Abiotic modulators of Podocnemis unifilis (Testudines: Podocnemididae) abundances in the Peruvian Amazon
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that river-based surveys can provide an inexpensive
source of information for neotropical zoologists, yet little information is available
to inform the application of this technique for the long term monitoring of neotropical
turtle species. We aimed to fill this gap by presenting an assessment of data collected
during 333 river surveys over 50 months along rivers in a newly protected area in
the Peruvian Amazon. A total of 14,138 basking Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848
were recorded during 13,510 km of river-based surveys. We used generalized additive
models (GAMs) to explore the influence of a series of abiotic and seasonal variables
on the recorded abundances at two temporal scales: monthly and per trip. Our analysis
revealed that there was a significant increase in turtle abundances during the study
period and we also found a significant seasonal periodicity in monthly abundances.
Abiotic factors strongly influenced trip level abundances, with more individuals per
kilometer recorded during sunny days in the dry season, with temperatures between
25 and 30°C. The results demonstrate that turtle populations are increasing following
the establishment of the protected area and that river-based surveys are likely to
be more effective when carried out within a limited set of key abiotic conditions.
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