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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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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Alabama
bycatch
Cedar Point Marsh
crab trap
Malaclemys terrapin
Reptilia
Testudines