Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) behaviour, interactions with Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina), and their Pleistocene history

Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) prey on and injure Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) cygnets. Adult Trumpeter Swans stamp on and attack turtles, and this sometimes saves the lives of cygnets. Stamping behaviour, duetting, clamouring, and mobbing are directed at predators. The stamping behavi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Canadian Field-Naturalist
Main Author: Lumsden, Harry G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2013
Subjects:
Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
predation
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
injuries
stamping attack
duetting
clamouring
mobbing behaviour
water treading display
Pleistocene distribution
Wisconsin glaciation
Yellowstone glacier
Ontario
Ice Sheet
Online Access:https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/1444
https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v127i2.1444
Description
Summary:Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) prey on and injure Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) cygnets. Adult Trumpeter Swans stamp on and attack turtles, and this sometimes saves the lives of cygnets. Stamping behaviour, duetting, clamouring, and mobbing are directed at predators. The stamping behaviour may be derived from the water treading display. During the Pleistocene ice sheet maxima, all Trumpeter Swans east of the Rockies nested within the range of the Snapping Turtle. Snapping Turtle predation may have selected for the stamping behaviour.

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