1. AY7-2
AN7-5
AY7-4
AN7-1
AN7-3
AY7-3
AY7-1
AY7-6
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
-32.00 -31.00 -30.00 -29.00 -28.00 -27.00 -26.00
d15N
d13C
Nitrogen Ratios in Terrapin Eggs
Malaclemys Terrapin Eggs as Potential Nitrogen
Supply for Ammophila breviligulata
Madalyn F. Forte, Mark Teece, & Russel L. Burke
Results
Conclusions
AcknowledgementsMethods
• I sampled American beach grass,
from sites with Diamondback
terrapin nesting, and sites
without nesting around Gateway
National Recreation Area.
• The stable nitrogen isotope
(15N) composition was
measured in the newest
growth of the beach grass.
The 15N values were higher in
samples from sites without
nesting, than sites with nesting.
Background
• Diamondback terrapin inhabit
brackish water, and are native to
the coast of Long Island.
• They have been considered as a
supply of nitrogen to dune
ecosystems.
• Due to the decline of
Diamondback terrapins assessing
ecosystem services is an
important to their management.
Diamondback terrapin in
marine environment
Diamondback terrapin
nest laid in dune
ecosystem
American beach grass
above terrapin nest
Diamondback terrapin nest
destroyed by beach grass
roots
Hypothesis
• Diamondback Terrapins are not seen to transport
nutrients from marine systems to dune systems
• This study might have been complicated by a larger
population of sea gulls in the sites without nesting, and
their production of guano, which contains high levels of
nitrogen derived from the marine source
• Future studies can be done to isolate the plants from
external side sources of nitrogen, as well as include
controls of beach grass, grown in green houses that are
exposed to Diamondback Terrapin nests.
• Mark Teece Ph. D, Associate Professor at the SUNY
College of Environmental Science and Forestry. For his
expertise in chemistry and his assistance with data
analysis.
• Russell L. Burke Ph. D, Professor of Biology at Hofstra
University. For his support and assistance during sample
collection.
• Jesse Crandall, Ph. D candidate at the SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry. For his assistance on
processing samples.
• Don Riepe and the American
Littoral Society, for transportation
to sites and assistance in sample
collection.
For Further
Questions
Contact
mfforte@syr.edu