I describe a modification to Shanks’ baby-step giant-step algorithm for computing the order n of an element g of a group G, assuming n is finite. My method has the advantage of being able to compute n quickly, which Shanks’ method fails to do when the order of G is infinite, unknown, or much larger than n. I describe the algorithm in detail. I also present the results of implementations of my a...

Oceanic currents are known to broadly shape the dispersal of juvenile sea turtles during their pelagic stage. Accordingly, simple passive drift models are widely used to investigate the distribution at sea of various juvenile sea turtle populations. However, evidence is growing that juveniles do not drift purely passively but also display some swimming activity likely directed towards favorable...

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a potentially powerful tool for detection and monitoring of rare species, including threatened native species and recently arrived invasive species. Here, we develop DNA primers for a suite of nine sympatric freshwater turtles, and use it to test whether turtle eDNA can be successfully detected in samples from aquaria and an outdoor pond. We also conduct a cost compa...

Cl(-) and K(+) activities in the follicular lumen and the intraluminal potential of the same lumen were measured simultaneously with specific liquid ion-exchanger and 3 M KCl microelectrodes, respectively, in turtle thyroid glands. The Cl(-) equilibrium potential between the thyroid interstitium and the lumen calculated from the measured Cl(-) activities was higher than the directly measured in...

The discovery of a new stem turtle from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) deposits of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, sheds new light on the early evolutionary history of Testudinata. Eileanchelys waldmani gen. et sp. nov. is known from cranial and postcranial material of several individuals and represents the most complete Middle Jurassic turtle described to date, bridging the morphological gap betw...

A recent study demonstrated that the embryos of soft-shelled turtles can reposition themselves within their eggs to exploit locally warm conditions. In this paper, we ask whether turtle embryos actively seek out optimal thermal environments for their development, as do post-hatching individuals. Specifically, (i) do reptile embryos move away from dangerously high temperatures as well as towards...

Contrary to what is found in most vertebrates, the brains of certain turtle species maintain ATP levels and ion homeostasis and survive prolonged anoxia. The hypothesis tested here is that the release of adenosine and its binding to A1 receptors are essential for this anoxic tolerance. Studies were conducted in the isolated turtle cerebellum, which did release adenosine to the extracellular spa...