Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) COSEWIC assessment and status report 2012: chapter 13
Technical Summary
Chrysemys picta bellii
Western Painted Turtle - Pacific Coast population
Tortue peinte de l’Ouest
Range of Occurrence in Canada: BC (Vancouver Island, lower Fraser River valley southwest mainland)
Extent and Area Information
| Extent of occurrence (EO) (km2) GIS query of range based on records with geographic coordinates |
4000 km2 |
| Specify trend in EO | Declining. |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in EO? | |
| Area of occupancy (AO) (km2) estimated from area of potential nesting sites [explain source of information and calculation] |
<10 km2 |
| Specify trend in AO | Unknown; suspect decline in most of range |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in AO? | No |
| Number of known or inferred current locations | 6 localities |
| Specify trend in # | Decline |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations? | Unknown |
| Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat | Declining habitat |
Population Information
| Generation time (average age of parents in the population) | 35 years |
| Number of mature individuals | Probably fewer than 250 |
| Total population trend | Decline |
| % decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals? | No |
| Is the total population severely fragmented? | Probably is fragmented |
| Specify trend in number of populations | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations? | No |
| List populations with number of mature individuals in each: | Unknown |
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
1. Vehicles kill females in search of nesting grounds; and this chronic increase in mortality will reduce populations of this long-lived species particularly since hatchling mortality is also high and few hatchlings survive to maturity.
2. Human population growth has led to rising pressures from development in or around wetlands.
3. Introduced Red-eared Slider turtles may be a threat.
2. Human population growth has led to rising pressures from development in or around wetlands.
3. Introduced Red-eared Slider turtles may be a threat.
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
| USA: N5T5; common in adjacent states, rare in some extreme southwest U.S. pockets (WA-S5, ID-S4, MT-S5, ND-SNR, MN-SNR, WI-S5, MI(UP)-S5, IL-S5, IW-S5, SD-S5, NB-S5, WY-S4, CO-S5, AZ-S1, TX-S1, KA-S5, OK-S2) |
|
| Is immigration known or possible? | No |
| Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada? | Yes |
| Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada? | Yes |
| Is rescue from outside populations likely? | No |
Quantitative Analysis
None
Current Status
COSEWIC: New assessment / Endangered, April 2006
(S1 in Alberta, S3S4 in B.C., S4 in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
(S1 in Alberta, S3S4 in B.C., S4 in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
Status and Reasons for Designation
| Status: Endangered |
Alpha-numeric code: B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii); C2a(i); D1 |
| Reasons for Designation: There are few records from Vancouver Island and the mainland south coast/ Fraser River valley, and both regions are undergoing major loss of wetlands and a rapid increase in roads, development, and people. Recent searches of the lower Fraser River valley and of eastern Vancouver Island indicate the subspecies has declined in some of the handful of areas where it was previously observed. |
|
Applicability of Criteria
Criterion A (Declining Total Population):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation):
The AO is less than 500 km2. It is known from only a few locations, and continuing decline can be inferred in habitat area and quality and number of individuals and both EO and AO.
The AO is less than 500 km2. It is known from only a few locations, and continuing decline can be inferred in habitat area and quality and number of individuals and both EO and AO.
Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline):
There are certainly fewer than 2500 adults and continuing decline can be inferred because of increasing loss of habitat and increase in road traffic. No population contains more than 250 adult turtles.
There are certainly fewer than 2500 adults and continuing decline can be inferred because of increasing loss of habitat and increase in road traffic. No population contains more than 250 adult turtles.
Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution):
There are likely fewer than 250 adults.
There are likely fewer than 250 adults.
Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis):
Not available.
Not available.
Chrysemys picta bellii
Western Painted Turtle - Intermountain - Rocky Mountain population
Tortue peinte de l’Ouest
Range of Occurrence in Canada: BC (Okanagan Valley, Kootenays)
Extent and Area Information
| Extent of occurrence (EO) (km2) GIS query of range based on records with geographic coordinates |
32 000 km2 |
| Specify trend in EO | Declining. |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in EO? | No |
| Area of occupancy (AO) (km2) based on the area of wetland available to turtles [explain source of information and calculation] |
<100 km2 |
| Specify trend in AO | Declining |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in AO? | No |
| Number of known or inferred current locations | Unknown |
| Specify trend in # | Probably declining |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations? | No |
| Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat | Declining |
Population Information
| Generation time (average age of parents in the population) | 35 years |
| Number of mature individuals | Unknown |
| Total population trend | Declining |
| % decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals? | No |
| Is the total population severely fragmented? | Possibly. Certainly, fragmentation is increasing. |
| Specify trend in number of populations | Declining |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations? | No |
| List populations with number of mature individuals in each: | Unknown |
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
1. Loss of wetlands to development, drainage for agriculture and increasing natural drought.
2. Increase in road networks and road traffic
3. Increase in abundance of predators (raccoons) of eggs and all age classes
2. Increase in road networks and road traffic
3. Increase in abundance of predators (raccoons) of eggs and all age classes
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
| USA: N5T5; common in adjacent states, rare in some extreme southwest U.S. pockets (WA-S5, ID-S4, MT-S5, ND-SNR, MN-SNR, WI-S5, MI(UP)-S5, IL-S5, IW-S5, SD-S5, NB-S5, WY-S4, CO-S5, AZ-S1, TX-S1, KA-S5, OK-S2) |
|
| Is immigration known or possible? | Possible |
| Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada? | Yes |
| Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada? | Possibly |
| Is rescue from outside populations likely? | Unknown |
Quantitative Analysis
None
Current Status
COSEWIC: New assessment / Special Concern,, April 2006
(S1 in Alberta, S3S4 in B.C., S4 in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
(S1 in Alberta, S3S4 in B.C., S4 in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
Status and Reasons for Designation
| Status: Special Concern |
Alpha-numeric code: NA |
| Reasons for Designation: The number of turtles is likely small and declining because of extensive loss of wetland habitats and proliferation of roads. |
|
Applicability of Criteria
Criterion A (Declining Total Population):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation):
Not applicable unless severely fragmented. Degree of fragmentation is unknown.
Not applicable unless severely fragmented. Degree of fragmentation is unknown.
Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline):
Not applicable because there are no estimates of abundance.
Not applicable because there are no estimates of abundance.
Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis):
Not available.
Not available.
Chrysemys picta bellii
Western Painted Turtle - Prairie/Western Boreal - Canadian Shield population
Tortue peinte de l’Ouest
Range of Occurrence in Canada: southern AB, SK, MB, western ON
Extent and Area Information
| Extent of occurrence (EO) (km2) GIS query of range based on records with geographic coordinates |
390 000 km2 |
| Specify trend in EO | Likely stable and large. |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in EO? | No |
| Area of occupancy (AO) (km2) [explain source of information and calculation] |
Unknown, but likely substantial |
| Specify trend in AO | Stable |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in AO? | No |
| Number of known or inferred current locations | Unknown |
| Specify trend in # | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations? | No |
| Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat | Decline |
Population Information
| Generation time (average age of parents in the population) | 35 years |
| Number of mature individuals | Unknown |
| Total population trend | Unknown-Stable |
| % decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals? | No |
| Is the total population severely fragmented? | No |
| Specify trend in number of populations | Likely stable |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations? | No |
| List populations with number of mature individuals in each: | Unknown |
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
There may be loss of habitat in Saskatchewan and Alberta, especially if drought becomes a severe problem.
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
| USA: N5T5; common in adjacent states, rare in some extreme southwest U.S. pockets (WA-S5, ID-S4, MT-S5, ND-SNR, MN-SNR, WI-S5, MI(UP)-S5, IL-S5, IW-S5, SD-S5, NB-S5, WY-S4, CO-S5, AZ-S1, TX-S1, KA-S5, OK-S2) |
|
| Is immigration known or possible? | Possibly |
| Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada? | Yes |
| Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada? | Yes |
| Is rescue from outside populations likely? | Yes |
Quantitative Analysis
None
Current Status
COSEWIC: New assessment / Not at Risk, April 2006
(S1 in Alberta, S3S4 in B.C., S4 in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
(S1 in Alberta, S3S4 in B.C., S4 in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)
Status and Reasons for Designation
| Status: Not at Risk |
Alpha-numeric code: NA |
| Reasons for Designation: Populations are numerous and widespread and there is an abundance of good habitat, especially in the eastern part of the range (Ontario). |
|
Applicability of Criteria
Criterion A (Declining Total Population):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution):
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis):
Not available.
Not available.
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