Identification of Factors Affecting Predation Risk for Juvenile Turtles using 3D Printed Models.

ABSTRACT: Although it is widely accepted that juvenile turtles experience high levels of predation, such events are rarely observed, providing limited evidence regarding predator identities and how juvenile habitat selection and availability of sensory cues to predators affects predation risk. We placed three-dimensional printed models resembling juvenile box turtles (Terrapenecarolina) across habitats commonly utilized by the species at three sites within their geographical range and monitored models with motion-triggered cameras. To explore how the presence or absence of visual and olfactory cues affected predator interactions with models, we employed a factorial design where models were either exposed or concealed and either did or did not have juvenile box turtle scent applied on them. Predators

SUBMITTER: Tetzlaff SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7070983 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature