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  Scott Thomson,
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Macquarie Turtle -- Emydura macquarii macquarii

[2]
Distribution of Emydura macquarii macquarii

Distribution

The subspecies E. macquarii macquarii inhabits the Murray Darling Basin and some river basins of coastal New South Wales and southeast Queensland. The Murrumbidgee River, Lachlan River, Namoi River, Macquarie River, Murray River, Bellinger River, Clarence River, Macleay River, Hunter River are a few of many rivers inhabited by the nominate species of E. macquarii.

Right: Distribution map of E. m. macquarii

Natural habitat

The water bodies occupied by E. macquarii macquarii include rivers, lakes, creeks, lagoons, and large waterholes. Generally the species prefers slow moving or stagnant waters. Due to the large distribution of the species, the climatic conditions that affect the areas inhabited by the species vary from place to place. The Murray-Darling Basin, which has the majority of E. macquarii macquarii populations within its boundaries, provides different natural environments ranging from the rainforests of the cool and humid eastern uplands through the temperate country of the south-east to the subtropical areas of the northeast. The populations in the river basins of coastal New South Wales, such as the Hawkesbury River and Hunter River basins, have the temperate climate in the south turning to the subtropical climate towards the south east Queensland (i.e. Brisbane River basin).
The water temperature depends on the season as well as the location. Basically it ranges from 5°C (winter time in the south) to 30°C (summer in the north). The rivers of NSW tend to be alkaline with the pH between 6.5 and 9.0.
The different environment affects the species ecology. While the species is frequently seen basking on emergent logs or rocks in the south, I suspect aquatic basking is preferred by populations in the north (i.e. the Bellinger River).

Bottom graphs: Two examples of max/min temperatures and precipitation within the distribution of E. m. macquarii

Max/min temperature and precipitation E. macquarii macquarii occurs in sympatry with Chelodina longicollis and Macrochelodina expansa throughout most of the Murray-Darling drainage. The species is probably also in sympatry with the southern populations of Elseya latisternum (the Richmond River), with Elseya georgesi (the Bellinger River), with Elseya purvisi (the Manning River) and with Elseya belli (the Namoi and Gwydir Rivers).

Diet

E. macquarii macquarii an opportunistic omnivore. Its diet consists of filamentous algae, vertebrate carrion, detritus, periphyton, aquatic insects, and aquatic plants (Chessman 1986). Other items, such as carrion and invertebrates, are also eaten and appear to be essential dietary items for this species, owing to its inability to meet its metabolic requirements solely from macrophytes (Spencer et al. 1998). Cann (1998) states the species eats acquatic plants, algae, insects, mollusks, yabbies, carrion, and fish. Unlike the carnivorous members of Chelodina and Macrochelodina genera, Emydura macquarii macquarii is most likely incapable of catching live fish.
Spencer et al. (1998) studied the diet and digestive energetics of Emydura macquarii macquarii and found out the majority of the species' diet consisted of just two items, filamentous algae (53% by volume) and carrion (Teleostomi) (21% by volume). The study included stomach contents of 47 captured specimens, enough to come up with precise and reliable results. It seems the E. macquarii macquarii is an Emydura species with the biggest percentage of plant matter in its diet. Spencer et al. (1998) compared the species diet to that of E. macquarii nigra, the diet of which comprised only 30% of plant material. The Northern (tropical) species of Emydura are also omnivores, but with the greater proportion of animal material in their diet.

 

 

 

 

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