Pine as a Predator Deterrent for Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) Nests
By: Michele M. Budd and John Wnek
References
- Barton, B.T. and J.D. Roth. 2008. Implications of intraguild predation for sea turtle nest protection. Biological Conservation 141(8):2139–2145.
- Bell, C.M., and A.S. Rarestad. 1987. Efficacy of pine oil as repellent to wildlife. Journal of Chemical Ecology 13(6):1409–1417.
- Budd, M.M., J. Wnek, S. Moss, and K. Lacey. 2024. Revisiting nesting behavior and reproductive output of the Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) after four decades in an altered estuarine system. The Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science 64(E3):1–9.
- Burger, J. 1976. Temperature relationships in nests of the Northern Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin. Herpetologica 412–418.
- Burger, J. 1977. Determinants of hatching success in Diamond-back Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. American Midland Naturalist 97:444–464.
- Burger, J., and W.A. Montevecchi. 1975. Nest site selection in the terrapinMalaclemys terrapin. Copeia 1975(1):113–119.
- Burke, R.L, C.M. Schneider, and M.T. Dolinger. 2005. Cues used by raccoons to find turtle nests: effects of flags, human scent, and Diamond-Backed Terrapin sign. Journal of Herpetology 39: 312–315.
- Burke, R.L. and A.M. Eugene. 2024. The effects of plastic and metal predator excluders on Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) nest temperatures, hatchling success, and proxies of hatch-ling sex. Scientific Journal Biology and Life Sciences 3(4):1–6.
- Butler, J.A., C. Broadhurst, M. Green, and Z. Mullin. 2004. Nesting, nest predation and hatchling emergence of the Carolina Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin centrata, in northeastern Florida. The American Midland Naturalist 152(1):145–155.
- Butler, J.A., G.L. Heinrich, and R.A. Seigel. 2006. Third workshop on the ecology, status, and conservation of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin): results and recommendations. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 5(2):331–334.
- Buzuleciu, S.A., M.E. Spencer, and S.L. Parker. 2015. Predator exclusion cage for turtle nests: A novel design. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 14(2):196–201.
- Clapperton, B.K. 2018. Potential of repellents for control of predation by mustelids, rats and possums in New Zealand.
- Cumming, J.R., and C.N. Kelly. 2007. Pinus virginiana invasion influences soils and arbuscular mycorrhizae of a serpentine grassland. The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 63–73.
- Czaja, R.A., A. Kanonik, and R.L. Burke. 2018. The effect of rainfall on predation of Diamond-Backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) nests. Journal of Herpetology 52(4):402–405.
- Deer, H.M., and R. Beard. 2001. Effect of water pH on the chemical stability of pesticides. AG/Pesticides 14:1.
- Dykstra, C.R., J.L. Hays, and M.M. Simon. 2009. Selection of fresh vegetation for nest lining by Red-Shouldered hawks. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 121(1):207–210.
- Edmunds, S.E., C.N. Kasparov, J.B. Yoon, A.K. Kanonik, and R.L. Burke. 2018. Twelve years later: reassessing visual and olfactory cues raccoons use to find Diamondback Terrapin nests. Journal of Herpetology 52(3):307–312.
- Engeman, R.M., R.E. Martin, B. Constantin, R. Noel, and J. Woolard. 2003. Monitoring predators to optimize their management for marine turtle nest protection. Biological Conservation 113(2):171–178.
- Engeman, R.J., R.E. Martin, H.T. Smith, J. Woolard, C.K. Crady, S.A. Shwiff, B. Constantin, et al., 2005. Dramatic reduction in predation on marine turtle nests through improved predator monitoring and management. Oryx 39(3):318–326.
- Engeman, R.J., R.E. Martin, H.T. Smith, J. Woolard, C.K. Crady, B. Constantin, M. Stahl, and N.P. Groninger. 2006. Impact on predation of sea turtle nests when predator control was removed midway through the nesting season. Wildlife Research 33(3):187–192.
- Engeman, R.M., A. Addison, and J.C. Griffin. 2016. Defending against disparate marine turtle nest predators: nesting success benefits from eradicating invasive feral swine and caging nests from raccoons.Oryx 50(2):289–295.
- Epple, G., D.L. Nolte, J.R. Mason, E. Aronov, and S. Wager-Pagé. 1995. Behavioral responses to pine needle oil in the Northern Pocket Gopher. National Wildlife Research Center Repellents Conference 1995.
- Epple, G., H. Niblick, S. Lewis, D. Nolte, D. L. Cambell, and J. R.R. Mason. 1996. Pine needle oil causes avoidance behaviors in Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius). Journal of Chemical Ecology 22(5):1013–1025.
- Feinberg, J.A., and R.L. Burke. 2003. Nesting ecology and predation of Diamondback Terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, at Gateway National Recreation Area, New York. Journal of Herpetology 37(3):517–526.
- Ganter, J.R., and Z. Christman. 2023. Estimating changing marshland habitat and conservation potential for Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in New Jersey under climate change. Land 12(12):2170.
- Geller, G.A., 2015. A test of substrate sweeping as a strategy to reduce raccoon predation of freshwater turtle nests, with insights from supplemental artificial nests. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 14(1):64–72.
- Geller, G.A., and S.L. Parker. 2022. What are the primary cues used by mammalian predators to locate Freshwater Turtle nests? A critical review of the evidence. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9:784–786.
- Greenly, K.M. and D.A. Rakow. 1995. The effect of wood mulch type and depth on weed and tree growth and certain soil parameters. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) 21(5):225–232.
- Hansen, S.C., C. Stolter, C. Imholt, and J. Jacob. 2016. Plant secondary metabolites as rodent repellents: a systematic review. Journal of Chemical Ecology 42:970–983.
- Harborne, J.B. 1991. The chemical basis of plant defense. In Plant Defenses Against Mammalian Herbivory. (R. Thomas Palo and C.T. Robbins, eds.). 45–60. CRC Press.
- Herlands, R., R. Wood, J. Pritchard, H. Clapp, and N. Le Furge. 2004. Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) head-starting project in southern New Jersey. In Conservation and ecology of turtles of the Mid-Atlantic region: a symposium (C. Swarth, W.M. Roosenburg, and E Kiviat, eds.). 13–21.
- Izzati, M., S. Haryanti, and N. Setiari. 2019, May. The use of macroalga sargassum sp. and Gracilaria verrucosa in improving sandy and clay soil fertility. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 1217(1):012179. IOP Publishing.
- Jackson, B.E., R.D. Wright, and J.R. Seiler. 2009. Changes in chemical and physical properties of pine tree substrate and pine bark during long-term nursery crop production. HortScience 44(3):791–799.
- Krug, E.C., and C.R. Frink. 1983. Acid rain on acid soil: a new perspective. Science 221(4610):520–525.
- Kurz, D.J., K.M. Straley, and B.A. DeGregorio. 2012. Out-foxing the red fox: how best to protect the nests of the Endangered Loggerhead marine turtle Caretta caretta from mammalian predation? Oryx 46(2): 223–228.
- Lynn, W.G., and M.C. Ullrich. 1950. Experimental production of shell anomalies in turtles. Copeia 1950(4):253–262.
- Mercer, R.D., T.B. Devos, L.S. Corcoran, S.W. Beauchamp, K.A. Beauchamp, M.H. Linck, and N.E. Karraker. 2023. Characterization of Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Nesting and Nest Predation at a Site in Northeastern USA. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 18(2): 392–403.
- Munscher, E.C., E.H. Kuhns, C.A. Cox, and J.A. Butler. 2012. Decreased nest mortality for the Carolina Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) following removal of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from a nesting beach in northeastern Florida. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7(2):176–184.
- Naeger, C.E., A.D. Jones, and S.L. Parker. 2021. Broadcast Predator Vocalizations Reduce Predation by Raccoons (Procyon lotor) on Artificial Nests of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). Southeastern Naturalist 20(4):521–535.
- Ner, S.E., and R.L. Burke. 2008. Direct and indirect effects of urbanization on Diamond-Backed Terrapins of the Hudson River Bight: distribution and predation in a human-modified estuary. Urban Herpetology. Salt Lake City, UT: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 107–117.
- Pires, B.A., A.F. Belo, and J.E. Rabaça. 2012. Aromatic plants in Eurasian Blue Tit nests: the ‘nest protection hypothesis’ revisited. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 124(1):162–165.
- Pokorny, F.A. 1983. Pine bark as a soil amendment. In Proceedings: 1982 Southern Nursery Conferences: Western Session-Oklahoma City August 9–12, Eastern Session-Savannah July 12–15:131 USDA Forest Service, Southern Region.
- Riley, J.L., and J.D. Litzgus. 2013. Evaluation of predator-exclusion cages used in turtle conservation: cost analysis and effects on nest environment and proxies of hatchling fitness. Wildlife Research 40(6):499–511.
- Roosenburg, W.M. 1996. Maternal condition and nest site choice: An alternate for the maintenance of environmental sex determination. American Zoologist 36:157–168.
- Roosenburg, W.J., and K.C. Kelley. 1996. The effect of egg size and incubation temperature on growth in the turtle, Malaclemys terrapin.Journal of Herpetology 30(2):198–204.
- Schoepff, J.D. 1793. Historia Testudinum iconibus illustrata. J.J. Palm, Erlangae, Germany.
- Sih, A., P. Crowley, M. McPeek, J. Petranka, and K. Strohmeier. 1985. Predation, competition, and prey communities: a review of field experiments. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 269:311.
- Singh, A., and M. Agrawal. 2008. Acid rain and its ecological consequences. Journal of Environmental Biology 29(1):15.
- Smith, D., R. King, and L.B. Allen. 2020. Impacts of exclusion fencing on target and non-target fauna: a global review. Biological Reviews 95(6):1590–1606.
- Streeting, L.M., M.L. Dillon, J. Nesbitt, B. Nesbitt, L. Baker, P.H. Spark, B.C. Chessman, D.R. McKnight, P.G. McDonald, et al., 2023. A shocking result - Electric fences protect Western Saw-Shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellini) nests from depredation by foxes. Austral Ecology 48:(8):1571–1587.
- Velo-Anton, G., C.G. Becker, and A. Cordero-Rivera. 2011. Turtle car-apace anomalies: the roles of genetic diversity and environment. PLoS One. 6(4):e18714.
- Wager-Pagé, S.A., and J.R. Mason. 1996. Ortho-aminoacetophenone, a non-lethal repellent: The effect of volatile cues vs. direct contact on avoidance behavior by rodents and birds. Pest Management Science 46(1):55–60.
- Wager-Pagé, S.A., G. Epple, and J.R. Mason. 1997. Variation in avoidance of Siberian pine needle oil by rodent and avian species. The Journal of Wildlife Management 235–241.
- Wallace, A., 1994. Soil acidification from use of too much fertilizer. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 25(1–2):87–92.
- Wnek, J.P. 2010. Anthropogenic impacts on the reproductive ecology of the Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. PhD Dissertation, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Woodland, R.J., C.L. Rowe, and P.F. Henry. 2017. Changes in habitat availability for multiple life stages of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Chesapeake Bay in response to sea level rise. Estuaries and Coasts 40:1502–1515.
Language: English
Page range: 1 - 10
Published on: Sep 27, 2026
Published by: New Jersey Academy of Science
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: Volume open
Keywords:
Related subjects:
© 2026 Michele M. Budd, John Wnek, published by New Jersey Academy of Science
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.