bog turtle

bog turtle habitat in southern appalachians of western north carolina, during search turtles conservation organisations

the northern , southern bog turtle populations separated 400-kilometer (250 mi) gap on of virginia, lacks bog turtle colonies. in both areas, bog turtle colonies tend occupy scattered ranges.

the northern population larger of two. these individuals make home in states far north connecticut , massachusetts, , far south maryland. these turtles known have fewer 200 habitable sites left, number decreasing.

the southern population smaller in number (only 96 colonies have been located), living in states of north carolina, south carolina, georgia, virginia, , tennessee. area in particular has seen 90 percent of mountainous wetlands dry up. turtles in population more scattered in northern population , live @ higher elevations, 1,373 meters (4,505 ft).

evolutionary history

there have been 2 recorded discoveries of bog turtle fossils. late j. alan holman, paleontologist , herpetologist, first identified bog turtle plastral remains in cumberland cave, maryland (near corriganville), of irvingtonian age (from 1.8 million 300,000 years ago). second discovery of rancholabrean (between 300,000 , 11,000 years ago) shell pieces in giant cement quarry in south carolina (near harleyville), bentely , knight in 1998.

the bog turtle s karyotype composed of 50 chromosomes.

studies of variations in mitochondrial dna indicate low levels of genetic divergence among bog turtle colonies. unusual in species such bog turtle, have fragmented distributions , exist in small isolated groups (fewer 50 individuals in bog turtle colonies). these conditions limit gene flow, typically leading divergence between isolated groups. data indicate bog turtle suffered dramatic reductions in numbers – population bottleneck – colonies forced south in face of glaciation. receding glaciers led relatively recent post-pleistocene expansion, bog turtles moved former northern range. recent colonization relatively limited southern population may account reduction of genetic diversity. northern , southern populations @ present genetically isolated, consequence of farming , habitat destruction in virginia s shenandoah valley during american civil war.

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