A shocking result—Electric fences protect western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) nests from depredation by foxes

Author:

Streeting Louise M.1,Dillon Martin L.2,Nesbitt Jack3,Nesbitt Brad13,Baker Lynn3,Spark Philip H.4,Chessman Bruce C.5ORCID,McKnight Donald T.6,McDonald Paul G.1,Bower Deborah S.1

Affiliation:

1. School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia

2. Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Armidale New South Wales Australia

3. Canines for Wildlife Bellingen New South Wales Australia

4. North West Ecological Services Tamworth New South Wales Australia

5. Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney New South Wales Australia

6. Department of Environment and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment La Trobe University Wodonga Victoria Australia

Abstract

AbstractIntroduced red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are a major predator of freshwater turtle nests in Australia. We evaluated the effectiveness of electric fences, in combination with individual nest protection, for shielding western saw‐shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii: Chelidae) nests from predation by foxes. We compared the numbers of raided and intact turtle nests found in paired fenced treatment and unfenced control areas of streambank. We also individually protected all intact nests found in both area types with wire mesh or a steel cage. The total numbers of nests found in treatment and control areas did not significantly differ from parity, but significantly more intact nests were found in treatment areas and significantly more raided nests in control areas. The fences were occasionally damaged by livestock, wildlife and flooding, rendering them inoperative for varying periods of time until repair. However, foxes raided nests inside the fences on only two occasions, despite these breaks in functionality. Our study demonstrates that electric fences can provide an effective method of protecting entire nesting areas from depredation by foxes.

Funder

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Reference46 articles.

1. Australian Society of Herpetologists. (2023)Australian Society of Herpetologists official list of Australian species. Available from:http://www.australiansocietyofherpetologists.org/ash‐official‐list‐of‐australian‐species[Accessed 14th April 2023].

2. Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Usinglme4

3. Bennett C. Chaudhry S. Clemens M. Gilmer L. Lee S. Parker T.et al. (2009)Excluding mammalian predators from diamondback terrapin nesting beaches with an electric fence. (Gemstone Scholars Undergraduate Thesis University of Maryland College Park Maryland USA. 149).

4. Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) nest protection reduces depredation and increases success, but annual variation influences its effectiveness

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