Size-Based Mortality of Adult Female Diamond-Backed Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Blue Crab Traps in a Gulf of Mexico Population

Andrew T. Coleman; Taylor Roberge; Thane Wibbels; Ken Marion; David Nelson; John Dindo

doi:10.2744/CCB-1099.1

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1 December 2014 Size-Based Mortality of Adult Female Diamond-Backed Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Blue Crab Traps in a Gulf of Mexico Population

Andrew T. Coleman, Taylor Roberge, Thane Wibbels, Ken Marion, David Nelson, John Dindo

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Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 13(2):140-145 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1099.1

Abstract

Mortality incidental to trapping for blue crabs is a primary threat to diamond-backed terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) populations. Due to sexual size dimorphism in this species, crab-trap mortality is believed to be biased toward smaller adult males and juvenile females. However, a comparison of commercial trap funnel openings and adult female size from a Gulf Coast population suggested that crab-trap mortality is a larger threat than previously thought to adult female terrapins in this population and possibly others.

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Andrew T. Coleman, Taylor Roberge, Thane Wibbels, Ken Marion, David Nelson, and John Dindo "Size-Based Mortality of Adult Female Diamond-Backed Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Blue Crab Traps in a Gulf of Mexico Population," Chelonian Conservation and Biology 13(2), 140-145, (1 December 2014). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1099.1

Received: 28 January 2014; Accepted: 1 June 2014; Published: 1 December 2014

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