From Sunshine Coast Daily October 10th 2007.
(at: http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2007/oct/10/govt-pushing-ahead-dam-plan/)
Quote:
The environment impact statement for the controversial $1.7 billion Traveston Crossing Dam could be released as early as next week for public comment.
Premier Anna Bligh told parliament today that the EIS had been provided to the Coordinator-General to confirm it addresses the Terms of Reference.
"Subject to his confirmation that it does address the Terms of Reference the EIS will be publicly released as early as next week,'' Ms Bligh said.
"After six weeks of public consultation the Coordinator General will then consider the response. If he approves the EIS it will then be placed before the Federal Minister for the Environment early in 2008.
Ms Bligh acknowledged that any dam of the scale of the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam had the potential to create impacts that must be addressed.
"Concern has been raised about the potential impact on the Queensland Lungfish, Mary River Turtle and Mary River Cod. These are extraordinary creatures already under stress with their populations in decline, and they deserve protection.
"The project proponent, Queensland Water Infrastructure, proposes extensive measures to address these concerns.
Ms Bligh announced a $35 million Freshwater Species Conservation Centre to be built near Gympie - adjacent to the Bruce Highway on the eastern shores of the dam - upstream of the dam wall. The funding will be sourced from the dam project.
"Its prime goal is to ensure the survival and improve the status of Lungfish, Mary River Cod and Mary River Turtle. This proposal is about learning more about these species and ensuring that they just don’t survive – they thrive.''
The Conservation Centre will be run in partnership with the University of Queensland, and overseen by Australia’s leading science agency CSIRO.
The world’s leading experts in the research of this field will be involved to provide independent advice – they include Professor Jean Joss of Macquarie University; Professor Gordon Grigg of The University of Queensland and Dr Col Limpus of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have agreed to join the Centre’s Scientific Advisory Panel.
"Professors Joss and Grigg have made their opposition to the construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam clear. I have no doubt their opinions have not changed but I thank them for supporting the project which is intended to achieve just one thing – the protection and sustainability of three wonderful species. ''
"In April this year I visited Professor Joss’ research laboratory at Macquarie University in Sydney. I understand her passion and commitment to this extraordinary fish. The time I spent with Jean and her fish was a revelation.
"The facilities proposed for the new centre include breeding tanks, fish and turtle ponds, research laboratories and researcher’s accommodation.
"The centre is proposed to have 14 staff and provide an education and awareness focus for these species.
The centre will provide Queensland’s first opportunity to show off this ‘living fossil’ - said to be more than 110 million years old. It is expected to attract visitors, students and scientists from Australia and overseas.
The $35 million funding package includes resources for operational and research funding for the next 10 years, along with funding for implementation of research findings.
Subject to the Commonwealth giving the dam final approval it is expected that detailed planning of the centre will commence by mid next year - with the first sod being turned by mid-2009.
Wonderful isn't it! The experts are buckling to the pressure because a few bucks are being thrown their way, guaranteeing their staff’s jobs, as well as themselves, for at least another 10 years.
It's incredible that ecologists in Australia (not a third world country) believe that conservation means a shiny new building, a few tourists and breeding lots of hatchlings of an endangered species and dropping them into a habitat that simply will NEVER be able to support them.
ARE THESE PEOPLE STUPID for thinking that conservation is just breeding in Hatcheries for release into the river??? Even Zoo's aren't stupid enough to release animals into an unviable habitat.
THEIR HABITAT MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!
We need to contact world renowned ecologists (Those with more letters after their names than ours) and ask them for their comments on breed/release centres without having an ecosystem that can support them after they are released.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE "DOING CONSERVATION" IN THE MEDIA'S AND PUBLICS EYES BUT THE FACTS ARE THEY ARE NOT!!! IT IS A SMOKESCREEN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
All they are doing is providing a good food source for their natural predators!
What happens after the ten years are up and everyone packs up their bags and goes home?????
This ten year program will not help the Mary River turtle as hatchlings take 15-20 years to reach sexual maturity. All they will do is take gravid animals from the wild, induce them to lay, incubate the eggs and say look what a wonderful job we have done!!
In our preliminary findings, we have noted that the Mary River turtle is doing very well in the upper catchment and does not need any unnecessary and costly intervention. We have noted that so far we have caught 66% juvenile MRT's which indicates that the population is sustainable.
What we have found is that they prefer a very particular and unique habitat. That is what should be protected to ensure their survival, and that their numbers will increase!
Limiting their habitat = Limiting their maximum population. The larger the population, the more stable it is genetically.
HATCHERIES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN BAND-AID SOLUTIONS
Regards,
Craig Latta-AFTCRA Inc.
BELOW IS A PAPER WRITTEN BY SOME OF THE EXPERTS THAT WORKED ON THE BURNETT RIVER 'PARADISE' (WHAT A JOKE) DAM RESEARCH ON EFFECTS ON TURTLES THAT DAMS HAVE ON THEM AND WHY BREEDING FACILITIES JUST WON'T WORK.
The Environmental Impacts of Dams on the regionally Endemic Turtles of the Mary River
Scott Thomson 1,3 , Mark Hamann 2,3, Craig Latta 3, Gabrielle Latta 3.
1. Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
2. School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811
Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
3. AFTCRA Inc. (Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association) PO Box 963, COOROY QLD 4563. E-mail: [email protected]
The Mary River currently supports six species of freshwater turtle. Many of these are widespread in other drainages but two of the species, the Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) and the Southern Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula) are endemic to the region. Indeed, the Mary River Turtle is only found in this drainage, the Southern Snapping Turtle is also found in the Burnett and the Fitzroy drainages.
The Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) was described by Cann & Legler (1994) it is a monotypic genus representing a very old lineage of turtles that has all but disappeared from the evolutionary history of Australia. It is one of Australia’s largest species of turtles. Specimens in excess of 50cm carapace length have been recorded. Adult Mary River turtles have an elongated, streamlined carapace that can be plain in colour or beautifully patterned. Overall colour can vary from rusty red to brown and almost black. The plastron varies from cream to pale pink. The skin colouration is similar to that of the shell and often has salmon pink present on the tail and limbs. The iris can be pale blue. The species utilises bimodal respiration and are therefore capable of absorbing oxygen via the cloaca whilst underwater, however they do regularly come to the surface to breathe. A unique feature of Elusor is the tail, which in males, can measure almost two thirds of the carapace length. The tail has haemal arches, a feature lost in all other modern turtles. It is probably a derived feature but its function is not understood. Another unique feature is the exceptionally long barbels under the mandible. Proportionately, the Mary River turtle has the smallest head and largest hind feet of all the species within the catchment, which contributes to its distinction of being the fastest swimmer. This species is currently listed as endangered under Queensland and Federal legislation, plus the International conservation body, IUCN, lists it as endangered on the IUCN Redlist.
The Southern Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula) was described by Thomson et al. (2006) from the Mary, Burnett and Fitzroy drainages. Although Elseya is a relatively large genus it also represents an ancient group of reptiles with a significant fossil history in Australia. This is particularly true of the Queensland Elseya and is most evident in this species which in the current theory of relationships would be among the oldest surviving species (Georges & Thomson, 2006). It also is a very large species of Chelid and is slightly larger than Elusor with one 54cm and one 56cm female now measured. These sizes make it second only to the Mata Mata of South America as the largest species of Chelid turtle (Austro-South American Side Neck) in the world. In other words it is a true relic of the Australian megafauna. They are sexually dimorphic with males being considerably smaller than females. The carapace is oval to slightly elongated and, in adults, is typically charcoal to black in colour. The adult plastron is predominantly charcoal to black but can often be patterned with cream and black. The name albagula is derived from the white colouration, commonly seen on the throat of adult females. Hatchlings and juveniles are highly serrated, keeled and variable in colour. They are incredibly patterned with mottling and marbling ranging from cream to black. Also capable of cloacal breathing, this species can absorb oxygen efficiently from the surrounding water. The description of this species came out in July this year, as such, until this happened it has not been possible to have it assessed for threatened status. It is now in the process of being listed as endangered both at Federal and International levels.
Within the Mary River the Southern Snapping Turtle has been found from the upper reaches of the river down to the freshwater brackish interface. While the Mary River Turtle has not been found throughout the river, the search effort by researchers has not covered the entire system. However, it is known to occur in the Mary River between Tiaro and Gympie, in the upper catchment at Kenilworth (Flakus 2002) and within the Traveston, Coolabine, and Cambroon areas (Latta & Latta, 2006). It is important to note that few freshwater turtle surveys have been conducted in the Mary River between Gympie and Kenilworth to describe the population structure, of either the Mary River or the Southern Snapping Turtles in this section of the river. Regardless of incomplete surveys within the Mary River drainage, the data that is available for both species indicates that populations are strongly biased towards adults, and that most adults breed every year (Tucker 1999; Limpus et al. 2002; Flakus 2002). These are worrying signs because this data implies that survival of eggs and/or the recruitment of hatchlings is poor. Both species reach maturity at around 20 years and the lack of juvenile turtles suggests that these threats have been occurring for decades. One of the priorities for developing management incentives for these two turtle species is to conduct systematic surveys in the Mary River and tributaries between Gympie and Conondale, to determine population structure and stability.
The Mary River and Southern Snapping Turtles are river turtles and like many species of river turtles rely on a suite of river characteristics such as riffle zones, rapids and flowing rivers that are not impounded. They also rely on the constant remodelling of the river banks that take place in seasonal fluctuations on the river. Both species are omnivores but at different stages of life the percentage of plant and animal food changes. As adults they largely eat vegetation and fruit. Hence, it is important that their habitat has healthy growth of riparian vegetation that produces fruits they can eat, for example native figs.
The Southern Snapping Turtle is found throughout the rivers in which it occurs however it is usually absent in areas of still water impounded by dams (Thomson et al., 2006). The species, as a cloacal breather, is intrinsically vulnerable to the effects of dams because of the loss of the riffle zones and rapids on which it relies to oxygenate the water (Legler and Georges 1993; Fitzgibbon 1998). Less is known about the impacts of dams and weirs on the Mary River Turtle, however it is not generally found within impounded areas (Tucker 1999; Mark Hamann and Craig Latta personal observations). The dams also have the effect of dividing or fragmenting populations because they cannot be easily travelled over by the turtles. Hence impoundment structures can impede the gene flow for the species causing a loss of diversity. In the description of the species it was suggested that the Southern Snapping Turtle was a sensitive indicator of riverine health (Thomson et al., 2006).
On the Burnett River, in the wake of the building of the Paradise Dam, a turtle hatchery was developed. At this stage it is too early to tell if they have had any success because a nesting season has not been completed and eggs that have been placed into the hatchery are still incubating. A successful hatchery program must not just be about obtaining eggs and hatching them; there is more to it than this. For a hatchery program to work effectively there must be suitable riverine habitat to release hatchlings into; and hatchlings must have a better chance of survival than if nothing was done. Moreover, the incubation environment should be designed and managed so as not to compromise embryo development, hatchling phenotype, health or physical condition. Whether the Burnett River, with its loss of flows and few riparian zone management programs, is viable habitat for the species is not known and it will take years of monitoring to determine this. The hatchlings must be monitored, at least to determine immediate survival in the river, and it would be preferable to monitor them until they reach maturity. In long lived species such as the Mary River or Southern Snapping Turtles, this may take two decades or more. Hence, any use of this method on the Mary River would be another attempt of an untested process.
In summary, experience from the world of sea turtles where hatcheries are commonly used to protect sea turtle clutches, shows us that hatcheries are expensive to set up, expensive to run/maintain and it is exceedingly difficult to measure success on a short term (<10 years). Another factor in the ultimate success of a hatchery program is the long term funding of the project. A hatchery could conceivably cost in the order of $500k to set up and then between $100k and $200k per year to run and maintain; especially if staff are hired to maintain it. This, over a generation of turtles equates to considerable expenditure. Whilst it is topical and highly rated, it will no doubt continue to receive funding but what happens 10 years down the track? Charismatic species such as Sea Turtles can only sometimes enjoy very long term funding and even this is rare. A ten year program may give the turtles another generation of survival but what then? If the species can no longer breed in the wild, because of the effects of the dam, then they will still not be breeding in 10 years. If funding runs out, we are back to where we started. In other words, a hatchery program may in the long term be nothing more than a temporary Band-Aid solution to a wider problem (e.g. Frazer 1992), and that problem is the loss of usable habitat for the turtles and distraction from the real issues of riparian zone management and predator control.
Cann, J. and Legler, J.M. (1994). The Mary River Tortoise: a new genus and species of short-necked chelid from Queensland, Australia (Testudines; Pleurodira). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(2):81-96.
Fitzgibbon, S. 1998. The diving physiology and dive behaviour of an undescribed turtle from the Mary River, Queensland (Elseya sp.). Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Queensland.
Flakus S (2002) The ecology of the Mary River turtle, Elusor macrurus. Masters thesis, The University of Queensland.
Frazer NB (1992) Sea turtle conservation and halfway technology. Conservation Biology 6, 179.
Georges A. and Thomson, S. (2006). Evolution and Zoogeography of the Australian Freshwater Turtles. In Merrick, J.R., Archer, M., Hickey, G. and Lee, M. (eds).Evolution and Zoogeography of Australasian Vertebrates. AUSCIPUB (Australian Scientific Publishing) Pty Ltd, Sydney. In press.
Hamann M, Ibrahim K, Whittier JM (2000) Measuring the success of sea turtle hatcheries in Malaysia: Using emergence success, savethemaryriver ratios and hatchling performance as indicators. In '20th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation'. Orlando. (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-477)
Latta, C & Latta, G (2006) ‘Mary River Turtle Elusor macrurus photographic survey performed under Scientific Purposes Permit E4/001080/00/SAA’
Unpublished report compiled for Queensland Museum
Legler, J.M. & Georges, A. 1993. Chelidae. In: Godsell, J. (Ed.). Fauna of Australia, Volume 2: Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Study, Dasett, pp. 142–152.
Limpus C, Limpus D, Hamann M (2002) Freshwater turtle populations in the area to be flooded by the Walla Weir, Burnett River, Queensland: Baseline study. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 48, 155-168.
Schäuble C, Ibrahim K, Kassim AR, Hamann M, Whittier J (2003) Monitoring hatchery success - What's worthwhile. In 'Proceedings of the 22nd Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation'. (JA Seminoff (compiler)) Miami, Florida (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-503. p 116.
Thomson, S., Georges, A. and C. Limpus, (2006). A New Species of Freshwater Turtle in the Genus Elseya (Testudines: Chelidae) from Central Coastal Queensland, Australia. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 5(1):74-86.
Tucker AD, (Compiler) (1999) 'Cumulative Effects of Dams and Weirs on Freshwater Turtles: Fitzroy, Kolan, Burnett and Mary Catchments.' Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service., Unpublished report to the Queensland Department of Natural Resources.
(at: http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2007/oct/10/govt-pushing-ahead-dam-plan/)
Quote:
The environment impact statement for the controversial $1.7 billion Traveston Crossing Dam could be released as early as next week for public comment.
Premier Anna Bligh told parliament today that the EIS had been provided to the Coordinator-General to confirm it addresses the Terms of Reference.
"Subject to his confirmation that it does address the Terms of Reference the EIS will be publicly released as early as next week,'' Ms Bligh said.
"After six weeks of public consultation the Coordinator General will then consider the response. If he approves the EIS it will then be placed before the Federal Minister for the Environment early in 2008.
Ms Bligh acknowledged that any dam of the scale of the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam had the potential to create impacts that must be addressed.
"Concern has been raised about the potential impact on the Queensland Lungfish, Mary River Turtle and Mary River Cod. These are extraordinary creatures already under stress with their populations in decline, and they deserve protection.
"The project proponent, Queensland Water Infrastructure, proposes extensive measures to address these concerns.
Ms Bligh announced a $35 million Freshwater Species Conservation Centre to be built near Gympie - adjacent to the Bruce Highway on the eastern shores of the dam - upstream of the dam wall. The funding will be sourced from the dam project.
"Its prime goal is to ensure the survival and improve the status of Lungfish, Mary River Cod and Mary River Turtle. This proposal is about learning more about these species and ensuring that they just don’t survive – they thrive.''
The Conservation Centre will be run in partnership with the University of Queensland, and overseen by Australia’s leading science agency CSIRO.
The world’s leading experts in the research of this field will be involved to provide independent advice – they include Professor Jean Joss of Macquarie University; Professor Gordon Grigg of The University of Queensland and Dr Col Limpus of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have agreed to join the Centre’s Scientific Advisory Panel.
"Professors Joss and Grigg have made their opposition to the construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam clear. I have no doubt their opinions have not changed but I thank them for supporting the project which is intended to achieve just one thing – the protection and sustainability of three wonderful species. ''
"In April this year I visited Professor Joss’ research laboratory at Macquarie University in Sydney. I understand her passion and commitment to this extraordinary fish. The time I spent with Jean and her fish was a revelation.
"The facilities proposed for the new centre include breeding tanks, fish and turtle ponds, research laboratories and researcher’s accommodation.
"The centre is proposed to have 14 staff and provide an education and awareness focus for these species.
The centre will provide Queensland’s first opportunity to show off this ‘living fossil’ - said to be more than 110 million years old. It is expected to attract visitors, students and scientists from Australia and overseas.
The $35 million funding package includes resources for operational and research funding for the next 10 years, along with funding for implementation of research findings.
Subject to the Commonwealth giving the dam final approval it is expected that detailed planning of the centre will commence by mid next year - with the first sod being turned by mid-2009.
Wonderful isn't it! The experts are buckling to the pressure because a few bucks are being thrown their way, guaranteeing their staff’s jobs, as well as themselves, for at least another 10 years.
It's incredible that ecologists in Australia (not a third world country) believe that conservation means a shiny new building, a few tourists and breeding lots of hatchlings of an endangered species and dropping them into a habitat that simply will NEVER be able to support them.
ARE THESE PEOPLE STUPID for thinking that conservation is just breeding in Hatcheries for release into the river??? Even Zoo's aren't stupid enough to release animals into an unviable habitat.
THEIR HABITAT MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!
We need to contact world renowned ecologists (Those with more letters after their names than ours) and ask them for their comments on breed/release centres without having an ecosystem that can support them after they are released.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE "DOING CONSERVATION" IN THE MEDIA'S AND PUBLICS EYES BUT THE FACTS ARE THEY ARE NOT!!! IT IS A SMOKESCREEN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
All they are doing is providing a good food source for their natural predators!
What happens after the ten years are up and everyone packs up their bags and goes home?????
This ten year program will not help the Mary River turtle as hatchlings take 15-20 years to reach sexual maturity. All they will do is take gravid animals from the wild, induce them to lay, incubate the eggs and say look what a wonderful job we have done!!
In our preliminary findings, we have noted that the Mary River turtle is doing very well in the upper catchment and does not need any unnecessary and costly intervention. We have noted that so far we have caught 66% juvenile MRT's which indicates that the population is sustainable.
What we have found is that they prefer a very particular and unique habitat. That is what should be protected to ensure their survival, and that their numbers will increase!
Limiting their habitat = Limiting their maximum population. The larger the population, the more stable it is genetically.
HATCHERIES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN BAND-AID SOLUTIONS
Regards,
Craig Latta-AFTCRA Inc.
BELOW IS A PAPER WRITTEN BY SOME OF THE EXPERTS THAT WORKED ON THE BURNETT RIVER 'PARADISE' (WHAT A JOKE) DAM RESEARCH ON EFFECTS ON TURTLES THAT DAMS HAVE ON THEM AND WHY BREEDING FACILITIES JUST WON'T WORK.
The Environmental Impacts of Dams on the regionally Endemic Turtles of the Mary River
Scott Thomson 1,3 , Mark Hamann 2,3, Craig Latta 3, Gabrielle Latta 3.
1. Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
2. School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811
Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
3. AFTCRA Inc. (Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association) PO Box 963, COOROY QLD 4563. E-mail: [email protected]
The Mary River currently supports six species of freshwater turtle. Many of these are widespread in other drainages but two of the species, the Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) and the Southern Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula) are endemic to the region. Indeed, the Mary River Turtle is only found in this drainage, the Southern Snapping Turtle is also found in the Burnett and the Fitzroy drainages.
The Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) was described by Cann & Legler (1994) it is a monotypic genus representing a very old lineage of turtles that has all but disappeared from the evolutionary history of Australia. It is one of Australia’s largest species of turtles. Specimens in excess of 50cm carapace length have been recorded. Adult Mary River turtles have an elongated, streamlined carapace that can be plain in colour or beautifully patterned. Overall colour can vary from rusty red to brown and almost black. The plastron varies from cream to pale pink. The skin colouration is similar to that of the shell and often has salmon pink present on the tail and limbs. The iris can be pale blue. The species utilises bimodal respiration and are therefore capable of absorbing oxygen via the cloaca whilst underwater, however they do regularly come to the surface to breathe. A unique feature of Elusor is the tail, which in males, can measure almost two thirds of the carapace length. The tail has haemal arches, a feature lost in all other modern turtles. It is probably a derived feature but its function is not understood. Another unique feature is the exceptionally long barbels under the mandible. Proportionately, the Mary River turtle has the smallest head and largest hind feet of all the species within the catchment, which contributes to its distinction of being the fastest swimmer. This species is currently listed as endangered under Queensland and Federal legislation, plus the International conservation body, IUCN, lists it as endangered on the IUCN Redlist.
The Southern Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula) was described by Thomson et al. (2006) from the Mary, Burnett and Fitzroy drainages. Although Elseya is a relatively large genus it also represents an ancient group of reptiles with a significant fossil history in Australia. This is particularly true of the Queensland Elseya and is most evident in this species which in the current theory of relationships would be among the oldest surviving species (Georges & Thomson, 2006). It also is a very large species of Chelid and is slightly larger than Elusor with one 54cm and one 56cm female now measured. These sizes make it second only to the Mata Mata of South America as the largest species of Chelid turtle (Austro-South American Side Neck) in the world. In other words it is a true relic of the Australian megafauna. They are sexually dimorphic with males being considerably smaller than females. The carapace is oval to slightly elongated and, in adults, is typically charcoal to black in colour. The adult plastron is predominantly charcoal to black but can often be patterned with cream and black. The name albagula is derived from the white colouration, commonly seen on the throat of adult females. Hatchlings and juveniles are highly serrated, keeled and variable in colour. They are incredibly patterned with mottling and marbling ranging from cream to black. Also capable of cloacal breathing, this species can absorb oxygen efficiently from the surrounding water. The description of this species came out in July this year, as such, until this happened it has not been possible to have it assessed for threatened status. It is now in the process of being listed as endangered both at Federal and International levels.
Within the Mary River the Southern Snapping Turtle has been found from the upper reaches of the river down to the freshwater brackish interface. While the Mary River Turtle has not been found throughout the river, the search effort by researchers has not covered the entire system. However, it is known to occur in the Mary River between Tiaro and Gympie, in the upper catchment at Kenilworth (Flakus 2002) and within the Traveston, Coolabine, and Cambroon areas (Latta & Latta, 2006). It is important to note that few freshwater turtle surveys have been conducted in the Mary River between Gympie and Kenilworth to describe the population structure, of either the Mary River or the Southern Snapping Turtles in this section of the river. Regardless of incomplete surveys within the Mary River drainage, the data that is available for both species indicates that populations are strongly biased towards adults, and that most adults breed every year (Tucker 1999; Limpus et al. 2002; Flakus 2002). These are worrying signs because this data implies that survival of eggs and/or the recruitment of hatchlings is poor. Both species reach maturity at around 20 years and the lack of juvenile turtles suggests that these threats have been occurring for decades. One of the priorities for developing management incentives for these two turtle species is to conduct systematic surveys in the Mary River and tributaries between Gympie and Conondale, to determine population structure and stability.
The Mary River and Southern Snapping Turtles are river turtles and like many species of river turtles rely on a suite of river characteristics such as riffle zones, rapids and flowing rivers that are not impounded. They also rely on the constant remodelling of the river banks that take place in seasonal fluctuations on the river. Both species are omnivores but at different stages of life the percentage of plant and animal food changes. As adults they largely eat vegetation and fruit. Hence, it is important that their habitat has healthy growth of riparian vegetation that produces fruits they can eat, for example native figs.
The Southern Snapping Turtle is found throughout the rivers in which it occurs however it is usually absent in areas of still water impounded by dams (Thomson et al., 2006). The species, as a cloacal breather, is intrinsically vulnerable to the effects of dams because of the loss of the riffle zones and rapids on which it relies to oxygenate the water (Legler and Georges 1993; Fitzgibbon 1998). Less is known about the impacts of dams and weirs on the Mary River Turtle, however it is not generally found within impounded areas (Tucker 1999; Mark Hamann and Craig Latta personal observations). The dams also have the effect of dividing or fragmenting populations because they cannot be easily travelled over by the turtles. Hence impoundment structures can impede the gene flow for the species causing a loss of diversity. In the description of the species it was suggested that the Southern Snapping Turtle was a sensitive indicator of riverine health (Thomson et al., 2006).
On the Burnett River, in the wake of the building of the Paradise Dam, a turtle hatchery was developed. At this stage it is too early to tell if they have had any success because a nesting season has not been completed and eggs that have been placed into the hatchery are still incubating. A successful hatchery program must not just be about obtaining eggs and hatching them; there is more to it than this. For a hatchery program to work effectively there must be suitable riverine habitat to release hatchlings into; and hatchlings must have a better chance of survival than if nothing was done. Moreover, the incubation environment should be designed and managed so as not to compromise embryo development, hatchling phenotype, health or physical condition. Whether the Burnett River, with its loss of flows and few riparian zone management programs, is viable habitat for the species is not known and it will take years of monitoring to determine this. The hatchlings must be monitored, at least to determine immediate survival in the river, and it would be preferable to monitor them until they reach maturity. In long lived species such as the Mary River or Southern Snapping Turtles, this may take two decades or more. Hence, any use of this method on the Mary River would be another attempt of an untested process.
In summary, experience from the world of sea turtles where hatcheries are commonly used to protect sea turtle clutches, shows us that hatcheries are expensive to set up, expensive to run/maintain and it is exceedingly difficult to measure success on a short term (<10 years). Another factor in the ultimate success of a hatchery program is the long term funding of the project. A hatchery could conceivably cost in the order of $500k to set up and then between $100k and $200k per year to run and maintain; especially if staff are hired to maintain it. This, over a generation of turtles equates to considerable expenditure. Whilst it is topical and highly rated, it will no doubt continue to receive funding but what happens 10 years down the track? Charismatic species such as Sea Turtles can only sometimes enjoy very long term funding and even this is rare. A ten year program may give the turtles another generation of survival but what then? If the species can no longer breed in the wild, because of the effects of the dam, then they will still not be breeding in 10 years. If funding runs out, we are back to where we started. In other words, a hatchery program may in the long term be nothing more than a temporary Band-Aid solution to a wider problem (e.g. Frazer 1992), and that problem is the loss of usable habitat for the turtles and distraction from the real issues of riparian zone management and predator control.
Cann, J. and Legler, J.M. (1994). The Mary River Tortoise: a new genus and species of short-necked chelid from Queensland, Australia (Testudines; Pleurodira). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 1(2):81-96.
Fitzgibbon, S. 1998. The diving physiology and dive behaviour of an undescribed turtle from the Mary River, Queensland (Elseya sp.). Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Queensland.
Flakus S (2002) The ecology of the Mary River turtle, Elusor macrurus. Masters thesis, The University of Queensland.
Frazer NB (1992) Sea turtle conservation and halfway technology. Conservation Biology 6, 179.
Georges A. and Thomson, S. (2006). Evolution and Zoogeography of the Australian Freshwater Turtles. In Merrick, J.R., Archer, M., Hickey, G. and Lee, M. (eds).Evolution and Zoogeography of Australasian Vertebrates. AUSCIPUB (Australian Scientific Publishing) Pty Ltd, Sydney. In press.
Hamann M, Ibrahim K, Whittier JM (2000) Measuring the success of sea turtle hatcheries in Malaysia: Using emergence success, savethemaryriver ratios and hatchling performance as indicators. In '20th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation'. Orlando. (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-477)
Latta, C & Latta, G (2006) ‘Mary River Turtle Elusor macrurus photographic survey performed under Scientific Purposes Permit E4/001080/00/SAA’
Unpublished report compiled for Queensland Museum
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