Survival of the western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) in an urban California environment
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Published source details
Spinks P.Q., Pauly G.B., Crayon J.J. & Shaffer H.B. (2003) Survival of the western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) in an urban California environment. Biological Conservation, 113, 257-267.
Published source details Spinks P.Q., Pauly G.B., Crayon J.J. & Shaffer H.B. (2003) Survival of the western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) in an urban California environment. Biological Conservation, 113, 257-267.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Head-start wild-caught reptiles for release: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link |
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Head-start wild-caught reptiles for release: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles
A study in 1994–2001 in an altered waterway in an urban setting in California, USA (Spinks et al. 2003) found that some released head-started western pond turtles Actinemys marmorata survived for 1–5 years after release. Hatching success of artificially incubated eggs from wild-caught females was 53%. Twenty-one of 33 (64%) head-started turtles were recaptured at least once, 1–5 years following release. In 1994–1998, some wild-caught, gravid females were hormonally induced, and eggs were collected and incubated in moist vermiculite. Hatchlings were raised for six months (4 individuals) or two years (27 individuals) and then released. Turtles were captured by hand, dip net, basking net and baited traps, as well as collecting turtles in 1997 and 1998 from the drained wetland while maintenance was occurring.
(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, William Morgan)
