Non‐marine turtle plays important functional roles in Indonesian ecosystems

Abstract

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Aboriginal Tribe’s Knowledge of the Endangered Freshwater Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Car Nicobar, a Remote Oceanic Island in the Bay of Bengal

“…Turtles play an important role in the food chain of the ecosystem as they are predators of several invertebrates as well as prey and hence their loss would probably impact the food web structure of the ecosystems [12,26]. Conservation and protection of Cuora amboinensis populations could also be important in sustaining the trophic linkages that benefit biodiversity [26,27].…”

Assessing the diet of the endangered Beale’s eyed turtle (Sacalia bealei) using faecal content and stable isotope analyses: Implications for conservation

“…However, evidence for this key ecological function for stream‐dwelling species in Asia is scant (Falcon, Moll & Hansen, 2019). Higher rates of seed germination following ingestion of fruits based on data from big‐headed turtle ( Platysternon megacaphalum ; Sung, Hau & Karraker, 2016) and the Southeast Asian box turtle ( Cuora amboinensis ) in Indonesia (Karraker et al, 2020) suggest that freshwater turtles may play important but largely unexplored functional roles. Here, S. bealei consumes a greater diversity of fruits at a higher frequency when compared with P. megacephalum ( S. bealei , seven species; P. megacephalum , two species; Sung, Hau & Karraker, 2016), suggesting a role in facilitating plant propagation.…”

“…The loss of turtle species is likely to have wider ecosystem consequences as turtles and tortoises are important for seed dispersal, nutrient cycling and soil bioturbation (Rhodin et al, 2018). Unfortunately, knowledge about the ecological role of turtles is incomplete – freshwater species in particular are under‐represented in the literature (Lovich et al, 2018; Karraker et al, 2020). This information gap is considerable in Asia, a global hotspot of freshwater turtle diversity and endemism (Buhlmann et al, 2009).…”

Bycatch of Amboina Box Turtle (<i>Cuora amboinensis</i>) by Fishermen in Rawa Aopa, Southeast Sulawesi

“…The morphological characteristic recorded included carapace length and width, plastron length and width, tail length, and body mass (Figure 2). To identify a possible of recapture, C. amboinensis then were marked on the marginal carapace using a marker with a unique code following Karraker et al (2020). Individuals that have been measured were released to their original location of capture.…”

“…On a large scale, the decreased population of this species can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. Cuora amboinensis plays a central role in the ecosystem's food chain either as a predator of various invertebrates or as distributor of plants' seed (Karraker et al 2020). The significant ecological impact of the loss of this species includes changes in energy flow, nutrient cycling, and food web structure (Schoppe 2008).…”