Nesting habitat of the broad-shelled turtle (Chelodina expansa)
Kristen Petrov A , Heidi Stricker A , James U. Van Dyke A B E , Graham Stockfeld C , Peter West D and Ricky-John Spencer A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A WildLab, School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 2751, Australia.
B Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury–Wodonga Campus, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
C Turtles Australia Inc., 34 Ashlar Crescent, Blackburn, Vic. 3130, Australia.
D NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: jvandyke@csu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 66(1) 4-14 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO17061
Submitted: 21 September 2017 Accepted: 7 March 2018 Published: 3 April 2018
Abstract
Turtles have persisted for over 220 million years, despite facing threats at every life-history stage. In Australia, nest predation by introduced foxes has driven severe declines in some populations. Our project quantified the nesting habitat of the endangered broad-shelled turtle (Chelodina expansa) to facilitate protection of critical nesting grounds. We determined the nesting preferences of C. expansa at five distinct wetlands on the Murray River from 2011 to 2014. We identified environmental variables associated with nest sites in different habitats and compared those at nests and non-nest sites to determine nesting preferences. Kernel density estimates were used to identify important nesting grounds. Our study has important implications for conservation of C. expansa. Habitat preferences for nest sites of C. expansa are predictable both within and across sites, with females preferring to nest ~50 m from shore (~4 m elevation), in open habitat with little vegetation. Based on these habitat preferences, kernel density estimates showed that C. expansa may select the same nesting beaches in subsequent years. Fox depredation of nests (and nesting adults) drives turtle declines in Australia, so identifying nesting areas for protection is a first step in turtle conservation.
Additional keywords: conservation ecology, habitat preference, natural selection, reproduction.
References
Baillie, J. E. M., Hilton-Taylor, C., and Stuart, S. N. (2004). ‘2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. A Global Species Assessment.’ (IUCN: Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.)Booth, D. T. (2002). The breaking of diapause in embryonic broad-shelled river turtles (Chelodina expansa). Journal of Herpetology 36, 304–307.
| The breaking of diapause in embryonic broad-shelled river turtles (Chelodina expansa).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Booth, D. T. (2010). The natural history of nesting in two Australian freshwater turtles. Australian Zoologist 35, 198–203.
| The natural history of nesting in two Australian freshwater turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bowen, K. D., Spencer, R.-J., and Janzen, F. J. (2005). A comparative study of environmental factors that affect nesting in Australian and North American freshwater turtles. Journal of Zoology 267, 397–404.
| A comparative study of environmental factors that affect nesting in Australian and North American freshwater turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cann, J. (1998). ‘Australian Freshwater Turtles.’ (Beaumont Publishing: Singapore.)
Cann, J., and Sadlier, R. (2017). ‘Freshwater Turtles of Australia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Chessman, B. C. (1983). Observations on the diet of the broad-shelled turtle Chelodina expansa Gray (Testudines: Chelidae). Australian Wildlife Research 10, 169–172.
| Observations on the diet of the broad-shelled turtle Chelodina expansa Gray (Testudines: Chelidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chessman, B. C. (1988). Habitat preferences of freshwater turtles in the Murray Valley, Victoria and New South Wales. Australian Wildlife Research 15, 485–491.
| Habitat preferences of freshwater turtles in the Murray Valley, Victoria and New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chessman, B. C. (2011). Declines of freshwater turtles associated with climatic drying in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin. Wildlife Research 38, 664–671.
| Declines of freshwater turtles associated with climatic drying in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarke, K. R., and Warwick, R. M. (2001). ‘Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation.’ 2nd edn. (PRIMER-E: Plymouth, UK.)
Department of Primary Industries (2013). Gunbower Forest Ramsar Site Boundary Description Technical Report. Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Melbourne.
Dormer, J, Old, J. M., Van Dyke, J. U., and Spencer, R.-J. (2016). Incubation temperature affects development order of morphological features and staging criteria in turtle embryos. Journal of Zoology 299, 284–294.
Flitz, B. A., and Mullin, S. J. (2006). Nest-site selection in the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolinaxi, in Illinois. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 5, 309–312.
| Nest-site selection in the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolinaxi, in Illinois.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Freedberg, S., Ewart, M. A., Ridenhour, B. J., Neiman, M., and Nelson, C. E. (2005). Nesting fidelity and molecular evidence for natal homing in the freshwater turtle, Graptemys kohnii. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 272, 1345–1350.
| Nesting fidelity and molecular evidence for natal homing in the freshwater turtle, Graptemys kohnii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gibbons, J. W., and Semlitsch, R. D. (1982). Survivorship and longevity of a long-lived vertebrate species: how long do turtles live? The Journal of Animal Ecology 51, 523–527.
Goode, J. (1967). ‘Freshwater Tortoises of Australia and New Guinea (in the Family Chelidae).’ (Lansdowne: Melbourne.)
Hughes, E. J., and Brooks, R. J. (2006). The good mother: does nest-site selection constitute parental investment in turtles? Canadian Journal of Zoology 84, 1545–1554.
| The good mother: does nest-site selection constitute parental investment in turtles?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Janzen, F. J. (1994). Vegetational cover predicts the sex ratio of hatchling turtles in natural nests. Ecology 75, 1593–1599.
| Vegetational cover predicts the sex ratio of hatchling turtles in natural nests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Janzen, F. J., and Morjan, C. L. (2001). Repeatability of microenvironment-specific nesting behaviour in a turtle with environmental sex determination. Animal Behaviour 62, 73–82.
| Repeatability of microenvironment-specific nesting behaviour in a turtle with environmental sex determination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kolbe, J. J., and Janzen, F. J. (2002a). Impact of nest-site selection on nest success and nest temperature in natural and disturbed habitats. Ecology 83, 269–281.
| Impact of nest-site selection on nest success and nest temperature in natural and disturbed habitats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kolbe, J. J., and Janzen, F. J. (2002b). Spatial and temporal dynamics of turtle nest predation: edge effects. Oikos 99, 538–544.
| Spatial and temporal dynamics of turtle nest predation: edge effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krivoruchko, K. (2011). ‘Spatial Statistical Data Analysis for GIS Users.’ (ESRI Press.)
Marchand, M. N., and Litvaitis, J. A. (2004). Effects of landscape composition, habitat features, and nest distribution on predation rates of simulated turtle nests. Biological Conservation 117, 243–251.
| Effects of landscape composition, habitat features, and nest distribution on predation rates of simulated turtle nests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marchand, M. N., Litvaitis, J. A., Maier, T. J., and DeGraaf, R. M. (2002). Use of artificial nests to investigate predation on freshwater turtle nests. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30, 1092–1098.
McGaugh, S. E., Schwanz, L. E., Bowden, R. M., Gonzalez, J. E., and Janzen, F. J. (2010). Inheritance of nesting behaviour across natural environmental variation in a turtle with temperature-dependent sex determination. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 277, 1219–1226.
| Inheritance of nesting behaviour across natural environmental variation in a turtle with temperature-dependent sex determination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Micheli-Campbell, M. A., Baumgartl, T., Booth, D. T., Campbell, H. A., Connell, M., and Franklin, C. E. (2013). Selectivity and repeated use of nesting sites in a freshwater turtle. Herpetologica 69, 383–396.
| Selectivity and repeated use of nesting sites in a freshwater turtle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson, C., and Bider, J. R. (1988). Nesting synchrony: a strategy to decrease predation of snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine) nests. Journal of Herpetology 22, 470–473.
| Nesting synchrony: a strategy to decrease predation of snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine) nests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shahrabi, J., and Pelot, R. (2009). Kernel Density Analysis of maritime fishing traffic and incidents in Canadian Atlantic waters. Journal of Applied Sciences 9, 415–426.
| Kernel Density Analysis of maritime fishing traffic and incidents in Canadian Atlantic waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shine, R, and Iverson, J. B. (1995). Patterns of survival, growth and maturation in turtles. Oikos 72, 343–348.
Spencer, R.-J. (2002a). Experimentally testing nest site selection: fitness trade-offs and predation risk in turtles. Ecology 83, 2136–2144.
| Experimentally testing nest site selection: fitness trade-offs and predation risk in turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, R.-J. (2002b). Growth patterns of two widely distributed freshwater turtles and a comparison of common methods used to estimate age. Australian Journal of Zoology 50, 477–490.
| Growth patterns of two widely distributed freshwater turtles and a comparison of common methods used to estimate age.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, R.-J., and Janzen, F. J. (2010). Demographic consequences of adaptive growth and the ramifications for conservation of long-lived organisms. Biological Conservation 143, 1951–1959.
| Demographic consequences of adaptive growth and the ramifications for conservation of long-lived organisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, R.-J., and Thompson, M. B. (2003). The significance of predation in nest site selection of turtles: an experimental consideration of macro- and microhabitat preferences. Oikos 102, 592–600.
| The significance of predation in nest site selection of turtles: an experimental consideration of macro- and microhabitat preferences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, R.-J., and Thompson, M. B. (2005). Experimental analysis of the impact of foxes on freshwater turtle populations. Conservation Biology 19, 845–854.
| Experimental analysis of the impact of foxes on freshwater turtle populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, R.-J., Van Dyke, J. U., and Thompson, M. B. (2016). The ethological trap: functional and numerical responses of highly efficient invasive predators driving prey extinctions. Ecological Applications 26, 1969–1983.
| The ethological trap: functional and numerical responses of highly efficient invasive predators driving prey extinctions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, R.-J., Van Dyke, J. U., and Thompson, M. B. (2017). Critically evaluating best management practices for preventing freshwater turtle extinctions. Conservation Biology 31, 1340–1349.
| Critically evaluating best management practices for preventing freshwater turtle extinctions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tamplin, J. W., and Cyr, A. B. (2011). Effects of acclimation and egg-incubation temperature on selected temperature by hatchling western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii). Journal of Thermal Biology 36, 507–514.
| Effects of acclimation and egg-incubation temperature on selected temperature by hatchling western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DSE (2013). Advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victorian Government, Melbourne.
Thompson, M. B. (1983). Populations of the Murray river tortoise, Emydura (Chelodina): the effect of egg predation by the red fox, Vulpes vulpes. Australian Wildlife Research 10, 363–371.
| Populations of the Murray river tortoise, Emydura (Chelodina): the effect of egg predation by the red fox, Vulpes vulpes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
TurtleSAT (2014). About this project. TurtleSat, 25 June 2014. Available at: http://www.turtlesat.org.au/turtlesat/pagecontent.aspx?page=turtle_aboutproject
Valenzuela, N., and Janzen, F. J. (2001). Nest-site philopatry and the evolution of temperature-dependent sex determination. Evolutionary Ecology Research 3, 779–794.
Warner, D. A., and Mitchell, T. S. (2013). Does maternal oviposition site influence offspring dispersal to suitable habitat? Oecologia 172, 679–688.
| Does maternal oviposition site influence offspring dispersal to suitable habitat?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilson, D. (1998). Nest-site selection: microhabitat variation and its effects on the survival of turtle embryos. Ecology 79, 1884–1892.
| Nest-site selection: microhabitat variation and its effects on the survival of turtle embryos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wirsing, A. J., Phillips, J. R., Obbard, M. E., and Murray, D. L. (2012). Incidental nest predation in freshwater turtles: inter- and intraspecific differences in vulnerability are explained by relative crypsis. Oecologia 168, 977–988.
| Incidental nest predation in freshwater turtles: inter- and intraspecific differences in vulnerability are explained by relative crypsis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wood, D. W., and Bjorndal, K. A. (2000). Relation of temperature, moisture, salinity and slope to nest selection in loggerhead sea turtles. Copeia , 119–128.
| Relation of temperature, moisture, salinity and slope to nest selection in loggerhead sea turtles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zare, R., Vaghefi, M. E., and Kamel, S. J. (2012). Nest location and clutch success of the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) at Shidver Island, Iran. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 11, 229–234.
| Nest location and clutch success of the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) at Shidver Island, Iran.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
