Opportunities for research and conservation of freshwater turtles in Australia

Title
Opportunities for research and conservation of freshwater turtles in Australia
Publication Date
2023-12
Author(s)
Bower, Deborah S
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0188-3290
Email: dbower3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dbower3
McKnight, Donald T
Sullivan, Kyra
Macdonald, Stewart L
Georges, Arthur
Clulow, Simon
Mathwin, Rupert
Connell, Marilyn J
Nelson, Holly V
Santoro, Anthony
Nordstrom, Bethany
Van Dyke, James U
Kidman, Rosie A
Streeting, Louise M
Dillon, Martin L
Spencer, Ricky‐John
Thompson, Michael B
Nordberg, Eric J
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1333-622X
Email: enordber@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:enordber
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.1111/aec.13403
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/59325
Abstract

Australia's freshwater turtles have high endemicity and many are threatened by extinction. Following a symposium held at the 2022 conference of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, we summarized the current status of research and conservation for Australian freshwater turtles and identified opportunities for future research. Eight species (32%) of Australia's 25 native freshwater turtles are listed as threatened by Australia's Federal Government. Symposium discussions on the primary gaps in research identified the lack of baseline data to inform population modelling as a key deficiency. Knowledge of the most effective conservation actions, the effectiveness of attempts to aid population recovery, and whether these actions are required at all, remains lacking for many species. A heavy bias exists between some well-studied species compared with others for which little or no information is published. Community science, engagement with First Nations people, advances in technology, and recognition of the importance of turtles are contributing to better knowledge.

Link
Citation
Austral Ecology, 48(8), p. 1483-1491
ISSN
1442-9993
1442-9985
Start page
1483
End page
1491

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