Edwin B.

Forsythe Wildlife Refuge: Cedar Bonnet Island

Final report based on diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) nesting surveys conducted
May through August 2018

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

under Special Use Permit 2018-019

Submitted by John Wnek, Ph.D.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science -
Project Terrapin in collaboration with
Ms. Alaina Perdon, Project Terrapin Research Assistant
and Ms. Amy Fullington, Project Terrapin Student Researcher

Correspondence

John Wnek, projectterrapin@gmail.com

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Project Terrapin Report for the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge: Cedar Bonnet Island (FWR-CBI) 2018
The mission of the Project Terrapin is to promote the conservation of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys
terrapin) through research. Project Terrapin is identifying suitable terrapin nesting habitat along Barnegat
Bay. Protecting nesting habitat is identified as one of the top priorities in terms of conservation across the
range of terrapins, more specifically, this nesting habitat is also important for some species of shore birds.
There is a mid-Atlantic terrapin management project in place to identify critical nesting habitat, but there
are many gaps along Barnegat Bay (Egger et al. 2015 in review). We feel that the habitat at FWI-CBI is
become better suited for nesting terrapins. Thus, there is a need to document and record terrapin sightings
so that we can better determine areas that define their critical habitat. The development of nesting areas
are important for the future of this species as more natural shoreline is becoming lost. In fact, the use of
reclaimed soils, dredge material has been shown to be a benefit to the reproductive ecology of terrapins
(Wnek et al. 2013). FWR-CBI provides a beneficial use of dredge materials to support diverse floral and
faunal species, including serving as a nesting area for shore birds and diamondback terrapin. It serves as
a habitat restoration project showing the beneficial use of dredge material. Other areas across the east
coast of the United States have demonstrated beneficial use of dredge including the development of
Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay (Roosenburg et al. 2003; Roosenburg and Kendall, 2004). North
Sedge Island was filled with dredge material in the early 1900’s and was used by nesting diamondback
terrapin since (Wnek, 2010). The purpose of this report is to determine key terrapin nesting areas on
Cedar Bonnet Island through nest observations during the 2018 nesting season, which was a continuation
of the 2017 project.

Methods:
Project Terrapin staff visited FWR-CBI on several days throughout the 2018 diamondback terrapin
nesting season from June through mid-July. During each visit, we walked the main trails, checking for
cavities dug by female terrapins or signs of predated nests. Each confirmed nest was marked using a
Garmin hand-held GPS 72 unit. We then highlighted areas that showed high densities of terrapin nesting.
We used a visual nest survey and documented terrapin nesting events (Figure 1 & 2). As a follow-up, we
monitored FWR-CBI in December 2018, taking ten soil samples (Figure 3). In both the summer and
winter visits, we grabbed soil samples from terrapin nesting areas and analyzed them for sand fractions,
soil conductivity (uS/cm) and organic composition. Eight soil samples were taken from FWR-CBI using
a 30 cm soil corer and taken back to the lab to dry at 140 0C for 24 hours. Sand fractions were conducted
by using LaMotte gravimetric methods. A volume of 15 mL of soil sample was treated with 30 mL
distilled water and a dispersal reagent was used to facilitate settling. A sand fraction was determined by
taking the volume of sand in relation to the original 15 mL of sample. Soil conductivity was determined
by taking one volume of sample and adding two volumes of distilled water, after mixing the sample, a
YSI 85 multimeter was used to determine soil conductivity (uS/cm; Rhoades 1996). Organic carbon
composition was conducted by placing 10 g of dry sample in a Muffle Furnace at 450 0C for 24 hours.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com
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Figure 1. Analysis of diamondback terrapin at the Cedar

Bonnet Island during the 2018 nesting season. Soil samples
were taken from nesting areas.

Results:
Diamondback terrapin nesting locations were mainly on the east trail leading to the water where the lower
gazebo was located (Figure 2). The greatest density of terrapin nesting was located near the water’s edge
in an area that serves as an observation area with a gazebo.

Terrapin Nest Densities:

Nest densities varied at the FWR-CBI site and locations were well dispersed (Figure 2), terrapin nest
densities varied considerably as compared with last year’s estimates (0.3 nests per square meter, 2017).
The overall area assessed in 2018 showed high densities on the trail heading east at the trail head (Figure
2) with densities similar to the nesting numbers last year. The overall density was also high from site 9 to
10 (Figure 3) with an active nest found on the trail. Most nests showed evidence of predation (Figure 4).
There was considerably more vegetation than last year on the east side of the trail between site 9 and 10
(Figure 3). Therefore, obtaining nesting densities was more challenging. It seems that the areas along the
roadside were selected most by nesting female terrapins. Overall, we estimate that there were well over
100 nesting occurrences from site 7 through site 10 along the roadside. There is a strong probability that
terrapin nesting evidence may be the same terrapin attempting more than one nesting event, therefore,
these are approximate values.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com
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Figure 2. Terrapin nesting areas on the FWR-CBI during the 2017 and 2018 nesting season. The red
marker denotes predated nests, the blue diamond represents possible nests based on observations, and the
green circles represent active terrapin nests.

Figure 3. Google Earth® Image of 10 sites used to sample along the EWR-CBI trails in December 2018.
Sites 6 – 10 are along the pathway where there is a greater density of diamondback terrapin nesting events.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com
 5

Soil Sample Analysis:

Soil samples were taken in July 2018 (N=8) and analyzed for sand fraction (Table 1) and conductivity
(uS/cm). Samples ranged from 3.9 to 15 out of 15 ml fractions of sand (32.7% - 100%) which is clay to
sand designation with most samples falling into the loamy-sand designation (Wentworth 1922; Figure 5).
The 3.9 ml sand fraction was a result of a pocket of clay that was found in one of the nesting areas. Out
of the samples taken, four were taken from predated terrapin nests, four from open holes dug but no eggs
were present and the others were from attempted terrapins that dug nests.

Table 1. Soil parameters taken from 8 sample locations at

FWR-CBI during the summer 2018. Conductivity levels (uS/cm)
were within values that are conducive for terrapin nesting activity.

Figure 4. Terrapin nesting Figure 5. Soil textural triangle with the loamy sand
site on FWR-CBI. and sand designation for terrapin nests on Cedar
Bonnet Island (N=8).

In terms of organics, the range of composition was from 0.31% to 2.26% (N=8) with an overall mean of
1.26% organics in the terrapin nesting soil at Cedar Bonnet Island (Figure 5). In comparison, terrapin
nests on N. Sedge Island had a soil organic range from 0.25% to 0.39% with a mean of 0.29% (N=12).
Cedar Run Dock Road had an organic composition ranging from 0.68% to 0.90% with a mean of 0.87%.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com
 6

Figure 5. Organic composition analysis

of soils taken from EWR-CBI in July
2018.

On Cedar Bonnet Island, soil conductivities in the terrapin nesting areas (around the maritime
transitional shrub communities ranged from 101.0 uS/cm to 382.0 uS/cm (N=8) which were comparable
to those at other terrapin nesting locations such as Cedar Run Dock Road that had values with a minimum
soil conductivity of 11 uS/cm and a maximum of 789 uS/cm. These values are also similar to those on N.
Sedge Island, an active terrapin nesting area, with values approximately ranging from 100 to 300 uS/cm.
In terms of our December 2018 sampling at 10 sampling locations, the conductivity range was 115 uS/cm
to a high of 1406 uS/cm at site 7 (Table 2). This value rivals high conductivity values at N. Sedge Island,
N.J. The area will be monitored since it is a high density terrapin nesting location.

Table 2. Soil conductivity values (uS/cm) from samples taken in December 2018 at
the FWR-CBI for comparative purposes (from Fullington 2019).

Site T1 (uS/cm) T2 (uS/cm) T3 (uS/cm) Mean (uS/cm)

1 498.0 539.0 538.0 525.00

2 185.3 177.8 182.2 181.77

3 588.0 592.0 593.0 591.00

4 89.5 128.3 127.8 115.20

5 109.9 115.3 122.3 115.83

6 167.3 205.6 206.3 193.07

7 1476.0 1388.0 1356.0 1406.67

8 870.0 815.0 783.0 822.67

9 165.5 142.7 195.3 167.83

10 108.4 122.2 123.1 117.90

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
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 7

Summary and Recommendations:

Our estimation of approximately 100 terrapin nesting occurrences was based on visual surveys.
Terrapins can attempt digging nests multiple times during a nesting cycle. This has been evidenced on N.
Sedge Island where some terrapins begin to dig nests and abandon the hole. Based on our survey, it
seems that one-third of the terrapin nests assessed fell under this category.
Throughout the summer, the vegetation can become denser in areas where terrapins dug nests in June.
However, this was not the case this year as it was in 2017 when there was a significantly greater density
of vegetation early in the terrapin nesting season versus the late summer when hatching and emergence
occurred. It seems that in 2018 the root structure and vegetative density were more established. Areas,
such as in Figure 2 (red circle) had a high terrapin nest density in 2017, but lower density in 2018 as a
result of increased vegetation (Figure 6). Managing the buffers along the pathways will be important as
these areas will serve as terrapin nesting sites such as along the main trail at the Wetlands Institute in
Stone Harbor, New Jersey, and the Edwin B. Forsythe Refuge at Brigantine.

Figure 6. Vegetation in terrapin nesting area at

FWR-CBI along the east pathway.

1. Continue to determine nest densities in the areas highlighted and protect any active nest using
predator protection cages (see attached specification sheet). Cages would be put on nests not on the
pathways, and active nests found in pathways would be relocated to open areas adjacent to pathways.
2. Capture nesting female terrapins to measure and mark as part of a mark-recapture study. We are
entering our third year of a mark-recapture study on Cedar Run Dock Road and we could better
determine the movement of terrapins in Manahawkin Bay complex and site fidelity at CBI.
3. Assess soils in terrapin nesting areas to determine organic composition and soil moisture potential.
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 to be analyzed annually. Also,
soil moisture can be analyzed as organics can alter these.
4. The impact of vegetation densities on active terrapin nests can be assessed, especially the change in
vegetation from early in the nesting season (late spring) through hatchling emergence in late summer.
Overall, we would like to continue to work on soil analysis at this site, and to study the nesting 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.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com
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Figure 7. MATES students collecting soil samples along the

east trail at FWR-CBI. This area is a known diamondback
terrapin nesting location.

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 assisted with data collection
for this project. Ms. Alaina Perdon compiled the nesting data for mapping purposes. Mr. Quinn Figueroa and
Ms. Teresa Brostow collected and analyzed soil samples during the nesting season. Ms. Amy Fullington studied
soil and composition at FWR-CBI and provided soil conductivity data for this project. Financial support was
through the Ocean County Vocational Technical School. All visits and surveys were conducted under U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Special Use Permit 2018-019.
References

Egger, S. and the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group. 2016. The Northern Diamondback Terrapin in the Northeastern
United States: A Regional Conservation Strategy.

Fullington, Amy. 2019. Soil quality at Cedar Bonnet Island: Analysis of various soil parameters in the
Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge; MATES Student Research Poster Presentation, March 16, Stockton University

Rhoades, J.D. 1996. Salinity: Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids. In Methods of Soil Analysis, ed. D.L. Sparks,
p. 417-436. Madison, Wisconsin: Soil Science Society of America.

Roosenburg, W.M. 1996. Maternal conditions and nest site choice: an alternative for the maintenance of environmental sex
determination? American Zoologist 36: 157–168.

Roosenburg, W.M., and W. Kendall. 2004. Demography, environmental variation and the conservation of terrapins. Abstract
from the 3rd Diamondback Terrapin Working Group Meeting. Jacksonville, Florida, September 17–19.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com
 9

Wentworth, C.K., 1922. A scale of grade and class terms for clastic sediments. Journal of Geology, 30: 377-392.

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.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

195 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
909-978-8439 ext. 4002
CRABBS.MATES@gmail.com