Nesting Ecology and Predation of Diamondback Terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, at Gateway National Recreation Area, New York

Feinberg, Jeremy A.; Burke, Russell L.

doi:10.1670/207-02a

Cited by 85 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Procyon lotor L. (Raccoon), for example, exhibits greater abundance in heterogeneous than in homogeneous landscapes (Oehler andLitvaitis 1996, Pedlar et al 1997). Greater abundance of Raccoons in fragmented landscapes is often assumed to cause negative effects for other species, such as greater rates of nest predation for songbirds (Donovan et al 1997, Schmidt 2003 and depredation of threatened species (e.g., turtles or their eggs; Feinberg andBurke 2003, Mitchell andKlemens 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Activity is Better Predicted by Water Availability than Land Cover in a Moderately Fragmented Landscape

Heske

Ahlers

2016

Northeastern Naturalist

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Activity is Better Predicted by Water Availability than Land Cover in a Moderately Fragmented Landscape

Heske

Ahlers

2016

Northeastern Naturalist

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“…commun.). Although the importance of studying terrestrial predators is well known (Feinberg and Burke, 2003;Draud et al, 2004), this study demonstrates the importance of examining predation by aquatic predators as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Because nesting exposes females to terrestrial predators (e.g. raccoons), females should be injured more often than males (Feinberg and Burke, 2003), but because the frequency of major injuries did not vary between the sexes, terrestrial predators were unlikely to be a major cause of such injuries and limb loss was probably a result of aquatic encounters similar to those found in sea turtles (Heithus et al, 2002). Furthermore, if limb loss occurred in aquatic habitats, larger predators would be more likely to be present in the Kiawah River where terrapins experienced a higher limb loss rate than in smaller tidal creeks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Predation on diamondback terrapins has been reported on adults during nesting and on juveniles during hatching and emergence from hibernation (Lazell and Auger, 1981;Feinberg and Burke, 2003;Draud et al, 2004), but researchers know little about aquatic predators on terrapins. Sea turtles are known to experience injuries as a result of attempted predation by several species of sharks (Fergusson et al, 2000;Heithaus et al 2002Heithaus et al , 2005, but sharks captured in many tidal creeks of Kiawah Island (adult bonnethead sharks -Sphyrna tiburo, and juveniles of other species) would be unlikely to prey on diamondback terrapins (F. Schwarz, pers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Examining patterns of limb loss and other major injuries can allow inference about the causes of injuries and/or the types of predators affecting terrapins (Schoener, 1979). If human-subsidized, terrestrial predators, such as raccoons or crows (Feinberg and Burke, 2003), prey on diamondback terrapins, female terrapins should exhibit higher frequencies of limb loss as a result of attempted predation during nesting. Alternatively, if major injuries result primarily from aquatic encounters, male and female terrapins should exhibit relatively equal rates of limb loss.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecological effects of major injuries in diamondback terrapins: implications for conservation and management

Cecala

Gibbons

Dorcas

2008

Aquatic Conservation

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ABSTRACT1. Many turtle species frequently suffer major injuries due to attempted predation or anthropogenic factors. Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are one species known to be affected by anthropogenic activity, but little is known about the causes of injuries. In declining diamondback terrapin populations, learning more about causes and results of injuries can be helpful in developing sound management plans.2. Patterns of limb loss and major shell injuries were examined in a population of terrapins studied for 24 years at Kiawah Island, South Carolina to infer the causes and effects of injuries and possible predators on terrapins.3. The rate of shell injuries increased temporally, possibly as a result of increased watercraft activity. Because no differences in rates of limb loss were found between males and females, limb loss probably results from aquatic encounters (i.e. limb loss does not appear to be the result of terrestrial predation during nesting). Furthermore, males experienced reduced body condition when injured, and terrapins with a major injury had lower survivorship than uninjured terrapins.4. Therefore, in addition to reducing sources of mortality and protecting nesting habitat, measures to protect terrapins from watercraft activity may increase the survivorship of adult terrapins.

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Long‐term habitat degradation affects nest site selection behaviour by a freshwater turtle (Chelodina oblonga) in Western Australia

Santoro,

Chambers,

Ebner

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Freshwater turtles are one of the most endangered vertebrate groups with >60% of species threatened globally. Terrestrial nesting habitat degradation is a major threat to freshwater turtles, but the characteristics of nesting habitat remain poorly understood. This study investigated the nest site selection of the southwestern snake‐necked turtle (Chelodina oblonga) to improve the conservation prospects for this species in an urbanized wetland area. In total, 235 depredated and 86 non‐depredated nest sites and 320 non‐nest locations were surveyed at Bibra Lake, Western Australia, during the Austral spring–summer, 2018–2023. A suite of environmental variables was measured at nest sites and non‐nest locations. Analysis of similarities was used to determine whether nest sites and non‐nest locations differed in their environmental characteristics. Generalized linear mixed models were used to identify environmental variables that best explained the nesting preferences. The environmental characteristics of nest sites differed from those of non‐nest locations, with turtles nesting mainly in remnant natural habitat with greater canopy cover. Turtles generally avoided nesting in modified environments such as lawns and impervious surfaces. Factors influencing nest site selection are probably associated with the conditions necessary for regulating incubation temperatures and ease of nest excavation. This study suggests that modification of terrestrial vegetation around wetlands is adversely affecting freshwater turtle recruitment by removing or altering preferred nesting habitat. Protection and restoration of natural habitats fringing urban wetlands is important for the conservation of remnant freshwater turtle populations, and local partnership projects can help to achieve this.

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Nesting Ecology and Predation of Diamondback Terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, at Gateway National Recreation Area, New York

Cited by 85 publications

References 7 publications

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Activity is Better Predicted by Water Availability than Land Cover in a Moderately Fragmented Landscape

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Activity is Better Predicted by Water Availability than Land Cover in a Moderately Fragmented Landscape

Ecological effects of major injuries in diamondback terrapins: implications for conservation and management

Long‐term habitat degradation affects nest site selection behaviour by a freshwater turtle (Chelodina oblonga) in Western Australia

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