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<p>For threatened species like turtles and tortoises, size, growth, and morphometric measurements allow us to understand the selective forces shaping their life history and their environmental interactions and can inform conservation decisions. In this study, we analyzed size and growth patterns in Florida softshell turtles (<i>Apalone ferox</i>) at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Florida, USA. Size and growth data were obtained from 120 unique Florida softshells over a period of 16&#xa0;years. The relationships between weight (Wt) and carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW), plastron length (PL), and shell height (SH) were determined by using a series of Bayesian allometric models. The length weight allometric scale did not differ significantly between CW and PL, while SH and CL were significantly different from all other comparisons. For growth by age, we used a Fabens variant of the von Bertalanffy growth function parameterized with mark-recapture data. For all analyzed dimensions, female Florida softshells were predicted to grow significantly larger than males, but at a slower rate (median female <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\({L}_{\infty }\)</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mi>∞</mi> </msub> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> of 520&#xa0;mm CL vs. median male <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\({L}_{\infty }\)</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mi>∞</mi> </msub> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> of 397&#xa0;mm; median female k = 0.19 vs. median male k = 0.08), maturing at an age of between 13.4 and 19.8&#xa0;years relative to males at between 4.32 and 5.04&#xa0;years. Taken together, our results inform our understanding of the evolution of the Trionychid body plan and growth dynamics as well as the ecology of Florida softshells.</p>

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Multivariate sexual size dimorphism in the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月14日

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  • Eric Munscher,
  • Zachary A. Siders,
  • Michael Skibsted,
  • Shannon Letcher,
  • Madeleine Morrison,
  • Andrew D. Walde

摘要

For threatened species like turtles and tortoises, size, growth, and morphometric measurements allow us to understand the selective forces shaping their life history and their environmental interactions and can inform conservation decisions. In this study, we analyzed size and growth patterns in Florida softshell turtles (Apalone ferox) at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Florida, USA. Size and growth data were obtained from 120 unique Florida softshells over a period of 16 years. The relationships between weight (Wt) and carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW), plastron length (PL), and shell height (SH) were determined by using a series of Bayesian allometric models. The length weight allometric scale did not differ significantly between CW and PL, while SH and CL were significantly different from all other comparisons. For growth by age, we used a Fabens variant of the von Bertalanffy growth function parameterized with mark-recapture data. For all analyzed dimensions, female Florida softshells were predicted to grow significantly larger than males, but at a slower rate (median female \({L}_{\infty }\) L ∞ of 520 mm CL vs. median male \({L}_{\infty }\) L ∞ of 397 mm; median female k = 0.19 vs. median male k = 0.08), maturing at an age of between 13.4 and 19.8 years relative to males at between 4.32 and 5.04 years. Taken together, our results inform our understanding of the evolution of the Trionychid body plan and growth dynamics as well as the ecology of Florida softshells.