Notes on Western Chicken Turtle Disking and Predation

Authors: Brandon C. Bowers, Danielle K. Walkup, Wade A. Ryberg, Roel R. Lopez, Toby J. Hibbitts, Paul S. Crump

1. Disking is a method of tilling soil that is often used as a management technique to improve habitat for ground-nesting birds and waterfowl (Lopez et al. 2017). However, little is known about the effects of disking on fossorial species or species that aestivate underground. The subspecies Deirochelys reticularia miaria has been petitioned for listing and its range in Texas is under imminent urbanization threat (Ryberg et al. 2017). Research suggests that the most critical stages for maintaining stable aquatic turtle populations are likely to be mature adults and subadults (Brooks et al. 1991; Congdon et al. 1993), so understanding anthropogenic causes of mortality in mature individuals may be important for chelonian conservation.
2. Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are significant turtle egg predators (Hamilton 1936). However, research suggests that the most critical stages for maintaining stable aquatic turtle populations are likely to be mature adults and sub-adults (Brooks et al. 1991; Congdon et al. 1993). Little is known about predators of adult Deirochelys reticularia miaria or about predation during periods of aestivation. The subspecies D. r. miaria has been petitioned for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and its range in Texas is under imminent urbanization threat (Ryberg et al. 2017).