Hidden Life of the Eastern Longneck

Hidden Life of the Eastern Longneck

Possibly our most well-studied turtle, yet mark-recapture, radio-tracking, behavioural studies, and molecular studies are yielding many surprises on its secret terrestrial sojourns. We now know that this species spends an extraordinary amount of time on land, navigating by the sun, conserving water through terrestrial aestivation and episodic movement associated with rain, that it can survive and thrive in urban systems given the right combination of conditions, and that it comprises a single species across a wide range in eastern Australia with little genetic diversification.

Basic Ecology

What do they eat? Growth and Reproduction Over-wintering in the nest Sex determination in the lab Sex determination in the wild Sex chromosomes

Movements

Life on land Coping with the cycles of wet and dry Wetland connectivity and turtles Water balance on land

Life in Suburbia

Suburbs: Danger or drought refugia? Life in the suburbs during drought Life in the suburbs when drought breaks

Management

What turtles tell us about wetland mgmt What is the impact of fences?

Outreach

Fuzzy-Logic Science Show

Publications

Ferronato, B.O., Hoefer, A.M., Booksmythe, I., Ubrihien, R. and Georges, A. 2024. City dwellers: habitat connectivity and demographic responses of a semi-aquatic turtle in Australia. Urban Ecosystems, Online https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-024-01583-5 [pdf]

Ferronato, B.O., Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2017. Responses of an Australian freshwater turtle to drought-flood cycles along a natural to urban gradient Austral Ecology 42:442–455 [pdf]

Ferronato, B.O., Marques, T.S., Lara, N.R.F., Masrtinelli, L.A., Verdade, L.M., Comargo, P.B., Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2016. Isotopic niche in the eastern long-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis (Testudines: Chelidae) along a natural-urban gradient in southeastern Australia. Herpetological Journal 26:297-304. [pdf]

Ferronato, B.O., Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2016. Effects of urbanization and climate on the ecology and survivorship of the turtle Chelodina longicollis, southeastern Australia. The 8th World Congress of Herpetology, 15-21 August, 2016. Hangzhou, China.

Ferronato, B.O. 2015. Ecology of the Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis) along a natural-urban gradient, ACT, Australia. PhD Thesis, University of Canberra, Australia [pdf]

Ferronato, B.O., Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2015. First record of hatchling overwintering in a chelid turtle. Australian Journal of Zoology 63, 287-291. [pdf]

Brown, S. 2014. The Wild Side of Gungahlin. GCC Gunsmoke 131:10-12. [pdf]

Zhang, X. and Georges, A. 2014. A complete mitochondrial genome sequence for the Australian turtle, Chelodina longicollis obtained using 454-pyrosequencing. Conservation Genetics Resources 6:555-557 [pdf]

Roe, J.H., Rees, M. and Georges, A. 2011. Suburbs: Dangers or Drought Refugia for Freshwater Turtle Populations? Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1544-1552. [pdf]

Kennett, R., Roe, J.H., Hodges, K. and Georges, A. 2009. Chelodina longicollis (Shaw 1784): Eastern Long-necked Turtle. Chelonian Research Monographs 5:doi:10.3854/crm.5.031.longicollis.v1.2009.. [pdf]

Rees, M., Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2009. Life in the suburbs: behavior and survival of a freshwater turtle in response to drought and urbanization Biological Conservation 142:3172-3181. [pdf]

Roe, J.H., Brinton, A.C. and Georges, A. 2009. Temporal and spatial variation in landscape connectivity for an Australian freshwater turtle in a temporally dynamic wetland system. Ecological Applications 19:1288-1299. [pdf]

Rees, M. 2008. Impacts of Urbanisation on the Eastern Long-Necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis (Testudines: Chelidae) Honours Thesis, University of Canberra [pdf]

Roe, J.H. 2008. Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle). Drinking Behavior. Herpetoligical Review 39:212-213. [pdf]

Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2008. Terrestrial activity, movements, and spatial ecology of an Australian freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis in a temporally dynamic wetland system. Austral Ecology 33:1045-1056. [pdf]

Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2008. Maintenance of variable responses for coping with wetland drying in freshwater turtles. Ecology 89:485-494. [pdf]

Roe, J.H., Georges, A. and Green, B. 2008. Energy and water flux during terrestrial estivation and overland movement in a freshwater turtle. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 81:570-583. [pdf]

Roe, J.H. 2007. The terrestrial ecology of a freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis, in Booderee National Park, Australia. PhD Thesis, Applied Ecology, University of Canberra [pdf]

Roe, J.H. and Georges, A. 2007. Heterogeneous wetland complexes, buffer zones and travel corridors: Landscape management for freshwater reptiles. Biological Conservation 135:67-76. [pdf]

Ezaz, T., Valenzuela, N., GrГјtzner, F., Miura, I., Burke, R., Georges, A. and Graves, J.A.M. 2006. An XX/XY sex micro-chromosome system in a freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis (Testudines: Chelidae) with genotypic sex determination Chromosome Research 14:139-150. [pdf]

Graham, T., Georges, A. and McElhinney, N. 1996. Terrestrial migration by the eastern long-necked turtle, Chelodina longicollis from Australia. Journal of Herpetology 30:467-477. [pdf]

Kilgour, S. 1995. Water and energy relations of the eastern long-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis Shaw (Testudinata: chelidae) during terrestrial migration at Jervis Bay. Honours Thesis, Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, January 1992.

Palmer-Allen, M., Beynon, F. and Georges, A. 1991. Hatchling sex ratios are independent of temperature in field nests of the long-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis (Testudinata: Chelidae). Australian Wildlife Research 18:225-231. [pdf]

Kennett, R. and Georges, A. 1990. Habitat utilization and its relationship to growth and reproduction of the eastern long-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis (Testudinata: Chelidae). Herpetologica 46:22-33. [pdf]

Georges, A. 1988. Sex-determination is independent of temperature in another chelid turtle: Chelodina longicollis. Copeia 1988:248-254. [pdf]

Georges, A., Norris, R.H. and Wensing, L. 1986. Diet of the Eastern Long-necked Tortoise, Chelodina longicollis, from the coastal dune lakes of the Jervis Bay Nature Reserves. Austalian Wildlife Research 13:301-308. [pdf]

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