Edwin B.

Forsythe Wildlife Refuge: Cedar Bonnet Island

Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) nesting location surveys including

soil conductivity, soil moisture, and soil organics conducted
February through May 2022

Report prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Submitted by Julia Takla

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science
(MATES)
Research Coordinator: Dr. John Wnek, Ph.D.

Correspondence
John Wnek, jwnek@mail.ocvts.org

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES)

195 Cedar Bridge Rd, Stafford Township, NJ, 08050
 1

Report for the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge: Cedar Bonnet Island (FWR-CBI) 2022
Summary/Introduction:

Various environmental factors can play a significant role in the success of nesting and reproduction
of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). Significant indicators of optimal terrapin nesting
locations include soil type and soil features. Such features include soil conductivity, soil moisture,
and soil organic matter. High content of soil electrical conductivity typically indicates high soil
moisture which is favorable for developing eggs and ground stability during incubation (Clowes
2013). Soil organic matter serves as a storage for moisture, increasing firmness in the ground for the
eggs. All of these factors contribute to successful reproduction in diamondback terrapins. One of the
primary concerns in the conservation of diamondback terrapins is the preservation and restoration of
nesting habitat. An issue surrounding the deterioration in nesting habitat quality for terrapins across
coastal areas of North America is the reduction of sandy soil nesting locations. Because of this,
terrapins relocate and find nesting sites at other habitats of different substrates such as dredge soil
(Wnek 2010). Cedar Bonnet Island in Manahawkin, New Jersey provides dredge soil which has
been considered an optimal habitat for nesting terrapins. Dredge soil is an unconsolidated soil, rock
and organic matter mixture that can be used to produce anthropogenic landforms (Shoeneberger and
Wysocki 2005). In an uncontaminated form, dredge soil has been demonstrated as a successful
substrate for quality terrapin habitats (Wnek 2013). Therefore, Cedar Bonnet Island, providing
dredge soil as a habitat for nesting terrapins, can be monitored for certain parameters to illustrate
correlations between reproductive terrapin success and soil features.

Study Site:

Figure 1: Display of twelve sites along the east trail of Cedar Bonnet Island.
Measurements of conductivity, moisture, and organics were obtained from each
site. The map was created using the Google Earth® GIS software.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
 2

Table 1: Display of the GPS coordinates of all twelve sites along the east trail of
Cedar Bonnet Island.
Site Waypoint Latitude Longitude
1 107 39.65473 N -74.1953 W
2 108 39.65471 N -74.19501 W
3 109 39.65465 N -74.1946 W
4 110 39.65457 N -74.19427 W
5 111 39.65381 N -74.19345 W
6 112 39.65358 N -74.19347 W
7 113 39.65307 N -74.19345 W
8 114 39.6528 N -74.19351 W
9 115 39.65238 N -74.1935 W
10 116 39.65192 N -74.19362 W
11 117 39.65158 N -74.1937 W
12 118 39.65159 N -74.19375 W

Methodology:

Obtaining Data-

A research team coordinated by Dr. Wnek visited twelve distinct sites along the east trail of
Cedar Bonnet Island (FWR-CBI) and collected twelve samples of soil; one for every site. The GPS
coordinates of each of the twelve sites were obtained when sampling the soil. Each sample was
obtained from popular diamondback terrapin nesting locations in order to assess soil features from
common terrapin habitats. Subsequently, student researchers from the Marine Academy of Technology
and Environmental Science utilized the FWR-CBI soil samples to measure and record values of
composition (or sand and silt fractions), soil conductivity, organic composition (%), soil moisture (%),
sulfates (ppm), pH, and iron (ppm) (for this report, only conductivity, moisture, and organic matter
composition will be analyzed).

Soil conductivity values were obtained by utilizing a method in which the soil sample was
diluted with distilled water in a graduated cylinder in order for the YSI Multimeter 556 probe to obtain
soil conductivity values in microsiemens; this was repeated for all twelve sites. Organic composition
percentages were obtained by putting the twelve soil samples into crucibles and heating them in the
kiln in order to burn off the organic matter. To calculate the percentage of organic matter, the combined
masses of the soil and the crucible were subtracted from the organic mass and crucible and divided by

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
 3
the total in order to determine percent composition. Soil moisture content was measured by utilizing an
OHAUS MB 23 soil moisture analyzer (Figure 2) and changing the mode to percent, in order for the
analyzer to process and display moisture percentages. 5.00 grams of soil from each sample were run in
the moisture analyzer until the timer went off meaning that the moisture had evaporated. The
moisturizer displayed the percentage on the digital screen. The data for all of these parameters were
recorded and organized into a spreadsheet for further analysis and interpretation.

Figure 2: OHAUS MB 23 Soil Moisture Figure 3: YSI 556 Multimeter used to

Analyzer used to determine moisture content in determine soil conductivity (mS/cm)
each of the twelve soil samples.

Statistical Analysis-
Comparisons between site and soil conductivity (mS/cm), soil moisture composition (%), and soil
organic composition (%) are made. A regression analysis is performed between the soil conductivity and
soil moisture content parameters in order to determine an R2 value. Additionally, a student’s one-tailed
t-test is performed to determine whether the data was statistically significant or insignificant. An ANOVA
test is performed to determine whether there are any statistically significant differences among the soil
parameters.

Results/Discussion:

Soil Analysis:

Twelve sampling locations were visited to collect soil samples, each being conducted for
conductivity (uS/cm), moisture composition(%), and organic composition (%). The conductivities
ranged from 13.2 uS/cm to 179.6 uS/cm. The moisture composition percentages ranged from 4.6% to
14.6%. Finally, the organic matter composition ranged from 1.63% to 3.35%. Other parameters
include pH, which ranged from 4.97 to 6.98, sulfates (ppm), which ranged from 7 ppm tp 59 ppm,
iron (ppm), which ranged from 0.11 ppm to 1.34 ppm, and compaction (cm), which ranged from 2 cm
to 20 cm. A regression analysis was performed between the moisture content in the soil and soil

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
 4
2
conductivity. An R value of 0.814 was produced which indicates a correlation between the data. This
is because soil conductivity, an indicator of the amount of salt ions in the soil, can reveal information
regarding water capacity in the water which is beneficial for nesting and incubation of eggs. However,
site 7 (Figure 4) appears to have a significantly higher conductivity value compared to the other sites,
contrarily to Figure 5, which shows a slightly lower value of moisture content. But when the two
parameters were compared side by side, a linear pattern was evident in the scatter plot and supported
by a relatively high R2 value (0.814).

Although soil moisture is typically optimal when it comes to nesting terrapins laying eggs on firm,
sturdy grounds, too much moisture can sometimes negatively affect hatching success. A superfluous
amount of moisture composition % can lead to a lot of vegetation which is not the most favorable nesting
site for terrapins. Diamondback terrapins usually prefer areas with short, patchy vegetation so they can lay
their eggs whereas denser vegetative areas can lead to slow development and a higher mortality rate
(Grosse et. al, 2015). Additionally, a higher conductivity value is associated with higher nutrients. In
general, a favorable range of soil conductivity is 110 to 570 microsiemens. However, since diamondback
terrapins have a tendency to prefer slightly less vegetitative habitats, the lower quartile of the range is
most advantageous (USDA 2014). Despite these parameters, there are a number of other factors that
contribute to terrapin reproduction and success rates that may not be accounted for in this survey.

Figure 4: Conductivity (mS/cm) readings (n=12; +5% error) from twelve

different sites along the east trail of Cedar Bonnet Island.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
 5
Figure 5: Moisture composition (%) readings (n=12; +5% error) from twelve
different sites along the east trail of Cedar Bonnet Island.

Figure 6: Organic composition (%) readings (n=12; +5% error) from

twelve different sites along the east trail of Cedar Bonnet Island.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
 6
Figure 7: Comparison of conductivity (mS/cm) and moisture
composition(%), obtained from all twelve sites. Regression test with a
95% confidence interval yields an R2 value of 0.814. This indicates
correlation is present between the data (n=12).

Recommendations & Conclusion:

The parameters obtained and analyzed throughout this location survey reveal significant information
that could lead to improved conservation of nesting terrapins and protection of an important east coast
species. By using this data to initiate new experiments and actions, the preservation of the
diamondback terrapin could be successfully fulfilled with continuity and advancement. Some
recommendations previously acknowledged in prior years are as follows.

1. Partnership with US Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a plan to utilize dredge materials and amend
nesting areas FWR-CBI. Take appropriate measures to ensure that terrapins can nest in these areas,
such as: controlling vegetation growth so that it does not grow into the trail and increasing the amount
of sand in the soil by adding dredge material, acceptable nesting soil with a composition
predominantly of sand (Wnek et al. 2013).
2. Continuous assessment of soils in terrapin nesting areas to determine changes in organic composition,
soil moisture content, soil compaction. Since CBI has dredge material that can be compared with an
area that consists of dredge material of nearly 100 years. Changes in organic composition should
continue annually.
3. We would like to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on some conservation initiatives to
promote better, more open nesting opportunities along walking trails using methods that result in little
impact on the buffering capacity of the vegetation within FWR-CBI.

Overall, we would like to continue to work on soil analysis at this site, and to study the nesting

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
 7
ecology of diamondback terrapin at the FWR-CBI. All research will be conducted in accordance
with research permits from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, and a Special Use Permit
through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Acknowledgements
Thanks to the staff at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their support. Thanks to the Ocean County
Vocational Technical School District and MATES Project Terrapin summer interns who assisted with
data collection for this project. We studied soil parameters and composition at the FWR-CBI and
conducted soil conductivity data for this project at the MATES School. Financial support was through
the Ocean County Vocational Technical School.

References
11
Schoeneberger, P.J. and D.A. Wysocki. 2005. Geomorphic description system, version 3.3. USDA-
NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE

Clowes, E.L. 2013. Influences of vegetation on Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin
terrapin) nest site selection. Ohio University, OH

U.S. Geological Service. 2003. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Science brief for resource
managers - the diamondback terrapin in the Chesapeake Bay.
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/products/sciencebriefs/sb01sm.pdf. Accessed March 2016.

Wnek, J.P. 2010. Anthropogenic Impacts on the Nesting Ecology of the Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin). PhD Thesis, Drexel University, PA.

Wnek, JP, WF Bien and HW Avery. 2013. Artificial nesting habitats as a conservation strategy
for turtle populations experiencing global change. Journal of Integrative Zoology 8: 209 – 221.

Wood, R.C. and R. Herlands. 1997. Turtles and Tires: the impact of roadkills on Northern
Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin, populations on the Cape May peninsula,
southern New Jersey, USA. In: Van Abbema, J(Ed.). Proceedings: Conservation, Restoration,
and Management of Tortoises and Turtles – An International Conference. N.Y. Turtle and
Tortoise Society: 46 – 53.

Wurst, B. 2020. Great Bay Terrapin Project. Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002