Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Wnek, J. P., Bien, W. F., & Avery, H. W. (2013). Artificial nesting habitats as a conservation strategy for turtle populations experiencing global change. Integrative Zoology, 8(2), 209–221.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:25:31 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12042 BibTeX citation key: Wnek2013 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Fortpflanzung - reproduction, Habitat - habitat, Malaclemys terrapin, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises Creators: Avery, Bien, Wnek Collection: Integrative Zoology |
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| Abstract |
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Diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, inhabit estuaries in the eastern United States and may tolerate salinity of seawater for short durations. Many North American estuaries are adversely affected by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution, dredging, and invasion by non-native plants. Many nesting areas have been altered or destroyed, causing terrapins to nest on roadsides and artificial islands made of dredged substrate from bottom sediments. Shading by non-native plants may suppress development and reduce survival of embryos. In Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, USA, there is a mosaic of natural and degraded terrapin nesting habitats. We determined the effects of dredge soil and shade on the hatching success of diamondback terrapins to determine whether nesting habitat could be increased by using dredged bottom sediments. In year 1, unshaded nests in natural loamy-sand had the highest hatching success (55.2%), while nests in dredge soil produced no hatchlings. In year 2, nests in unshaded loamy-sand had a hatching success of 85.3%, while those in dredge soil, aged one year, had a hatching success of 59.4%. Dredge soil improved as an incubation substrate after aging one year by the washout of salt. Nest temperatures were generally cool and produced mostly male hatchlings. Uncontaminated dredge soil may provide suitable nesting substrates for diamondback terrapins if used after one year, and may be particularly beneficial if used for constructing islands that provide new nesting sites with reduced access of mammalian predators.
Added by: Admin |