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Bower, D., Fordham, D. A., Hutchinson, M., & Georges, A. , Broad-shelled turtles (chelodina expansa) in the lower murray – ecological studies for management of a rare and cryptic carnivore. Unpublished paper presented at 6th World Congress of Herpetology. 
Added by: Admin (21 Nov 2009 11:59:50 UTC)
Resource type: Conference Paper
BibTeX citation key: Bower2008
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Categories: General
Keywords: Australien = Australia, Chelidae, Chelodina, Chelodina expansa, Chelodina longicollis, Emydura, Emydura macquarii, Habitat = habitat, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises
Creators: Bower, Fordham, Georges, Hutchinson
Collection: 6th World Congress of Herpetology
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Abstract     
Conservation of threatened species is a priority for the management of highly regulated rivers. Since Europeans invaded Australia, the Lower-Murray River has been subject to dramatic alterations in hydrology including manipulation of the magnitude and timing of flows. With this has come ecosystem changes for both in-stream and water-dependent ecosystems, such as riparian vegetation. Currently South-Eastern Australia is undergoing a period of drought resulting in low water availability and poor water quality. This has increased the imperative for management intervention and highlighted the conflicts that can occur between water demanded to support human populations and water required to maintain healthy riverine ecosystems. The broad-shelled turtle, Chelodina expansa is listed as a threatened species in South Australia based on low encounter rates and application of the precautionary principle in the context of a paucity of information. The Broad-shelled turtle is a highly aquatic, large, carnivorous freshwater turtle which co-inhabits the Lower Murray with two other more common turtle species. The Murray River turtle (Emydura macquarii), is a habitat and dietary generalist; and the eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis), inhabits ephemeral backwaters, where it feeds on insects. Broad-shelled turtles are cryptic in the Lower Murray, yet we found substantial populations in both riverine and billabong waters. Aquatic habitat use of the turtles included all available types: the main river channel, shallow backwaters and swampy lagoons. Male turtles can move large distances, up to 40km along the river, whilst females strictly occupy far smaller, discrete home ranges. Our data provides support for management initiatives to restore the quality of riparian vegetation in the Lower Murray and associated wetlands. Movements between off-channel billabongs and the main river channel are common, and predicate against recent management action to isolate many off-stream billabongs for water quantity and quality purposes.
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