Nest-site selection and nest depredation of semi-aquatic turtles on golf courses

Shawna M. Foley; Steven J. Price; Michael E. Dorcas

doi:10.1007/s11252-012-0229-4

Nest-site selection and nest depredation of semi-aquatic turtles on golf courses

Shawna M. Foley, Steven J. Price, Michael E. Dorcas

Forestry and Natural Resources

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Urban landscapes present various challenges to semi-aquatic turtle reproduction. In developed regions, golf courses may provide some of the best remaining habitat for turtle populations. We explored nest-site selection of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at a golf course pond in Davidson, North Carolina, USA, and modeled nest-site preference using Akaike Information Criterion, with the best supported model favoring nests surrounded by mulch and mowed grass. Additionally, we evaluated nest depredation rates using simulated turtle nests and found that golf course ponds did not have significantly greater nest depredation compared to urban and rural ponds. Our results suggest that golf courses may offer suitable habitat for turtle reproduction in developed areas.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	489-497
Number of pages	9
Journal	Urban Ecosystems
Volume	15
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-012-0229-4
State	Published - Jun 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments Special thanks to L. Witczak, C. Williams, E. Eskew, and S. Hunt for their assistance with this project. The authors thank all of the participating landowners for the use of their property during this project and Dennis Testerman for assistance with locating suitable ponds. Funding for this project was provided by Davidson College Biology Department, Duke Power, the Duke Endowment through the Davidson Research Initiative, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Links Program.

Funding

Acknowledgments Special thanks to L. Witczak, C. Williams, E. Eskew, and S. Hunt for their assistance with this project. The authors thank all of the participating landowners for the use of their property during this project and Dennis Testerman for assistance with locating suitable ponds. Funding for this project was provided by Davidson College Biology Department, Duke Power, the Duke Endowment through the Davidson Research Initiative, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Links Program.

Funders	Funder number
Davidson College Biology Department
Duke Power
Duke Endowment
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Keywords

Chrysemys picta
Golf courses
Nest depredation
Nesting behavior
North Carolina
Semi-aquatic turtles
Turtle reproduction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology
Urban Studies

Access to Document

10.1007/s11252-012-0229-4

Cite this

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title = "Nest-site selection and nest depredation of semi-aquatic turtles on golf courses",

abstract = "Urban landscapes present various challenges to semi-aquatic turtle reproduction. In developed regions, golf courses may provide some of the best remaining habitat for turtle populations. We explored nest-site selection of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at a golf course pond in Davidson, North Carolina, USA, and modeled nest-site preference using Akaike Information Criterion, with the best supported model favoring nests surrounded by mulch and mowed grass. Additionally, we evaluated nest depredation rates using simulated turtle nests and found that golf course ponds did not have significantly greater nest depredation compared to urban and rural ponds. Our results suggest that golf courses may offer suitable habitat for turtle reproduction in developed areas.",

keywords = "Chrysemys picta, Golf courses, Nest depredation, Nesting behavior, North Carolina, Semi-aquatic turtles, Turtle reproduction",

author = "Foley, \{Shawna M.\} and Price, \{Steven J.\} and Dorcas, \{Michael E.\}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments Special thanks to L. Witczak, C. Williams, E. Eskew, and S. Hunt for their assistance with this project. The authors thank all of the participating landowners for the use of their property during this project and Dennis Testerman for assistance with locating suitable ponds. Funding for this project was provided by Davidson College Biology Department, Duke Power, the Duke Endowment through the Davidson Research Initiative, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Links Program.",

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AU - Dorcas, Michael E.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments Special thanks to L. Witczak, C. Williams, E. Eskew, and S. Hunt for their assistance with this project. The authors thank all of the participating landowners for the use of their property during this project and Dennis Testerman for assistance with locating suitable ponds. Funding for this project was provided by Davidson College Biology Department, Duke Power, the Duke Endowment through the Davidson Research Initiative, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Links Program.

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N2 - Urban landscapes present various challenges to semi-aquatic turtle reproduction. In developed regions, golf courses may provide some of the best remaining habitat for turtle populations. We explored nest-site selection of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at a golf course pond in Davidson, North Carolina, USA, and modeled nest-site preference using Akaike Information Criterion, with the best supported model favoring nests surrounded by mulch and mowed grass. Additionally, we evaluated nest depredation rates using simulated turtle nests and found that golf course ponds did not have significantly greater nest depredation compared to urban and rural ponds. Our results suggest that golf courses may offer suitable habitat for turtle reproduction in developed areas.

AB - Urban landscapes present various challenges to semi-aquatic turtle reproduction. In developed regions, golf courses may provide some of the best remaining habitat for turtle populations. We explored nest-site selection of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at a golf course pond in Davidson, North Carolina, USA, and modeled nest-site preference using Akaike Information Criterion, with the best supported model favoring nests surrounded by mulch and mowed grass. Additionally, we evaluated nest depredation rates using simulated turtle nests and found that golf course ponds did not have significantly greater nest depredation compared to urban and rural ponds. Our results suggest that golf courses may offer suitable habitat for turtle reproduction in developed areas.

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KW - North Carolina

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Nest-site selection and nest depredation of semi-aquatic turtles on golf courses

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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