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A Key To The Eggs And Nests Of Iowa Turtles, James L. Christiansen, Jeffrey R. Parmelee
A Key To The Eggs And Nests Of Iowa Turtles, James L. Christiansen, Jeffrey R. Parmelee
Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS
Biologists often need to identify destroyed turtle nests where a predator has excavated and eaten the eggs. We present a dichotomous key to the eggs and nests of Iowa's turtles based on egg or nest morphology and known range of the species. Egg and nest morphology clearly separated most nests of the families Chelydridae and Kinosternidae and many of the Emydidae. However, egg morphology must be combined with known range to distinguish wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) from other emydids. These factors will also separate most false map turtles (Graptemys pseudogeographica) from other species. Similarities among egg morphologies, nest morphologies, and …
Predation By Ermine And Long-Tailed Weasels On Duck Eggs, Joseph P. Fleskes
Predation By Ermine And Long-Tailed Weasels On Duck Eggs, Joseph P. Fleskes
Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS
Ermine (Mustela erminea) and long-tailed weasel (M. frenata) predation on duck eggs was studied at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Kossuth County, Iowa, 1984-85. Captive individuals of both species ate 2-4 duck eggs at a rate of 0.5-2 eggs per trial day. All eggs were moved but some were not opened. One hole, ringed with small fragments and "bite-outs'', was made in all eggs opened by captive weasels. In the field, the appearance of opened eggs, the pattern of egg loss and the amount of nest bowl disturbance were used to determine the number of nests depreciated by weasels. Egg …