TURTLES ARE SOLAR POWERED
By Kelly Wallace
Turtles are incredibly sensitive to environmental changes, making them fully aware of seasonal shifts. Variances in temperature and the length of the day affect their hormone production and cause them to adopt behavior according to the season; thus, they instinctively know when it is time to come out of brumation (hibernation), mate, nest, stock up on food, and head for winter habitat. Adapting to seasonal changes is vital to their survival.
Sometime between March and April, the turtles stir from their sluggish state after the ice melts and the bottom layer of water bodies warms up, so ends winter brumation. Most have been in a revved-down metabolic state since October. Imagine not eating and partaking in next to no activity for 5 to 6 months. The cramped up state turtles are in at the end of winter, is hard to fathom. Coming out of brumation is a complex process. With turtles being ectotherms (cold-blooded) and relying on the environment to regulate their body temperature, it takes time for turtles to boost their metabolism and regain their depleted energy stores. Not surprisingly, turtles fresh out of winter dormancy head for basking sites to increase their core temperature and be physically rejuvenated.
Move over, Energizer Bunny. You’re great, and we love you, but make way for the real deal. “No batteries required.” Bring on the sun; turtles are solar-powered. Top that.
Where Turtles Bask
Turtles bask throughout the season and source out locations that often consist of fallen trees, driftwood or logs, exposed rocks, dead heads, emergent vegetation, etc. An ideal site for basking would be selected because it is positioned to optimize sunlight exposure and is not too far from the shoreline; open water will make turtles feel vulnerable. Turtles occasionally bask on a shoreline or sand, but this would be in chosen circumstances that do not pose the threat of predators. Turtles sometimes get creative and bask on docks, box culverts, discarded items floating in the water, etc.
Why Turtles Bask
Turtles engage in water and land basking, which allows them to absorb the sun’s warmth through their bodies. The sun’s rays help increase their body temperature, get their metabolism moving, and produce vitamin D, which improves calcium absorption and helps build strong bones and healthy shells.
Basking in the sun enables turtles to dry out their shell, which kills fungus and helps prevent parasites from attaching for a while. This can offer turtles relief from “Ectoparasites,” the scientific term for harmful organisms that attach themselves to the outside of an animal, such as leeches. Leeches can cause anemia in turtles if they parasitize for an extended period. Basking in direct sunlight would expose leeches to the heat of the sun and an inhospitable environment, making it difficult for them to survive.
Further, the sun can also refresh the turtle shell by drying it out and causing algae growth to fall off, freeing it from any parasites that may have been present with abundant growth. Some algae on the shell have benefits and play a role in providing turtles with camouflage, food, and protection for small fish and other aquatic organisms until the parasite load present is excessive. As always, the interrelations of an ecosystem unquestionably have it all worked out.
A particularly amusing aspect of basking is when turtles bask in a group, known as a bale, or pile on top of one another. Turtles do this to pool body heat, get closer to the heat source, and maximize exposure by changing the angle of their bodies. The creme de la creme is when turtles are spotted with their legs stretched out in a ballerina-like pose. They do this for optimal heat absorption.
New Basking Sites
So, a little sunshine goes a long way for turtles, and basking sites are essential! Property owners can help turtles by leaving shorelines natural, resisting the urge to remove that log jutting up from the lakebed, and letting nature be. If there are no natural sites, explore options that minimize environmental impact and contribute to conserving vulnerable species by introducing basking sites into lakes or bodies of water where turtle activity is known. Sometimes, the absence of natural basking sites can make it appear as if there is a decline in the turtle population in a specific area as compared to the past. When it is simply a case of a perfectly positioned log that way, it has been swept away by a storm or was manually removed.
When considering constructing a basking platform, it is essential to evaluate the effect the materials could have on the turtles exposed to them. For example, treated wood should not be used; if straw/hay is used, ensure it has not been treated with pesticides. It is also crucial to consider any adverse effects the materials used could have on the body of water the basking site will be introduced into and the aquatic ecosystem it supports.
Ideally, natural, re-purposed, or untreated materials, such as a log, a fallen tree, or driftwood found near the basking site location, are best. However, well-thought-out basking platforms or similar installations can be equally effective and appreciated by the turtles.
In addition to constructing a basking platform, flotation and anchoring products will be required so it floats and does not drift away. Again, it is imperative to consider the materials used. Some options may include natural jute rope vs. general-purpose synthetic rope that is good for outdoor use, cinder block vs. concrete anchor/plug, duckbill anchor if you can afford it, or plastic 4-litre jugs with sand, but there may be concerns about plastic. Researching anchoring materials and procedures for docking systems online will provide additional ideas that would be helpful in such an undertaking.
Turtle By Nature
Remember that no matter how thoughtfully constructed or inviting your basking platform may appear, turtles may not use it immediately. A new structure introduced into their natural habitat may be steered clear of until it has been sized up and transitioned from being new to part of the local aquatic landscape. Stay optimistic. You might get a surprise one day. Visit our website at https://thinkturtle.ca/basking-sites to view some ideas for basking docks. If anyone has successfully introduced a basking site into turtle habitat, we’d love to hear from you.
To contact the author, e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com or visit the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative website at http://www.thinkturtle.ca
Newspaper Submission (Print): Wallace, K. (2024, April 5). Turtles are solar powered.
Bancroft This Week, p. 5. http://www.bancroftthisweek.com
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