Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Sloan, K. N., Buhlmann, K. A., & Lovich, J. E. (1996). Stomach contents of commercially harvested adult alligator snapping turtles, macroclemys temminckii. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2, 96–99.
Added by: Admin (23 Aug 2008 15:33:15 UTC) Last edited by: Beate Pfau (04 Apr 2009 10:24:46 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Sloan1996 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Chelydridae, Ernährung = nutrition, Macrochelys, Macrochelys temminckii, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Buhlmann, Lovich, Sloan Collection: Chelonian Conservation and Biology |
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| Abstract |
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Macrochelys temminckii Studies of diet can provide insight into the behavior and habitat selection of a species. Individual growth rates, health, movement patterns, habitat preferences, and longevity are some factors that are strongly influenced by diet. For rare or declining species, diet data may be important for developing effective management strategies and identifying changes in natural systems. The alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys temminckii, is the largest freshwater turtle in North America (Ernst et al., 1994) and is confined to drainage systems along the Gulf Coast of the United States (Pritchard, 1989). It ranges west to the San Antonio River in Texas, east to the Suwannee River in Florida, and north in the Mississippi River system to central Illinois (Lovich, 1993). Macroclemys has historically been an important part of the culture and cuisine of the southeastern United States and is a common inhabitant of its wetlands. Exploitation of the meat of Macroclemys has caused a steep population decline in recent times (Pritchard, 1989; Ernst et al., 1994; Sloan and Lovich, 1995) and the species is currently a candidate for protection under the US Federal Endangered Species Act. Habitats occupied by Macroclemys are usually highly productive, rich in organic matter, and possess a great diversity of potential food items. Habitats occupied by adults include freshwater lakes, rivers, canals, bayous, swamps with permanent water, and brackish coastal areas (Jackson and Ross, 1971; George, 1987; Sloan and Taylor, 1987; Dundee and Rossman, 1989). Added by: Admin Last edited by: Beate Pfau |