Observations on the Short-Term Effects of Motorboat Disturbance on the Use of Basking Sites by Female Northern Map Turtles

Bulté, Grégory; Léveillée, Michelle B.; Blouin‐Demers, Gabriel; Cooke, Steven J.; Bertram, Susan M.

doi:10.2744/ccb-1418.1

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In general, turtles exposed to high levels of boat activity exhibit more risk‐prone, defensive behaviour, demonstrating a low tolerance for frequent human disturbances (Turcotte et al, 2023). Disruption to turtle basking behaviour by recreational boating impairs turtle thermoregulation required to maintain optimal body temperatures (Jain‐Schlaepfer et al, 2017), and disturbed turtles take a longer time to resume basking (Bulté et al, 2020). Reduced thermoregulation in turtles may lead to lower food processing rates and therefore lower energy assimilation rates, which may result in an increased susceptibility to environmental parasites and predation (Moore & Seigel, 2006).…”

Section: Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between inland water‐based recreation and freshwater turtles: A review

Berberi,

Guay,

Bulté

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Outdoor recreation brings countless benefits to humans. Understanding the inevitable human interactions with nature is essential for conserving the outdoors for years to come. Water‐based recreation in freshwater ecosystems is increasing in popularity, but freshwater biodiversity is in global decline. The aim of this review is to explore the interactions between water users and freshwater turtles during inland water‐based recreation. Thirty articles (most based in North America) were found to study human–turtle interactions during water‐based recreation, 29 of which reported water‐based recreational activities posing negative effects on freshwater turtle populations. Negative, direct effect interactions included boat collisions with turtles and accidental hooking of turtles with fishhooks. Negative, indirect effect interactions included human presence near habitats used by turtles and wake action with subsequent shoreline erosion. One article reported a positive interaction between humans and freshwater turtles when installing a non‐disruptive turtle observation deck. Eleven articles discussed conservation measures to mitigate turtle risks during water‐based recreation, but none evaluated their efficacy. Conservation measures included regulating boat types, sizes and access points, protecting habitats used by turtles, designating ‘no wake’ boating zones, restricting fishing permits, installing turtle basking perches, promoting public awareness and outreach and implementing participatory science and stewardship programmes. Future research on human–freshwater turtle interactions during inland water‐based recreation could explore the efficacy of conservation measures, potential interactions outside of regularly studied boating and fishing activities and recreation‐induced turtle habitat alterations. Also, future research could explore the human dimension side of human–turtle interactions, including perceptions and knowledge from water users on the interactions they experience, and their awareness and actions of pro‐environmental behaviours to protect turtles during water‐based recreation.

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Section: Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between inland water‐based recreation and freshwater turtles: A review

Berberi,

Guay,

Bulté

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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“…On land, females can be disturbed while nesting (Moore & Seigel, 2006). In the water, recreational boating can perturb important activities, such as basking (Bulté et al, 2020; Moore & Seigel, 2006; Selman et al, 2013). Freshwater turtles can abandon nesting and basking sites for many hours after disturbance by a boat (Bulté et al, 2020; Moore & Seigel, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the water, recreational boating can perturb important activities, such as basking (Bulté et al, 2020; Moore & Seigel, 2006; Selman et al, 2013). Freshwater turtles can abandon nesting and basking sites for many hours after disturbance by a boat (Bulté et al, 2020; Moore & Seigel, 2006). Loss of basking opportunities can compromise thermoregulation, a critical behavioral mechanism to maintain body temperature in a range that optimizes reproductive success in turtles (Bulté & Blouin‐Demers, 2010; Ernst & Lovich, 2009; Jain‐Schlaepfer et al, 2017; Rollinson & Brooks, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of human disturbance on risk‐taking behavior in painted turtles

2023

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Animals are exposed to high levels of anthropogenic disturbance, which has profound consequences for population persistence. Individuals can adjust their behavior plastically when faced with perturbations in their environment and may show consistent differences in the way they perceive and respond to risky situations. Over time, this variability among individuals in response to risk can affect the dynamics of populations exposed to human disturbance. Thus, understanding how animals cope behaviorally with human disturbance is important, especially for species vulnerable to human perturbations, such as turtles. In this context, we evaluated whether risk‐taking behaviors are consistent within individual painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and assessed how these behaviors are related to the extent of human disturbance along the Rideau Canal, Ontario, Canada. Specifically, we conducted repeated measurements of the number of active defensive behaviors used during handling and the time taken to escape a floating platform for 730 painted turtles (1117 observations) from 22 sites varying in human disturbance along the canal. We also quantified the emergence of the turtles from the water after escaping the platform. First, individual painted turtles showed consistent differences in all risk‐taking behaviors. Second, painted turtles in areas with high boat activity displayed more active defensive behaviors, while turtles from sites in proximity to more houses with access to the canal used fewer. Our study highlights the importance of studying animal behavior to better understand the impact of human activities on animal populations.

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Observations on the Short-Term Effects of Motorboat Disturbance on the Use of Basking Sites by Female Northern Map Turtles

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Interactions between inland water‐based recreation and freshwater turtles: A review

Interactions between inland water‐based recreation and freshwater turtles: A review

Effects of human disturbance on risk‐taking behavior in painted turtles

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