​Gin Lawson

Determining the Predatory Status of Wattle-Necked Soft-Shelled Turtles on Hawaiian Goby fishes

 

In the state of Hawaii, a complex conservation situation exists for two endangered species, wattle-necked turtle (Palea steindachneri) and Goby fishes (Lentipes concolor, Sicyopterus stimpsoni, Awaous guamensis, Stenogobius hawaiiensis, & Eleotris sandwicensis).   A desire to preserve a source of genetic diversity for the turtles must be balanced against its impact on endangered, native fishes.  Palea steindachneri is on the IUCN endangered species list.  No longer found in Asia, these softshell turtles have established populations in Kauai and to a lesser extent in Oahu; however, its current ex-situ situation (where the turtle lives outside its habitat of origin) raises questions about the effect on native species.  Not only are Goby native to Hawaii, but also they occupy a culturally important role to Hawaiians.  Goby also have an amphidromous life cycle in which they spend part of their lives in the ocean and the rest in freshwater habitats.  In Hawaii, Palea steindachneri have no large native predators.  The softshell turtles may be threatened, but the risk of predation is small.  The Gobies, on the other hand, have predators present in their native habitat, possibly P. steindachneri.  In this study, I want to investigate whether wattle-necked turtles are eating Gobies.