Limpus, Colin J., Limpus, Duncan J., and Hamann, Mark (2002) Freshwater turtle population in the area to be flooded by the Walla Weir, Burnett River, Queensland: baseline study. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 48 (1). pp. 155-168.

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Abstract

A baseline turtle study was requested in a review of impacts of changed water levels to follow construction of the Walla Weir on the Burnett River (25o02'S, 152o04'E) at Wallaville, Queensland. Four species of freshwater turtle occur in the area. Emydura krefftii was abundant throughout most of the Walla Weir area. This population's characteristics indicate poor recruitment or survivorship of young turtles, even though adults breed at a very high rate; a size class distribution skewed towards adults; a sex ratio of 1:1; and almost all adults breeding annually. The straight carapace length (SCL) at which 50% of the population had matured to adult status was used to define size at first breeding and was 18.9cm for males and 21.1cm for females. Mean of all adults was SCL = 22.9cm for males and 25.1cm for females. Length/weight analyses measure health and body condition for each sex. Elseya sp. was uncommon in the area and was mostly concentrated in a single pool. Elseya sp. has a well-developed cloacal gill system. Its population structure indicated that the population was not performing well. Captured turtles comprised large adults and a group of immature turtles born in about 1990-1991. Recruitment of young appears to be limited. Chelodina expansa and Elseya latisternum occurred at very low density in the study area. A set of parameters to describe population performance of chelid turtles and suitable for short-term studies is identified: size class distribution by sex and maturity; and size at first breeding, mean size of adults, annual breeding rate, and length/weight condition curves for each sex.

Item ID:	4941
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	0079-8835
Additional Information:	Reproduced with permission from Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
Date Deposited:	31 Aug 2009 05:46
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management @ 80% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology @ 20%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960802 Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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