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Behavioural Interactions of Diamondback Terrapins with Crab Pots Demonstrate That Bycatch Reduction Devices Reduce Entrapment

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Behavioural Interactions of Diamondback Terrapins with Crab Pots Demonstrate That Bycatch Reduction Devices Reduce Entrapment AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 26: 1081–1089 (2016) Published online 19 October 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2587 Behavioural interactions of diamondback terrapins with crab pots demonstrate that bycatch reduction devices reduce entrapment REBECCA K. MCKEEa, KRISTEN K. CECALAb,* and MICHAEL E. DORCASc aDepartment of Environmental Studies, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035, USA bDepartment of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383, USA cDepartment of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035, USA ABSTRACT 1. Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) have experienced declines throughout their range, and accidental mortality in crab pots is a significant conservation concern. To minimize the risk of terrapins entering crab pots, researchers have suggested the use of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) to reduce the size of crab pot openings and thereby exclude terrapins from entering crab pots. Despite these recommendations, few studies have observed terrapin interactions with BRDs and effectively evaluated the efficacy of these devices at preventing the entry of terrapins into pots. 2. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BRD presence and orientation on terrapin behaviour around crab pots and overall terrapin capture rates. 3. In a controlled laboratory setting, terrapins investigated crab pots more frequently when crab pots were baited with fish versus chicken. Terrapins were captured more frequently when BRDs were not installed. The presence of the BRDs also increased the length of time necessary for a terrapin to enter a crab pot and decreased the proportion of entries relative to the number of investigations. Vertically-oriented BRDs were more effective than horizontally-oriented BRDs at reducing terrapin captures. 4. To prevent the continued decline of terrapin populations due to crab fisheries, it is recommended that crabbers avoid the use of fish as bait in crab pots to reduce the attractiveness of pots to terrapins and fit all crab pots with vertically-oriented BRDs to reduce terrapin entrapment. Copyright # 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 23 January 2015; Revised 16 June 2015; Accepted 8 August 2015 KEY WORDS: behaviour; brackish; crab; estuary; fishing; recreation; reptiles; sustainability INTRODUCTION individuals every year (Brooke et al., 2012). Bycatch, or the unintentional capture or harm to Wildlife harvest has the potential to alter the non-target aquatic animals, has contributed to population demography of both target and non-target population declines in many species, including species (Lewison et al., 2004a). Commercial fisheries sharks and sea turtles (Dulvy et al., 2008; Žydelis inadvertently capture thousands of non-target et al., 2009). For example, sharks represented >30% *Correspondence to: K. K. Cecala, 735 University Avenue, Sewanee, TN 37383, USA. E‐mail: [email protected] Copyright # 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1082 R. K. MCKEE ET AL. of the total catch weight in a study on swordfish fleets in areas where crabbing is common (Roosenburg in the western Mediterranean Sea, and, in another et al., 1997; Dorcas et al., 2007). Consequently, study, longline swordfish fishing captured hundreds crab pots negatively impact terrapin populations of loggerhead sea turtles and many leatherback by causing mortality (Bishop, 1983; Wood, 1997; turtles (Lewison et al., 2004b; Megalofonou et al., Grosse et al., 2009), offsetting natural sex ratios 2005). Although all sea turtles and numerous other (Wood, 1997; Roosenburg and Green, 2000; turtle species are protected in the United States Dorcas et al., 2007), and decreasing juvenile under the Endangered Species Act, laws do not recruitment (Grosse et al., 2011). fully protect them in cases where they were not Because crabbing can potentially extirpate intentionally targeted (Duugan, 2011). populations and poses a serious threat to terrapin Consequently, efforts to minimize and prevent the conservation, there have been numerous studies incidental take of these species are key to long-term into methods to reduce the mortality of terrapins conservation efforts. in crab pots (Roosenburg et al., 1997; Butler and Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Heinrich, 2007; Grosse et al., 2009; Rook et al., populations have historically been over-harvested 2010; Coleman et al., 2011; Hart and Crowder, for human consumption (Hay, 1917; Garber, 2011; Morris et al., 2011). One of the most widely 1990). Despite historical depletion, diamondback proposed solutions rests on the implementation of terrapins are not protected at the federal level but bycatch reduction devices (BRDs). BRDs are are listed as a CITES II species. In addition, rectangular, rigid devices that can be fitted over terrapins are listed as endangered in Rhode pot openings to exclude terrapins that are either Island, threatened in Massachusetts, and a species too wide or too tall to fit through the BRD. of concern in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Studies conducted throughout the terrapin range Virginia (Hackney, 2010). Using the criteria set have documented reductions in terrapin captures forth by the Natural Heritage Program, terrapins when pots are fitted with BRDs (Roosenburg and have been identified as critically imperilled in Green, 2000; Butler and Heinrich, 2007; Coleman Rhode Island; imperilled in Alabama, Louisiana, et al., 2011; Morris et al. 2011). However, studies Massachusetts, and Mississippi; and vulnerable in on how BRDs affect crab catch have produced Connecticut, Georgia, New York, North variable results, with some studies finding a Carolina, New Jersey and Texas (Hackney, significant decrease (Coleman et al., 2011) in crab 2010). Although most states now ban or restrict catch with BRD use but others finding no effect the commercial harvest of terrapins, they have (Cuevas et al., 2000; Morris et al., 2011) or even a experienced recent population declines consistent slight increase in catch rates (Guillory and with accidental capture in blue crab pots (often Prejean, 1998). In efforts to balance terrapin referred to as crab traps; Gibbons et al., 2001; conservation while continuing to catch high Dorcas et al., 2007; Grosse et al., 2011). Blue numbers of crabs, studies have examined factors crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and diamondback such as size (Roosenburg and Green, 2000; Cole terrapins both inhabit estuarine tidal creeks. and Helser, 2001) and orientation (Hart and Terrapins, which range from Massachusetts to Crowder, 2011) of BRDs on terrapin entry. Hart Texas, significantly overlap with crabs in both and Crowder (2011) first tested the effectiveness of range and habitat type. When crab pots are vertically-oriented BRDs and found that placed in tidal creeks, terrapins sometimes enter vertically-oriented BRDs had limited effects on them and often drown (Bishop, 1983; Grosse crab catch, yet their capture rates of terrapins et al., 2009). Because of the smaller size of male limited their inferences about the efficacy of and juvenile terrapins (Lovich and Gibbons, vertically-oriented BRDs on terrapin capture. 1990), they may be removed from the population Typically, horizontally-oriented BRDs act as a at higher rates than mature females that are physical barrier with depth acting as the primary unable to enter some crab pots, creating terrapin limiting dimension for terrapin entry. Because populations that are both older and female-biased vertically-oriented BRDs require terrapins to turn Copyright # 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 26: 1081–1089 (2016) BRDS REDUCE RISK OF TERRAPIN BY CATCH VIA BEHAVIORAL MECHANISMS 1083 sideways to enter the crab pot, terrapins may be Behavioural observations more likely to be physically excluded from crab Terrapins were tested in a circular, 1000 gallon pots. Previous research has similarly demonstrated brackish water experimental enclosure (2.75 m that small modifications in the design and diameter and 1 m deep) at the South Carolina implementation of turtle exclusion devices have led Aquarium. Each group of terrapins was allowed to to reduced bycatch rates for sea turtles (Jenkins, acclimate to the enclosure for at least 2 h before 2012). trials began. Trials began when the crab pot with Field studies of BRD effectiveness are often a chimney was introduced into the treatment tank. limited by low capture rates and do not allow The chimney was mounted in the centre of the pot for determination of the mechanisms that and allowed terrapins to access air once they reduce capture rates (Coleman et al., 2011; Hart became trapped. All behavioural trials were and Crowder, 2011). Controlled behavioural recorded using a webcam mounted above the test observations of terrapins with BRDs will allow tank while the terrapins underwent a series of a more comprehensive understanding of how three bait treatments and three BRD treatments. they prevent terrapin entry into crab pots to Twenty-five terrapins were used to evaluate bait design and implement the most effective BRD. type while these 25 plus an additional 13 terrapins This study used a controlled laboratory were evaluated for their behaviour around crab experiment to examine the effects of BRD pots. Only one trial was run each day. presence and orientation on terrapin capture To use the most attractive bait, three potential and behaviour in and around crab pots. bait options were tested: chicken, fish (thawed Vertically-oriented BRDs were hypothesized
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