Introduced red foxes (

Chessman, Bruce C.

doi:10.1071/pc21058

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Studies of turtle nest predation may be biased by differing detectability of intact and raided nests by human observers (Chessman, 2022). Raided nests are more visible and evident for a longer period than intact nests or exit holes, and exit holes are more visible and evident for longer than intact nests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A shocking result—Electric fences protect western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) nests from depredation by foxes

Streeting

Dillon²,

Nesbitt³

et al. 2023

Austral Ecology

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Introduced red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are a major predator of freshwater turtle nests in Australia. We evaluated the effectiveness of electric fences, in combination with individual nest protection, for shielding western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii: Chelidae) nests from predation by foxes. We compared the numbers of raided and intact turtle nests found in paired fenced treatment and unfenced control areas of streambank. We also individually protected all intact nests found in both area types with wire mesh or a steel cage. The total numbers of nests found in treatment and control areas did not significantly differ from parity, but significantly more intact nests were found in treatment areas and significantly more raided nests in control areas. The fences were occasionally damaged by livestock, wildlife and flooding, rendering them inoperative for varying periods of time until repair. However, foxes raided nests inside the fences on only two occasions, despite these breaks in functionality. Our study demonstrates that electric fences can provide an effective method of protecting entire nesting areas from depredation by foxes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A shocking result—Electric fences protect western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) nests from depredation by foxes

Streeting

Dillon²,

Nesbitt³

et al. 2023

Austral Ecology

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“…Identifying predators is also important because there may be rare predatory species among them, such as, e.g., Eurasian otter or European wildcat ( Felis silvestris Schreber, 1775). It is only based on knowledge of egg predators that appropriate loss-reducing measures can be taken for conservation management [ 49 , 71 , 72 , 73 ]. European pond turtles are characterized by habitat fidelity and longevity [ 74 , 75 , 76 ], which is why females try to lay eggs in the same place for several years, despite high predation pressure [ 77 , 78 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) Nest Predation: A Study with Artificial Nests

Purger

Molnár

Lanszki

et al. 2023

Biology

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Nest predation significantly impacts the population decline of the long-living European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). Kis-Balaton is one of the most important habitats of this species in Hungary, and in May 2017 more than 400 damaged nests were counted. To reveal predation pressure, we conducted a study with artificial nests on three sites in this area. On each site, we used 11 depredated real nests, and near each of them, we created new artificial nests; then in every nest we put one quail egg, one plasticine egg and several turtle egg shells. After that, we sprayed the smoothed surface of the covered holes with water-diluted turtle urine, imitating the turtle’s behaviour. Already in the first three nights, 94% of all nests were depredated by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and in one case by the European badger (Meles meles), which was confirmed by the bite marks preserved on the plasticine eggs, by the footprints and excrements found near the nests, as well as by camera recordings. Only 6% of the nests survived during the three weeks of our study. Daily survival rates of quail eggs in artificial nests established in both real (damaged) and in new nests were similar, suggesting that estimates obtained with artificial nests reflect the degree of predation pressure on real nests. On the site where the nests were scattered, their daily survival rate (33%) was significantly lower than on the sites where their arrangement was partly scattered, partly linear (83%), or only linear (76%). On two additional sites, by using simulated turtle nests we showed that spraying the nests with diluted turtle urine and marking them with a flag did not affect their survival, although further methodological testing is needed. The information obtained with artificial nests enables the organization of the protection of the nests of the European pond turtle and selective predator control.

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“…Thompson (1983) also noted that Cooper Creek had a high number of juveniles compared to E. m. macquarii populations in the Murray River and suggested that this was a result of differences in nest predation rates by invasive foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), which are common and abundant around the Murray River, but rare or absent around Cooper Creek. Subsequent research also found low proportions of juveniles in the Murray River (Chessman, 2011; Van Dyke et al, 2019); however, the role of foxes in that trend is not universally accepted (Chessman, 2021). It would be useful to systematically examine nest predation rates by natural nest predators at Cooper Creek.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology and morphology of Australia's desert turtle (Emydura macquarii emmotti)

McKnight,

Georges,

Guarino

et al. 2023

Austral Ecology

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Cooper Creek is one of Australia's largest unregulated river systems and one of the world's most variable large river systems. It is a dynamic environment that oscillates between booms and busts; yet, many species thrive in it. One of these species, the Cooper Creek turtle (Emydura macquarii emmotti) has received little attention, despite being one of Australia's largest freshwater turtles and living further inland than any other Australian turtle. We conducted surveys for E. m. emmotti in 2001–2004, 2019, and 2022, focussing predominantly on the Waterloo waterhole. Waterloo had a large population of E. m. emmotti (508 estimated individuals; 95% CI = 447–596) with an estimated density of 64.8 turtles/ha (95% CI = 57.0–76.2) and estimate biomass of 74.4 kg/ha (95% CI = 57.6–100.3 kg/ha). Juveniles were highly abundant in all years, representing up to 63.6% of captured individuals. It was slightly (but not significantly) male‐biased in 2001–2004 and significantly female‐biased in 2019. All sizes and sexes used the floodplain during a flooding event in 2022, but more males than females were captured on the floodplain, and there was evidence of male‐biased dispersal across the years. Compared to Murray River turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii), E. m. emmotti exhibited megacephaly across all ages and sexes, with particularly pronounced megacephaly in adult females. Algae were present on many individuals (including on the skin and plastron) but was relatively more abundant on juveniles. Leeches were not detected on any of the 66 turtles that were examined for them. The following injuries/malformations were noted: missing or injured limbs (3.2%), missing or injured eyes (1.3%), damaged shells (8.0%), scute/shell anomalies and malformations (10.6%), and marginal scute seams extending into the costals (67.4% of adults, 1.2% of juveniles). This paper presents some of the first work on this unusual turtle and makes recommendations for future research.

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Introduced red foxes (

Cited by 10 publications

References 91 publications

A shocking result—Electric fences protect western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) nests from depredation by foxes

A shocking result—Electric fences protect western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) nests from depredation by foxes

European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) Nest Predation: A Study with Artificial Nests

The ecology and morphology of Australia's desert turtle (Emydura macquarii emmotti)

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