Mammalian Depredation of Artificial Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Nests in North Louisiana

Abstract Nest depredation is a major source of mortality in many turtle populations. Although turtle life histories may have evolved with relatively high levels of nest depredation, present-day levels may be negatively impacting populations that are already declining. This degree of depredation may be problematic for species such as Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle), which has relatively low reproductive output for a large turtle, yet little is known about depredation of M. temminckii nests. We constructed 90 artificial M. temminckii nests in 2008 and 2009 at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana to identify nest predators and elucidate patterns of nest depredation. All artificial nests were depredated, with Procyon lotor (Raccoon), and Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded Armadillo) being the two most common nest predators. Other predators included Lontra canadensis (Northern River Otter), Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum), and Lynx rufus (Bobcat). Nest depredation is a major threat to Alligator Snapping Turtles at this site and may be limiting recruitment in this population.

[1]  D. A. Steen,et al.  Effects of predator exclusion on nest and hatchling survival in the gopher tortoise , 2013 .

[2]  J. L. Carr,et al.  Hatchling Emergence From Naturally Incubated Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Nests in Northern Louisiana , 2011 .

[3]  M. Obbard,et al.  Incidental nest predation in freshwater turtles: inter- and intraspecific differences in vulnerability are explained by relative crypsis , 2011, Oecologia.

[4]  F. Janzen,et al.  Experimental Analysis of Effects of Markers and Habitat Structure on Predation of Turtle Nests , 2010 .

[5]  A. Laliberte,et al.  The Rise of the Mesopredator , 2009 .

[6]  V. Saba,et al.  Effects of Illegal Harvest of Eggs on the Population Decline of Leatherback Turtles in Las Baulas Marine National Park, Costa Rica , 2008, Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology.

[7]  J. Gerlach.  Fragmentation and Demography as Causes of Population Decline in Seychelles Freshwater Turtles (Genus Pelusios) , 2008 .

[8]  R. Major,et al.  The contribution of artificial nest experiments to understanding avian reproductive success: a review of methods and conclusions , 2008 .

[9]  C. Limpus,et al.  Is climate change affecting the population dynamics of the endangered Pacific loggerhead sea turtle , 2008 .

[10]  B. Barton,et al.  Raccoon Removal on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches , 2007 .

[11]  D. Dudgeon,et al.  Quantifying the Asian turtle crisis: market surveys in southern China, 2000–2003 , 2006 .

[12]  R. Swihart,et al.  Community structure and differential responses of aquatic turtles to agriculturally induced habitat fragmentation , 2006, Landscape Ecology.

[13]  F. Janzen,et al.  Rainfall and Depredation of Nests of the Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta , 2005 .

[14]  R. Engeman,et al.  Dramatic reduction in predation on marine turtle nests through improved predator monitoring and management , 2005, Oryx.

[15]  R. Burke,et al.  Cues Used by Raccoons to Find Turtle Nests: Effects of Flags, Human Scent, and Diamond-Backed Terrapin Sign , 2005 .

[16]  M. Aresco.  The effect of sex-specific terrestrial movements and roads on the sex ratio of freshwater turtles , 2005 .

[17]  C. K. Dodd,et al.  Challenges in Evaluating the Impact of the Trade in Amphibians and Reptiles on Wild Populations , 2005 .

[18]  M. Jennings,et al.  Clemmys marmorata (Pacific Pond Turtle) diet , 2005 .

[19]  Lee FitzGerald,et al.  The trade in native and exotic turtles in Texas , 2004 .

[20]  M. Green,et al.  Nesting, Nest Predation and Hatchling Emergence of the Carolina Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin centrata, in Northeastern Florida , 2004 .

[21]  Michael N. Marchand,et al.  Effects of landscape composition, habitat features, and nest distribution on predation rates of simulated turtle nests , 2004 .

[22]  R. Engeman,et al.  Monitoring predators to optimize their management for marine turtle nest protection , 2003 .

[23]  James P. Gibbs,et al.  Estimating the Effects of Road Mortality on Turtle Populations , 2002 .

[24]  J. Kolbe,et al.  Spatial and temporal dynamics of turtle nest predation: edge effects , 2002 .

[25]  A. Freedman,et al.  Effects of Deer Feeders, Habitat and Sensory Cues on Predation Rates on Artificial Turtle Nests , 2002 .

[26]  Michael N. Marchand,et al.  Use of artificial nests to investigate predation on freshwater turtle nests , 2002 .

[27]  O. Beda,et al.  Observations on the Alligator Snapping Turtle , 2001 .

[28]  C. Griffin,et al.  Do Predation Rates on Artificial Nests Accurately Reflect Predation Rates on Natural Bird Nests , 1999 .

[29]  R. Warren,et al.  REMOVING RACCOONS TO PROTECT SEA TURTLE NESTS : ARE THERE IMPLICATIONS FORECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ? , 1998 .

[30]  John A. Litvaitis,et al.  The role of spatial scale in understanding responses of medium-sized carnivores to forest fragmentation , 1996 .

[31]  T. Tuberville,et al.  Do Flag Markers Attract Turtle Nest Predators , 1994 .

[32]  F J Janzen,et al.  Climate change and temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles. , 1994, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[33]  J. L. Greene,et al.  Prolonged nesting forays by common mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) , 1994 .

[34]  J. Iverson.  Patterns of survivorship in turtles (order Testudines) , 1991 .

[35]  D. R. Jackson.  Reproductive strategies of sympatric freshwater emydid turtles in northern peninsular Florida , 1988 .

[36]  S. A. Temple.  Predation on turtle nests increases near ecological edges , 1987 .

[37]  J. Congdon,et al.  REPRODUCTION AND NESTING ECOLOGY OF SNAPPING TURTLES (CHELYDRA SERPENTINA) , 1987 .

[38]  B. J. Gallaway,et al.  Raccoon Removal, Nesting Success, and Hatchling Emergence in Iowa Turtles with Special Reference to Kinosternon flavescens(Kinosternidae) , 1984 .

[39]  J. Bull,et al.  Ecology of Hatchling Sex Ratio in Map Turtles , 1984 .

[40]  M. M. Alexander,et al.  The Nesting of Chelydra serpentina in Northern New York , 1980 .

[41]  D. C. Wilhoft,et al.  Observations on Mammalian Prediation of Snapping Turtle Nests (Reptilia, Testudines, Chelydridae) , 1979 .

[42]  C. Wiklund,et al.  Clumping versus spacing out: Experiments on nest predation in fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) , 1978, Animal Behaviour.

[43]  W. Hamilton.  Observations on the Reproductive Behavior of the Snapping Turtle , 1940 .