Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles
Abstract Turtles can be unintentionally hooked during recreational and commercial fishing operations. While hook ingestion is not always fatal, ingested hooks can harm or kill turtles by damaging soft tissues or affecting digestion. Detecting ingested hooks and other metallic debris in the field is...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1441 |
| _version_ | 1797739811999580160 |
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| author | Vanessa R. Lane Parker Gerdes Dalton G. Ridgdill Brittany L. Ray |
| author_facet | Vanessa R. Lane Parker Gerdes Dalton G. Ridgdill Brittany L. Ray |
| author_sort | Vanessa R. Lane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Turtles can be unintentionally hooked during recreational and commercial fishing operations. While hook ingestion is not always fatal, ingested hooks can harm or kill turtles by damaging soft tissues or affecting digestion. Detecting ingested hooks and other metallic debris in the field is a challenge. As such, we tested the efficacy of a handheld metal detector in detecting ingested fish hooks and incidental metallic debris in freshwater turtles in Georgia, USA. We captured 426 individual freshwater turtles representing 4 species and radiographed 106 yellow‐bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta). Of 37 turtles that tested positive with a handheld metal detector, radiographs revealed 17 (46%) had ingested at least one hook, 15 (40%) had ingested an unidentifiable metal object or objects, and 5 (14%) showed no clear signs of hooks or other metallic objects. All 69 turtles that tested negative in the field and were radiographed showed no signs of metal ingestion. Accordingly, our proportion of false positives was 14% (5 of 37), false negatives (metal not detected in field but on follow‐up radiograph) were 0% (0 of 69), and our overall accuracy at detecting ingested metal with a handheld metal detector was 95% (101 of 106 radiographed turtles). Thus, handheld metal detectors may be a useful tool for detecting ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:02:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-40d1573c236142dd9a6396250ac76a29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:02:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj.art-40d1573c236142dd9a6396250ac76a292023-08-21T21:45:19ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402023-06-01472n/an/a10.1002/wsb.1441Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtlesVanessa R. Lane0Parker Gerdes1Dalton G. Ridgdill2Brittany L. Ray3Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 2802 Moore Highway Tifton GA 31793 USAAbraham Baldwin Agricultural College 2802 Moore Highway Tifton GA 31793 USAAbraham Baldwin Agricultural College 2802 Moore Highway Tifton GA 31793 USAAbraham Baldwin Agricultural College 2802 Moore Highway Tifton GA 31793 USAAbstract Turtles can be unintentionally hooked during recreational and commercial fishing operations. While hook ingestion is not always fatal, ingested hooks can harm or kill turtles by damaging soft tissues or affecting digestion. Detecting ingested hooks and other metallic debris in the field is a challenge. As such, we tested the efficacy of a handheld metal detector in detecting ingested fish hooks and incidental metallic debris in freshwater turtles in Georgia, USA. We captured 426 individual freshwater turtles representing 4 species and radiographed 106 yellow‐bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta). Of 37 turtles that tested positive with a handheld metal detector, radiographs revealed 17 (46%) had ingested at least one hook, 15 (40%) had ingested an unidentifiable metal object or objects, and 5 (14%) showed no clear signs of hooks or other metallic objects. All 69 turtles that tested negative in the field and were radiographed showed no signs of metal ingestion. Accordingly, our proportion of false positives was 14% (5 of 37), false negatives (metal not detected in field but on follow‐up radiograph) were 0% (0 of 69), and our overall accuracy at detecting ingested metal with a handheld metal detector was 95% (101 of 106 radiographed turtles). Thus, handheld metal detectors may be a useful tool for detecting ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1441freshwater turtlesGeorgiahook ingestionmetal detectorTrachemys scripta |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa R. Lane Parker Gerdes Dalton G. Ridgdill Brittany L. Ray Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles Wildlife Society Bulletin freshwater turtles Georgia hook ingestion metal detector Trachemys scripta |
| title | Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles |
| title_full | Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles |
| title_fullStr | Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles |
| title_short | Using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles |
| title_sort | using a handheld metal detector to detect ingested hooks and other metallic objects in freshwater turtles |
| topic | freshwater turtles Georgia hook ingestion metal detector Trachemys scripta |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1441 |
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