Relative Abundance, Population Structure, and Conservation of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) in Missouri Between 1993–1994 and 2009

Six sites that were sampled for alligator snapping turtles in 1993–1994 were resampled in 2009 at the same locations where previous researchers trapped. Significantly fewer alligator snapping turtles were captured per trap night at all 6 sites, and the population structure of the alligator snapping turtles had a significantly different distribution in 2009 compared with 1993–1994. In order to continue monitoring their long-term trends in relative abundance and population structure, future sampling of alligator snapping turtles at these 6 sites is recommended.