SGER -- Collaborative Research: Impact of blue crab fishery on population structure of diamondback terrapins

在切萨皮克湾，小菜龟--海湾里生活的唯一一种海龟--在用于捕捞蓝蟹的商业陷阱中作为副产品溺死。拟议的研究将确定商业捕蟹器对海龟种群大小和年龄结构的影响。首先，侧扫声纳将用于定位和找回在2006年8月热带风暴欧内斯托期间遗失的商业捕蟹器。这些废弃陷阱中的死亡水龟将被性别鉴定和老化，并将测量贝壳尺寸。溺水龟的年龄-大小关系将与在有和没有商业捕蟹压力的相邻龟栖息地进行调查的活龟种群进行比较。拟议的研究将通过提供及时的数据来帮助政策和管理决策，以确定商业螃蟹对切萨皮克湾弗吉尼亚州水域的小径背龟的影响。除了学生培训机会和在科学期刊上发表文章外，在非技术渠道的介绍将有助于让人们了解科学，并促进对相关渔业和养护问题的更好了解。这项研究将提供数据，以帮助蓝蟹渔业在渔业崩溃之前制定基于生态系统的管理计划--其中包括小菜蛾。

In Chesapeake Bay, diamondback terrapins - the only species of turtle living in the bay - drown incidentally as by-catch in commercial traps used for harvesting blue crabs. The proposed research will determine the impact of commercial crab traps on the size and age structure of terrapin populations. First, side-scan sonar will be used to locate and retrieve commercial crab traps lost during tropical storm Ernesto in August 2006. Dead terrapins in these abandoned traps will be sexed and aged, and shell dimensions will be measured. The age-size relationship of drowned terrapins will be compared with live terrapin populations being surveyed in adjacent terrapin habitats with and without commercial crabbing pressures. The proposed research will assist policy and management decision-making by providing timely data determining the impact of commercial crabbing on diamondback terrapins in Virginia waters of Chesapeake Bay. In addition to student training opportunities and publication in scientific journals, presentations at non-technical outlets will help to make the science accessible and promote better understanding of the relevant fishery and conservation issues. The research will provide data to assist the structure of an ecosystem-based management plan for the blue crab fishery - one that includes diamondback terrapins - before the fishery collapses.