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Blake S, Palmer J, Brenn-White M, Deem SL. Home ranges of box turtles in a rural woodland and an urban park in Saint Louis, MO; implications for turtle conservation. Urban Ecosyst 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-023-01354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe negative consequences of fragmentation, infrastructure development, and urbanization onbiodiversity are well known. However, careful urban planning can provide viable habitat for some species and communities. Generally, r-selected species are more likely to persist in urbanizing landscapes, while long lived, mobile species, such as turtles, are likely to decline toward extinction. Understanding species responses across urban gradients is important for developing mitigation planning. We used VHF telemetry to quantify ranging behavior of three-toed box turtles in fragmented urban forest patches and a semi-contiguous large rural forest in Saint Louis, Missouri. We then simulated movement trajectories based on empirical data from the two turtles with the largest and smallest home ranges, overlaid on forest cover and road network maps of Missouri, to quantify the state-wide probability of turtles encountering roads. Home range (HR) size varied from 1–250Ha. The mean home range estimate of rural turtles was > 9 times larger than that of urban turtles. Simulations indicated that the least mobile turtle (HR 1Ha) would have a 22% likelihood of encountering a road if placed randomly in suitable habitat anywhere in the state. The likelihood increased to 90% for the most mobile turtle (HR 250Ha), with 10 road crossings per year. High turtle mortality, range restriction and population fragmentation are likely even in rural areas. In urban cityscapes, large, roadless forest patches offer the highest conservation potential for this species.
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Solar Farm Development Impacts on Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) Home Ranges. J HERPETOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1670/21-024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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Beale DJ, Nguyen TV, Shah RM, Bissett A, Nahar A, Smith M, Gonzalez-Astudillo V, Braun C, Baddiley B, Vardy S. Host–Gut Microbiome Metabolic Interactions in PFAS-Impacted Freshwater Turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii). Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12080747. [PMID: 36005619 PMCID: PMC9415956 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12080747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a growing concern for humans, wildlife, and more broadly, ecosystem health. Previously, we characterised the microbial and biochemical impact of elevated PFAS on the gut microbiome of freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii) within a contaminated catchment in Queensland, Australia. However, the understanding of PFAS impacts on this species and other aquatic organisms is still very limited, especially at the host–gut microbiome molecular interaction level. To this end, the present study aimed to apply these leading-edge omics technologies within an integrated framework that provides biological insight into the host turtle–turtle gut microbiome interactions of PFAS-impacted wild-caught freshwater turtles. For this purpose, faecal samples from PFAS-impacted turtles (n = 5) and suitable PFAS-free reference turtles (n = 5) were collected and analysed. Data from 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metabolomic profiling of the turtle faeces were integrated using MetOrigin to assign host, microbiome, and co-metabolism activities. Significant variation in microbial composition was observed between the two turtle groups. The PFAS-impacted turtles showed a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes and a lower relative abundance of Bacteroidota than the reference turtles. The faecal metabolome showed several metabolites and pathways significantly affected by PFAS exposure. Turtles exposed to PFAS displayed altered amino acid and butanoate metabolisms, as well as altered purine and pyrimidine metabolism. It is predicted from this study that PFAS-impacted both the metabolism of the host turtle and its gut microbiota which in turn has the potential to influence the host’s physiology and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-73-833-5774
| | - Thao V. Nguyen
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Rohan M. Shah
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Andrew Bissett
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia
| | - Akhikun Nahar
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Research and Innovation Park, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Matthew Smith
- NCMI, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia
| | | | - Christoph Braun
- Water Quality and Investigation, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Brenda Baddiley
- Water Quality and Investigation, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Suzanne Vardy
- Water Quality and Investigation, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
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Roe JH, Graeter GJ, LaVere AA, Somers AB. State‐wide population characteristics and long‐term trends for eastern box turtles in North Carolina. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John H. Roe
- Department of Biology University of North Carolina Pembroke Pembroke North Carolina28372USA
| | - Gabrielle J. Graeter
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 1701 Mail Service Center Raleigh North Carolina27699USA
| | - Ashley A. LaVere
- Department of Biology University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro North Carolina27402USA
| | - Ann B. Somers
- Department of Biology University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro North Carolina27402USA
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Semeñiuk MB, Cassano MJ, Sánchez RM, Palumbo E, Alcalde L. Where are the turtles when they are not? Underwater refuges used by Hydromedusa tectifera COPE, 1869 in a suburban stream. Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01004-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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The Effect of Urban-Suburban Interaction on Urbanization and Suburban Ecological Security: A Case Study of Suburban Wuhan, Central China. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12041600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In developing countries like China, urbanization is still occurring at a rapid pace. During urbanization, the urban land expands drastically, which makes suburbs the most affected area facing urban expansion. The land transition has proven to threaten the function and security of ecosystems, and therefore the topics of suburban land transition and ecological security have raised much attention. However, the urban-suburban interaction, which is one of the basic characteristics of suburbs, has been insufficiently considered. The urban-suburban interaction is developed based on the flows of people, materials, and information between urban and suburban areas, and it essentially reveals the relationship between human activities and land-use optimization. To fill the research gap, this study adopts a case study of Wuhan city, and first quantifies the urban-suburban interactions from a symbiotic perspective, and investigates rural residents and public buses to verify the estimated interactions. The results show that there is obvious heterogeneity in urban-suburban interactions in different suburban towns. Correlation analysis and geographic weight regression are then applied to demonstrate the relationship between the urban-suburban interaction and urbanization in the suburbs. Additionally, urbanization potential in the suburbs is estimated. Then, a suburban ecological security assessment is conducted by a “pressure-status-response” (PSR) model, and the urbanization potential that is estimated based on urban-suburban interaction is integrated as a “pressure” indicator. The comparison between the suburban ecological security assessment results based on considering and not considering urban-suburban interaction demonstrates the importance of considering urban-suburban interaction. This study contributes to the understanding of the complicated relationships of urban-suburban socio-economic, spatial, and ecological environments, and offers suggestions for suburban planning and ecological protection.
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Chandler HC, Stegenga BS, Stevenson DJ. Movement and Space Use in Southern Populations of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata). SOUTHEAST NAT 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/058.018.0411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Van Dyke JU, Spencer RJ, Thompson MB, Chessman B, Howard K, Georges A. Conservation implications of turtle declines in Australia's Murray River system. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1998. [PMID: 30760813 PMCID: PMC6374471 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39096-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation requires rapid action to be effective, which is often difficult because of funding limitations, political constraints, and limited data. Turtles are among the world’s most endangered vertebrate taxa, with almost half of 356 species threatened with extinction. In Australia’s Murray River, nest predation by invasive foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was predicted to drive turtle declines in the 1980s. We assessed populations of the broad-shelled turtle (Chelodina expansa), eastern long-necked turtle (C. longicollis), and Murray River turtle (Emydura macquarii) in the Murray River and some of its associated waterways. Our results suggest that the predicted decline is occurring. All three species are rare in the lower Murray River region, and were undetected in many locations in South Australia. Moreover, E. macquarii had considerable population aging almost everywhere, possibly due to comprehensive nest destruction by foxes. Chelodina longicollis also had population aging at some sites. Sustained low recruitment has potential to lead to collapses as turtles age, which is particularly worrying because it was predicted over 30 years ago and may have already occurred in South Australia. Our results show that turtle declines were not mitigated since that prediction. If the crash continues, a vertebrate guild responsible for considerable nutrient cycling in the aquatic ecosystem will disappear. Our results highlight a worst-case outcome when species declines are predicted, but insufficiently mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- J U Van Dyke
- School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.,School of Environmental Sciences, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga Campus, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - R-J Spencer
- School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
| | - M B Thompson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - B Chessman
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - K Howard
- School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - A Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Van Dyke JU, Ferronato BDO, Spencer RJ. Current conservation status of Australian freshwater turtles. AUST J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/zov66n1_in] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Terrestrial habitat and individual fitness increase survival of a freshwater turtle in an urban landscape. Urban Ecosyst 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-017-0708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Henriquez MC, Macey SK, Baker EE, Kelly LB, Betts RL, Rubbo MJ, Clark JA. Translocated and Resident Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene c. carolina) in New York: Movement Patterns and Habitat Use. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2017. [DOI: 10.1656/045.024.0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Megan C. Henriquez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458
- Current address - Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016
| | - Suzanne K. Macey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024
| | - Erin E. Baker
- Teatown Lake Reservation, Ossining, NY 10562
- Ramapo Ridge Middle School, Mahwah, NJ 07430
| | | | - Rachel L. Betts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458
- Centre College, Danville, KY 40422
| | - Michael J. Rubbo
- Teatown Lake Reservation, Ossining, NY 10562
- Woodcock Nature Center, Wilton, CT 06897
| | - J. Alan Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458
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Ferronato BO, Roe JH, Georges A. Responses of an Australian freshwater turtle to drought-flood cycles along a natural to urban gradient. AUSTRAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno O. Ferronato
- Institute for Applied Ecology; University of Canberra; Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
| | - John H. Roe
- Department of Biology; University of North Carolina; Pembroke North Carolina USA
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology; University of Canberra; Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
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