Event Title
Demography of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) Across a Fishing Pressure Gradient
Location
Stephen F Austin State University, Baker Pattillo Student Center
Start Date
18-4-2023 3:30 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Description
Demographic data are necessary to predict population responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors and inform conservation efforts for declining species (Weimerskirch 2018, J.Wildl. Manag.).
The western alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii; hereafter AST; Fig. 5) is the largest species of freshwater turtle in North America and is being considered for Federal listing as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act (Federal Register 2021). Notably, there is a lack of demographic data of AST in Texas.
Passive fishing gear (i.e., trotlines) have been identified as a pervasive threat to AST populations, although this threat has yet to be quantified inTexas (Steen and Robinson 2017, Conserv. Biol.).
The purpose of this project is to examine the demography of Texas AST populations in habitats of varying intensities of passive fishing pressure. We hypothesize lower density estimates (Fig. 2), smaller body sizes (Fig. 3), and a near equal proportion of subadult and adult ASTs (Fig. 5) in habitats subjected to passive fishing gear.
Demography of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) Across a Fishing Pressure Gradient
Stephen F Austin State University, Baker Pattillo Student Center
Demographic data are necessary to predict population responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors and inform conservation efforts for declining species (Weimerskirch 2018, J.Wildl. Manag.).
The western alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii; hereafter AST; Fig. 5) is the largest species of freshwater turtle in North America and is being considered for Federal listing as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act (Federal Register 2021). Notably, there is a lack of demographic data of AST in Texas.
Passive fishing gear (i.e., trotlines) have been identified as a pervasive threat to AST populations, although this threat has yet to be quantified inTexas (Steen and Robinson 2017, Conserv. Biol.).
The purpose of this project is to examine the demography of Texas AST populations in habitats of varying intensities of passive fishing pressure. We hypothesize lower density estimates (Fig. 2), smaller body sizes (Fig. 3), and a near equal proportion of subadult and adult ASTs (Fig. 5) in habitats subjected to passive fishing gear.
Comments
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jessica L. Glasscock (Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture)