Mitigating Fox Predation on Freshwater Turtle Nests: Comparing Effectiveness of Three In Situ Protection Methods.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater turtles in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, have declined since the 1970s. Intense nest predation by introduced foxes likely contributes to these declines, disrupting juvenile recruitment needed to sustain populations. Traditional lethal control methods, such as baiting and shooting, have proven inadequate, highlighting the need for innovative conservation strategies. We tested three nest protection methods-fenced nesting beaches, artificial floating islands (artificial nesting habitat), and individual mesh covers-for reducing fox predation. Using artificial turtle nests across protected and unprotected plots, we monitored nest predation with remote cameras and confirmed nest status through excavation. On average, nest predation was lowest on artificial islands (17%),

SUBMITTER: Hunter C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12416911 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature