[Catalist] The long-necked Oblong Turtle [Chelodina oblonga]

[Michael McGarry]

Greetings Science Colleagues,


A very recent research survey of populations of long-necked Oblong Turtles in metropolitan Perth, WA wetlands, conducted by a Murdoch University honours science student, found that about sixty Oblong turtles ranging in estimated age from about 15 years to about 30 years, live in Tomato Lake in Kewdale WA. This means that there have been no hatchling Oblong turtles surviving at the Tomato Lake reserve for about 15 years.


Oblong turtle eggs, which take about 200 days to hatch, are eaten by the seasonal [June to March] influx-plague of nesting and (protected) Australian White Ibis, and by Australian Ravens, which pick the eyes from hatchling turtles and then eat the hatching turtles. Feral foxes also eat the turtle eggs and hatchling turtles.


URL 1: http://www.turtleoblonganetwork.org.au/about-them.html <http://www.turtleoblonganetwork.org.au/about-them.html>
There are no safe and secure nesting sites for Oblong turtles at the Tomato Lake reserve. I suggested to the Belmont City Council office that as a trial project, a thick layer of sand be spread over a level-section of Tomato Lake bank, under a dense canopy of trees and shrubs, so that ibis and ravens cannot see the Oblong turtle egg-laying events. Council rejected the trial project as unfeasible as Council said that the spread-sand layer would quickly rainwater erode into Tomato Lake.


NESA Stage 6 Year 11 and 12 Science Extension: New (draft) Syllabus


I suggest that other Australian State secondary curriculum authorities, like WA SCSA, emulate NESA and consider the planning, resourcing and implementation of Year 11 and 12 Science Extension syllabuses.


URL 2: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/wcm/connect/5a2b76d5-439e-4d49-9ff2-454af0b9fc03/science-ext-st6-draft-syllabus.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID <https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/wcm/connect/5a2b76d5-439e-4d49-9ff2-454af0b9fc03/science-ext-st6-draft-syllabus.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID>=


Examples of Online Oblong Turtle resources for Year 11 and 12 Science Extension Syllabi


URL 3: http://www.aaeewa.org.au/documents/TurtleWatchReport2013.pdf <http://www.aaeewa.org.au/documents/TurtleWatchReport2013.pdf>
URL 4: http://www.aaeewa.org.au/turtlewatch.html <http://www.aaeewa.org.au/turtlewatch.html>
URL 5: https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/licences-permits/Fauna/advice-sheets/tortoises_turtles.pdf <https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/licences-permits/Fauna/advice-sheets/tortoises_turtles.pdf>
URL 6: http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/PER_documentation/Baseline%20turtle%20survey%20-%20Appendix%20R.pdf <http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/PER_documentation/Baseline%20turtle%20survey%20-%20Appendix%20R.pdf>
URL 7: http://www.melvillecity.com.au/newproxy/service/api/node/workspace/SpacesStore/26a29073-6389-401e-83f8-1c3f86883e66/South%20West%20Group%20Report%20-%20Implications%20of%20no%20Perth%20Freight%20Link.pdf/content/South%20West%20Group%20Report%20-%20Implications%20of%20no%20Perth%20Freight%20Link.pdf?alf_ticket=TICKET_e59adebf5e5b42754dfef1bb4dde20bc882d832c <http://www.melvillecity.com.au/newproxy/service/api/node/workspace/SpacesStore/26a29073-6389-401e-83f8-1c3f86883e66/South%20West%20Group%20Report%20-%20Implications%20of%20no%20Perth%20Freight%20Link.pdf/content/South%20West%20Group%20Report%20-%20Implications%20of%20no%20Perth%20Freight%20Link.pdf?alf_ticket=TICKET_e59adebf5e5b42754dfef1bb4dde20bc882d832c>
URL 8: https://cygnus-biologystudentjournal.wikispaces.com/file/view/Oblong+turtle+_18F_+article+16+p139-x.pdf <https://cygnus-biologystudentjournal.wikispaces.com/file/view/Oblong+turtle+_18F_+article+16+p139-x.pdf>
Best Wishes,


Michael John McGarry

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