How Much Long-Term Data Are Required to Effectively Manage A Wide-Spread Freshwater Turtle?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Freshwater turtle populations are globally threatened by many factors. Complicating matters, their longevity requires long-term monitoring on the scale of decades to assess changes in population size, yet few long-term studies exist. Documenting population estimates and trends is essential for identifying and conserving imperilled populations, however, the impacts of many current threats may render populations endangered well before declines become apparent. By that stage, population recovery may not be possible, thus assessing population level impacts of potential threats may provide a direct measure of risks of population extinction. Australian turtles face major threats of mortality from invasive species, vehicles, disease and declining water quality. Even Australia's most abundant and widespread species has declined by up to 91% in some populations. Here I use population models to assess the impacts of threats to multiple life history stages of an Australia turtle. This study clearly demonstr...