Opportunistic exploitation of turtle eggs by Tripanurga importuna (Walker) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Bolton ◽  
S. A. Marshall ◽  
R. J. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Developmental Differences ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Asynchronous Hatching ◽  
Apalone Spinifera ◽  
Softshell Turtle

Tripanurga importuna (Walker, 1849) is a sarcophagid fly whose larvae often occur in nests of freshwater turtles. We investigated this sarcophagid fly to determine whether it is an opportunistic scavenger or a potential predator of eggs, embryos, and hatchlings of the spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spinifera (Lesueur, 1827)). Fly infestation of spiny softshell turtle nests can occur at any time between oviposition and hatching, but estimates based on larval size and development time, along with observations of adult fly activity, suggest that female sarcophagids deposit larvae over the nest primarily during hatching. Observed temperature variance within the turtle clutch mass and physiological and developmental differences among eggs may result in asynchronous hatching, and chemical cues associated with early hatching may attract adult flies. Egg position within the nest affects embryo hatching success independently of fly infestation while also affecting fly infestation. Tripanurga importuna is a habitat specialist able to find and develop in carrion buried in sand, but it is a food opportunist able to develop on other buried carrion as well as turtle eggs. Tripanurga importuna maggots in turtle nests preferentially scavenge necrotic tissue, including damaged turtle eggs, but will opportunistically prey upon live embryos and hatchlings under some circumstances.

Antipredatory behaviour of a mountain lizard towards the chemical cues of its predatory snakes

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (10-12) ◽  
pp. 817-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaida Ortega ◽  
Abraham Mencía ◽  
Valentín Pérez-Mellado
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Slow Motion ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Behavioural Pattern ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Snake Species ◽  
Antipredatory Behaviour ◽  
Antipredatory Response ◽  
Natrix Maura ◽  
Coronella Austriaca

Abstract The ability to early detect a potential predator is essential for survival. The potential of Iberolacerta cyreni lizards to discriminate between chemical cues of their two predatory snakes Coronella austriaca (a non-venomous active-hunter saurophagous specialist) and Vipera latastei (a venomous sit-and-wait generalist) was evaluated herein. A third snake species, Natrix maura, which does not prey on lizards, was used as a pungent control. Thus, the behaviour of I. cyreni was studied regarding four treatments: (1) C. austriaca scent, (2) V. latastei scent, (3) N. maura scent and (4) odourless control. Lizards showed antipredator behaviour (such as slow-motion and tail waving) to C. austriaca and V. latastei chemicals. The antipredatory response was similar for both predators. This ability to react with an intensive behavioural pattern to the chemical cues of their predatory snakes may prevent lizards from being detected, and, if detected, dissuade the predator from beginning a pursuit.

scholarly journals Not just any old pile of dirt: evaluating the use of artificial nesting mounds as conservation tools for freshwater turtles

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Paterson ◽  
Brad D. Steinberg ◽  
Jacqueline D. Litzgus
Keyword(s):  
Hatching Success ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Transplant Experiment ◽  
Chelydra Serpentina ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Aquatic Habitats ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Gravid Females

AbstractThe viability of freshwater turtle populations is largely dependent on the survivorship of reproducing females but females are frequently killed on roads as they move to nesting sites. Installing artificial nesting mounds may increase recruitment and decrease the risk of mortality for gravid females by enticing them to nest closer to aquatic habitats. We evaluated the effectiveness of artificial nesting mounds installed in Algonquin Park, Canada. Artificial mounds were monitored for 2 years to determine if turtles would select them for nest sites. We also simulated turtle paths from wetlands to nests to determine the probability that females would encounter the new habitat. A transplant experiment with clutches of Chrysemys picta and Chelydra serpentina eggs compared nest success and incubation conditions in the absence of predation between artificial mounds and natural sites. More turtles than expected used the artificial mounds, although mounds comprised a small proportion of the available nesting habitat and the simulations predicted that the probability of females encountering mounds was low. Hatching success was higher in nests transplanted to artificial mounds (93%) than in natural nests (56%), despite no differences in heat units. Greater use than expected, high hatching success, and healthy hatchlings emerging from nests in artificial mounds suggest promise for their use as conservation tools.

scholarly journals Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) turtles exhibit scarring consistent with attempted lamprey bites

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-121
Author(s):  
Christina M. Davy ◽  
Juliana Skuza ◽  
Amelia K. Whitear
Keyword(s):  
Lake Erie ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Apalone Spinifera ◽  
Native Silver

We captured 46 Spiny Softshells (Apalone spinifera) during a mark–recapture study on Lake Erie (2012–2015). Six (13%) exhibited circular scars consistent with the bites of small parasitic lampreys. Two species of parasitic lampreys occur in Lake Erie: the invasive Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and the native Silver Lamprey (Ichthyostomyzon unicuspis). The scars showed only the marks of the putative teeth surrounding the suctorial mouth, preventing identification based on the position of the supraoral teeth and suggesting that lampreys are rapidly dislodged from the turtles. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of lampreys biting freshwater turtles.

A ZZ/ZW microchromosome system in the spiny softshell turtle, Apalone spinifera, reveals an intriguing sex chromosome conservation in Trionychidae

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daleen Badenhorst ◽  
Roscoe Stanyon ◽  
Tag Engstrom ◽  
Nicole Valenzuela
Keyword(s):  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Apalone Spinifera ◽  
Softshell Turtle

Predator recognition of chemical cues in crayfish: diet and experience influence the ability to detect predation threats

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly C. Beattie ◽  
Paul A. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Dietary Cues ◽  
Predator Response ◽  
Threat Levels

AbstractAquatic prey often alter their morphology, physiology, and/or behaviour when presented with predatory chemical cues which are heavily influenced by the diet of the predator. We tested the roles that diet and prey familiarity with predators play in the ability of prey to recognize predator threats. Odours from two fish, bass and cichlid fed a vegetarian, protein, heterospecific, and a conspecific diet, were collected and presented to virile crayfish in a choice arena. Our results show that crayfish altered their behaviour in the presence of odours containing conspecific, as opposed to heterospecific diets, but only from familiar predators. A reduced anti-predator response was measured with odours from an unfamiliar predator fed conspecific crayfish. Therefore, crayfish may be able to determine different threat levels based on the different dietary cues from a potential predator, but only when the prey have familiarity with the predators.

The alarm cue obstruction hypothesis: isopods respond to alarm cues, but do not respond to dietary chemical cues from predatory bluegill

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari L. Spivey ◽  
Trevor L. Chapman ◽  
Alexandra L. Schmitz ◽  
Derek E. Bast ◽  
Amelia L.B. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate ◽  
Reduce Activity ◽  
Dietary Cues ◽  
Limited Setting

Predator avoidance behaviours occur when prey detect a predator but the predator has not yet detected and identified prey. These defences are critical because they prevent predation at the earliest possible stages when prey have the best chance of escape. We tested for predator avoidance behaviours in an aquatic macroinvertebrate (Caecidotea intermedius; order Isopoda) in a series of three experiments. The first experiment attempted to determine if isopods possess alarm cues by exposing them to stimuli from macerated conspecifics. We then exposed isopods to kairomones from non-predatory tadpoles (Rana catesbiana) and predatory fish (Lepomis macrochirus) that had been fed a benign diet. Finally, we exposed isopods to kairomones of predatory fish that had been fed a diet exclusively of isopods. We found that isopods did not respond to any kairomone cues or dietary cues from any potential predator, but did reduce activity in response to alarm cues. These results suggest that isopods exhibit predator avoidance responses toward chemical cues in a limited setting (they do not respond unless the information suggests an attack has occurred in the immediate past) or that bluegill have the ability to modify or mask the alarm cues from their prey.

Abnormal persistence of the chorioallantoic membrane is associated with severe developmental abnormalities in freshwater turtles

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-235
Author(s):  
Sarah V. Langer ◽  
Carolyn M. Kapron ◽  
Christina M. Davy
Keyword(s):  
Chorioallantoic Membrane ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Developmental Abnormalities ◽  
Map Turtles ◽  
Graptemys Geographica ◽  
Softshell Turtle ◽  
And Function

Development in oviparous reptiles requires the correct formation and function of extra-embryonic membranes in the egg. In 2017, we incubated 2583 eggs from five species of freshwater turtle during a long-term ecological study and opened eggs that failed to hatch. We described a previously unreported developmental anomaly: the retention of an extra-embryonic membrane around 7 turtles (1 Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera (Le Sueur, 1827)), 1 Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758)), and 5 Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817))) that were alive but unhatched >14 days after their clutch mates had emerged. We investigated the association between retention of this membrane and the exhibition of other developmental deformities of varying severity, and we tested whether this novel abnormality was associated with reduced fertility or hatching success in affected clutches. Consultation of ∼150 years of literature suggests that we observed persistence of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM; also called the chorioallantois). Our data suggest that clutches where at least one turtle exhibits a persistent CAM may also exhibit slightly reduced fertility or hatch success in the rest of the clutch compared with conspecific clutches that do not contain this anomaly. Future research should investigate the factors predicting CAM retention and other developmental abnormalities.

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