Prevalence of Ingested Fish Hooks in Freshwater Turtles from Five Rivers in the Southeastern United States

Steen, David A.; Hopkins, Brittney Cole; Dyke, James U. Van; Hopkins, William A.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091368

Cited by 23 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…The hooks ingested by these turtles were assumed to be primarily from recreational fishing involving baited hooks (Steen et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Steen et al. () x‐rayed over 600 turtles of 4 species and found up to 33% contained fish hooks, depending on the species and sex. Elsewhere, fish hooks were observed inside approximately 18% of European pond turtles ( Emys orbicularis ) (Nemoz et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used data available in Steen et al. () and Enge et al. () to improve understanding of the impact of hook ingestion on 3 freshwater turtle species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating freshwater turtle mortality rates and population declines following hook ingestion

Steen

Robinson

2017

Conservation Biology

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Freshwater turtle populations are susceptible to declines following small increases in the mortality of adults, making it essential to identify and understand potential threats. Freshwater turtles ingest fish hooks associated with recreational angling, and this is likely a problem because hook ingestion is a source of additive mortality for sea turtles. We used a Bayesian-modeling framework, observed rates of hook ingestion by freshwater turtles, and mortality of sea turtles from hook ingestion to examine the probability that a freshwater turtle in a given population ingests a hook and subsequently dies from it. We used the results of these analyses and previously published life-history data to simulate the effects of hook ingestion on population growth for 3 species of freshwater turtle. In our simulation, the probability that an individual turtle ingests a hook and dies as a result was 1.2-11%. Our simulation results suggest that this rate of mortality from hook ingestion is sufficient to cause population declines. We believe we have identified fish-hook ingestion as a serious yet generally overlooked threat to the viability of freshwater turtle populations.

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“…The hooks ingested by these turtles were assumed to be primarily from recreational fishing involving baited hooks (Steen et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating freshwater turtle mortality rates and population declines following hook ingestion

Steen

Robinson

2017

Conservation Biology

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“…Two turtles had swallowed fish hooks (see Steen et al, 2014) and monofilament line was protruding from their mouths. Many turtles also appeared to be emaciated and weak upon capture.…”

Section: Turtle Physical Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of drought and fire in the extirpation of an abundant semi-aquatic turtle from a lacustrine environment in the southwestern USA

Lovich

Quillman²,

Zitt³

et al. 2017

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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-We documented a significant mortality event affecting a southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) population living in a lake in southern California, USA. The area around the lake was impacted by a large wildland fire in 2013 that occurred during a protracted drought. As the mortality event was still unfolding, we collected data in 2014 on water quality, demographic structure, and short-term survivorship of the population. Water quality was poor with low levels of dissolved oxygen and high salinity of up to 45.90 ppt. Many turtles were severely emaciated and coated with a pale mineralized layer on their shells and skin. Estimated survival rate was low leading to a projected 90% decline in 134 days and a high probability of extirpation within a year. The lake was dry in September 2015 with no evidence of live turtles. Necropsies and low volumetric body condition indices suggested death by starvation. Although this semi-aquatic species has the ability to aestivate in upland habitats during periods of low water or move to other nearby water bodies, it is unlikely that many were able to do so because of their extremely poor condition and the severity of the drought conditions throughout the area.Keywords: climate / evaporite / starvation / survivorship / water quality Résumé -Les effets de la sécheresse et du feu dans l'anéantissement d'un abondant vertébré semiaquatique dans un milieu lacustre du sud-ouest des États-Unis. Nous avons relevé un événement de forte mortalité affectant une population de tortues du sud-ouest (Actinemys pallida) vivant dans un lac au sud de la Californie, États-Unis. Les environs du lac ont été touchés par un grand incendie forestier en 2013 qui s'était produit au cours d'une sécheresse prolongée. Comme l'événement de mortalité continuait à se dérouler, nous avions recueilli des données en 2014 sur la qualité de l'eau et sur la structure démographique et la survie à court terme de la population. La qualité de l'eau était faible avec de bas niveaux d'oxygène dissous et une salinité élevée allant jusqu'à 45,90 ppm. De nombreuses tortues étaient gravement émaciées et revêtues d'une couche minéralisée pâle sur leurs carapaces et leurs peaux. Le taux de survie estimé était faible, ce qui a entraîné un déclin attendu de 90 % en 134 jours et une probabilité de disparition élevée dans un délai d'un an. Le lac était à sec en septembre 2015 sans aucune preuve de tortues vivantes. Des nécropsies et de faibles indices de condition corporelle volumétrique suggéraient la mort par inanition. Bien que cette espèce semi-aquatique ait la capacité d'estiver dans les habitats des hautes-terres pendant les périodes de basses eaux ou de se déplacer vers d'autres plans d'eau avoisinants, il est peu probable que beaucoup de tortues aient pu le faire en raison de leur très mauvais état et de la sévérité des conditions de sécheresse dans toute la région.

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“…There is empirical information that this practice enhances survival of released individuals in different animals such as loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta (Swimmer et al, 2014), blue shark Prionace glauca (Borucinska et al, 2002) or the recreational targeted striped seabream Lithognathus mormyrus (Alós et al, 2009c). Individuals with retained hooks are capable of expelling them in a relatively short period from days to a few months (Aalbers et al, 2004;Butcher et al, 2007;McGrath et al, 2011a;Steen et al, 2014;Tsuboi et al, 2006). However, little is known about the consequences of retained hooks for the individual during this period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chemical signature of retained hooks in mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) revealed by otolith microchemistry

et al. 2017

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Prevalence of Ingested Fish Hooks in Freshwater Turtles from Five Rivers in the Southeastern United States

Cited by 23 publications

References 41 publications

Estimating freshwater turtle mortality rates and population declines following hook ingestion

Estimating freshwater turtle mortality rates and population declines following hook ingestion

The effects of drought and fire in the extirpation of an abundant semi-aquatic turtle from a lacustrine environment in the southwestern USA

The chemical signature of retained hooks in mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) revealed by otolith microchemistry

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