Contrasting patterns of inbreeding and inbreeding depression in co-occurring spotted turtle and eastern box turtle populations

Maintenance of genetic diversity is critical for preserving adaptive potential and avoiding inbreeding depression and further population decline. Eastern box turtles and spotted turtles co-occur in remnant oak savanna landscapes, and while both species have experienced habitat fragmentation, remaining spotted turtle populations are smaller, more isolated, and potentially more vulnerable to inbreeding depression than box turtle populations. To test this prediction, we estimated population size, measured total area occupied, quantified home range size, measured baseline physiological stress levels, and calculated inbreeding coefficients in three populations of both species. We used egg-hatching success and hatchling survival to overwintering as potential evidence of inbreeding depression. Spotted turtles had smaller population sizes, occupied smaller geographic areas, had smaller home ranges, and had higher baseline physiological stress levels than box turtles. Box turtle p..., , , # Data from: Contrasting patterns of inbreeding and inbreeding depression in co-occurring spotted turtle and eastern box turtle populations

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pvmcvdnwc](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pvmcvdnwc)

## Description of the data and file structure

Characteristics of three populations each of eastern box turtles (*Terrapene carolina carolina*) and spotted turtles (*Clemmys guttata*) in northwestern Ohio and southern Michigan in 2018-2019. Adult females (FemaleID2) of each species (Species) from three study sites (Site) in Ohio and Michigan (State) were radio-tracked over two years (Year) throughout the active seasons, and annual home ranges were calculated for each individual in each year as minimum convex polygons, using one radio-location per day (MCP in “SWGFemaleMCP.csv”). From blood smear slides prepared from adult (AdultID) males and females (Sex) of each species (Species) at each study site (Site) in Ohio or Michigan (State), we counted ~100 white blood cel...,