Title
Space use of yellow-spotted river turtles (Podocnemis unifilis) in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador
Author(s)
Naveda-Rodríguez, Adrián ;Cueva, Rubén ;Zapata-Ríos, Galo
Published
2018
Publisher
Chelonian Conservation and Biology
Abstract
The yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) plays ecological roles in the Amazonian aquatic ecosystem and has cultural and economic significance for indigenous peoples. Because spatial ecology and movement data are nonexistent for this species, we radio tracked 63 individuals in the Napo River between August 2015 and February 2017. Mean linear range size was 16.2 km (n = 31) and mean home range size was 5.2 km2 (n = 27). Our results are the first range size estimates for P. unifilis and suggest that the species could be treated as a short-distance facultative migrant with local seasonal movements.
Keywords
freshwater turtle;Podocnemididae;Napo River;movements;home range
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