The Impact of Urbanization on Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) Behaviour

Abstract

Urbanization is one of the major causes of the global biodiversity crisis with reptiles being particularly vulnerable, due to factors such as habitat loss and road mortality. Behaviour plays a crucial role in determining the success of urban animals, but behavioural responses to urbanization are rarely studied in reptiles. I studied the differences in aggression, boldness, and exploration in painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) living in urban and undisturbed areas. I hypothesized that aggression, boldness, and exploration would increase in urban painted turtles. I studied painted turtles from 24 sites across an urban to undisturbed gradient in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada over the summers of 2021 and 2022. I captured turtles with hoop nets and tested their behaviour in the field, and the repeatability of their behaviour in the laboratory. I found that urbanization had a statistically significant, positive effect on painted turtle aggression and boldness, and no effect on exploration. Overall, I determined that urbanization is affecting painted turtle behaviour, but further research is required to better understand the factors behind this.