Valerie Barko1, Jeffrey Briggler2, and Ostendorf, David1

We investigated variation of incidental captured turtle mortality in response to environmental factors and passive fishing techniques using Long Term Resource Monitoring Program data. Data were collected from 1996 - 2001 in the unimpounded upper Mississippi River adjacent to Missouri and Illinois. We used a principle components analysis (PCA) and a stepwise discriminant function analysis to identify factors increasing captured turtle mortality. Furthermore, we were interested in what percentage of turtles died from passive fishing techniques and what technique(s) caused the most turtle mortality. The main factors influencing captured turtle mortality were water temperature and depth at net deployment. Fyke netting captured and caused the most turtle mortality. More than 90% of captured turtle mortality occurred in off shore aquatic areas (i.e., side channel or tributary). The results of this study provide information on causes of captured turtle mortality (as bycatch) in a riverine system and implications for river turtle conservation.
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