Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings
Abstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a wide-ranging, long-living freshwater species with low reproductive success, mainly due to high predation pressure. We studied how habitat variables and predator communities in near-natural marshes affect the survival of turtle eggs and hatchl...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82032-3 |
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| author | J. Lanszki T. G. Molnár T. Erős G. Ónodi Z. Lanszki J. J. Purger |
| author_facet | J. Lanszki T. G. Molnár T. Erős G. Ónodi Z. Lanszki J. J. Purger |
| author_sort | J. Lanszki |
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| description | Abstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a wide-ranging, long-living freshwater species with low reproductive success, mainly due to high predation pressure. We studied how habitat variables and predator communities in near-natural marshes affect the survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings. We followed the survival of artificial turtle nests placed in marshes along Lake Balaton (Hungary) in May and June as well as hatchlings (dummies) exposed in September. We found that the fewest nests remained intact in the least disturbed, most extensive area with the largest turtle population without predator control. Hatchlings, compared to nests had a significantly higher probability of survival. The density of carnivore dens indicated the negative influence on the number of exposure days, while marsh vegetation coverage was unrelated. The role of carnivores, especially the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the predation of nests was more significant, while predation by corvids (Corvidae) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) increased for the hatchlings. Predation by mammals increased with the limited availability of dry terrestrial surfaces suitable for laying eggs and with distance to water. Our multifactorial analyses highlight the need for targeted conservation efforts to improve the reproductive success of turtles in these ecologically sensitive environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d83d2547e5ac4513b9acc1f37f56421e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d83d2547e5ac4513b9acc1f37f56421e2025-01-05T12:27:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-82032-3Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlingsJ. Lanszki0T. G. Molnár1T. Erős2G. Ónodi3Z. Lanszki4J. J. Purger5Fish and Conservation Ecology Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research InstituteInstitute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life SciencesFish and Conservation Ecology Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research InstituteFish and Conservation Ecology Research Group, HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research InstituteNational Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of PécsDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of PécsAbstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a wide-ranging, long-living freshwater species with low reproductive success, mainly due to high predation pressure. We studied how habitat variables and predator communities in near-natural marshes affect the survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings. We followed the survival of artificial turtle nests placed in marshes along Lake Balaton (Hungary) in May and June as well as hatchlings (dummies) exposed in September. We found that the fewest nests remained intact in the least disturbed, most extensive area with the largest turtle population without predator control. Hatchlings, compared to nests had a significantly higher probability of survival. The density of carnivore dens indicated the negative influence on the number of exposure days, while marsh vegetation coverage was unrelated. The role of carnivores, especially the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the predation of nests was more significant, while predation by corvids (Corvidae) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) increased for the hatchlings. Predation by mammals increased with the limited availability of dry terrestrial surfaces suitable for laying eggs and with distance to water. Our multifactorial analyses highlight the need for targeted conservation efforts to improve the reproductive success of turtles in these ecologically sensitive environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82032-3European pond turtleEmys orbicularisMarshPredationRed foxSurvival |
| spellingShingle | J. Lanszki T. G. Molnár T. Erős G. Ónodi Z. Lanszki J. J. Purger Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings Scientific Reports European pond turtle Emys orbicularis Marsh Predation Red fox Survival |
| title | Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings |
| title_full | Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings |
| title_fullStr | Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings |
| title_short | Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings |
| title_sort | testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings |
| topic | European pond turtle Emys orbicularis Marsh Predation Red fox Survival |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82032-3 |
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