Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Heinrich, G. L., Walsh, T. J., Jackson, D. R., & Atkinson, B. K. (2012). Boat strikes: A threat to the suwannee cooter (pseudemys concinna suwanniensis). Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 7(3), 349–357.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:22:51 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Heinrich2012 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Pseudemys concinna, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises Creators: Atkinson, Heinrich, Jackson, Walsh Collection: Herpetological Conservation and Biology |
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| Abstract |
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Boat strikes are a significant threat to wildlife. Mortality can occur as a result of blunt-force trauma or from propeller injuries, whereas survivors may suffer scars, limb loss, compromised fitness, and decreased survivorship. Among turtles, boat strikes affect most marine and estuarine species, as well as a diversity of freshwater genera that includes emydids, kinosternids, and trionychids. We documented this threat to the Suwannee Cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), a geographically restricted turtle of conservation concern that inhabits Florida rivers along the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. We compared three samples of Cooters representing 593 Florida individuals. Boats struck at least 10% of 164 individuals recovered in 2004 from a Levy County site where carcasses were dumped following illegal harvest. In contrast, only four (2.2%) of 180 museum specimens collected from 1928–2003 from throughout the Florida range of the river cooter (P. concinna) bore scars indicating encounters with boats, with the earliest from 1952. We compared these two samples of dead turtles to a sample of 249 predominantly live adult females studied previously (1988– 1993) within the relatively protected waters of a state park in Wakulla County; 10 (4.0%) bore boat-related scars, probably from encounters with tour boats. We recommend increasing protected, boat-free zones, restricting boat speeds, use of propeller guards and electric motors, and increased education and law enforcement to address this threat.
Added by: Admin |