Demography of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) Along a Fishing Pressure Gradient

Author

• Luke T. Micek, Stephen F Austin State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-8-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science - Forestry

Department

Forestry

First Advisor

Jessica L. Glasscock

Second Advisor

Christopher M. Schalk

Third Advisor

Cord B. Eversole

Fourth Advisor

David R. Stewart

Abstract

Passive fishing gear is a threat to the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). The spatio-temporal persistence of this threat and its impacts on M. temminckii populations has not been quantified. I quantified the density of passive fishing gear and the demographic parameters of M. temminckii along a fishing pressure gradient in East Texas streams. Most gear was abandoned and illegally deployed, with densities varying seasonally. Detectability of passive fishing gear declined with increasing gear age, water depth, and volume, but increased with increasing precipitation. Macrochelys temminckii catch per unit effort, abundance, and survival was lower at sites with higher densities of passive fishing gear. This research highlights the prevalence of abandoned passive fishing gear and the significant impacts these devices have on M. temminckii populations in the core of its Texas range.

Repository Citation

Micek, Luke T., "Demography of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii) Along a Fishing Pressure Gradient" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 591.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/591

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.