Freshwater turtles Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Turtles conservation programs have helped in the recovery of populations of Podocnemis genus in the Amazon. In this study was analyzed
the time series of turtles data protection (Podocnemis expansa), tracajás (P.unifilis),
iaçás (P.sextuberculata) and irapucas (P.erythrocephala) in areas protected by the
government and communities in the Amazon and west of Pará. Between
1974 and 2014 were protected 153,798 nests and 14,522,286 hatchlings of
P.expansa, 117,287 nests and 2,299,454 hatchlings of P.unifilis, 531,245 nests
and 5,161,016 hatchlings of P.sextuberculata. Community protection came in
1990, reaching 78% of the areas and producing 60% of hatchlings of P.unifilis
and 44% of P.sextuberculata. The areas of greatest production of P.expansa
remain under government protection (64%). Using the nests production time
series and hatchlings / beach logistic growth curves were estimated and
compared the r and K values between two protection systems (government
and community). Beaches controlled by the Government had greater carrying
capacity in the production of nests (1910.7 ± 1035) and cubs (211513 ±
93,031) of P.expansa and of P.sextuberculata (81160 ± 34924). The communities
were more efficient in nests protection (r = 0.102 ± 0.2315) and cubs (r =
0.282 ± 0.166) of P.unfilis. It was also evaluated the results of the program
“Community Management of Turtles - Project Pé-de-pincha”, created by the
Federal University of Amazonas and community groups, and that has helped,
through participatory management and protection of P.unifilis, P. sextuberculata,
P.expansa and P.erythrocephala in 118 communities and 15 municipalities of
Amazonas and Pará. From 1999 to 2014, the program returned to nature 3,208,849 hacthlings turtles. Only in the middle Amazonas were transferred
and protected 57,855 nests of P.unifilis, 1,003 of P.expansa, 8,933 of
P.sextuberculata and 15,267 of P.erythrocephala, being released 852,166 hatchlings
of P.uniflis (78%), 92,410 of P.sextuberculata (9%), 52,752 of P.expansa (5%)
and 88,474 of P.erytrhocephala (8%) originating from these nests. Data were
analyzed from 15,237 nests of P.unfilis, 3,548 of P.sextuberculata, 247 of P.expansa
and 695 of P.erythrocephala to evaluate the characteristics of the nests, egg
number and morphology of eggs and chicks. The nests of P.unifilis, 50.1%
were transferred from beaches with fine sand to medium grain size with depth
of 17.2±2.7 cm, width of 12.2±2.1 cm and 22.3 ± 4.7 eggs weighing 24.5 ±
2.8 g. Nests transferred from clay (49.9%) had depth of 13.2 ± 2.1 cm and a
width of 13.6 ± 2.9 cm and 23.3 ± 5.4 eggs weighing 23.7 ± 2, 6g. In the
Middle Amazonas, P.unifilis spawn on average 21.4 ± 5.9 eggs (max = 60 eggs;
min = 2 eggs), and in the sand were found the bigger and heavier eggs (length
= 42.8 mm; width = 27.8mm, weight = 22.9 to 23.3 g). In lowland areas, the
nests had higher number of eggs (25 to 29.3 eggs). Nests of P.sextuberculata
showed 15.7 ± 1.4 eggs, weighing 20.8 ± 5.6 g. Nests of P.erythrocephala had
7.9 ± 0.9 eggs and the P.expansa, 85.0 ± 12.7 eggs. The incubation time in the
sand was for P.unifilis = 57.9 ± 2.7 days; P.sextuberculata = 59.2 ± 3.3 days;
P.expansa = 57.7 ± 5.7 days; P.erythrocephala = 65 ± 2.6 days. In the clay, the
eggs were incubated for P.unifilis 63.9 ± 2.3 days. The hatching rate of tracajás
nests in the sand was 85.6 ± 18.2%, 83.6 ± 57.9% of iaçás, 67.1 ± 22.1% of
turtle and 86 ± 26.1% of irapucas . The hatchlings, at birth, were placed in
nurseries, and released two months later. The larger and heavier hatchlings of
P.unifilis and P.sextuberculata born in Oriximiná, Barreirinha and Nhamundá.
In Lake Piraruacá / Terra Santa, where the project started were protected
3.465 nests (20.7 ± 1.7 eggs / nest -Min = 2; Max = 48 eggs) of P.unifilis,
incubated for 60.2 ± 3, 3 days (hatching rate = 75.2 ± 9.9%), producing 51,368
hatchling with 18.1 ± 2.2 g. To analyze the structure of the population of
P.unifilis was made monitoring by capture-mark-recapture method (CMR), and
201 captured animals (straight shell length, CCR = 30.3 ± 6.9 cm; weight =
3773.2 ± 1691,6g). The population was estimated between 1,168 and 1,736
adults (16% male: 84% female), of which 862 sexually active females. 16 females were recaptured and marked indicating fidelity to the posture location. From
2007-2012 were marked 6.997 hatchlings with transponders (microchips) and
9,000 with cuts carapace scales. The growth curve was estimated to CRC =
47,44x / species (4447 + x). The first recapture of a marked cub occurred
seven years after the birth and release (female, 5,272 g and 36 cm CRC). Six
P.unifilis were screened using radio with satelite (Sir Track / Argos), 67% sought
lakes with lowland rice (Oryza sp.) and 33% were in flooded areas during the
flood. To evaluate the effects of transfer of P.unifilis nests, P.sextuberculata and
P.expansa in hatching success, sex ratio and motor performance of the puppies
in Lake Piraruacá were compared characteristics of nests, hatching rates and
incubation periods of natural and transferred nests in 1999, 2010, 2011 and
2012. Between 2011 and 2012, were compared natural and transferred nests
with record temperatures of nests and sexing of chicks being used 32
dataloggers (Hobos® tidbit v2® Onset®) in natural nests and 5 dataloggers
with 4 channels (Hobos® U12 Outdoor Onset®) of transferred nests.The
hatchlingss were submitted to three locomotor ability tests and speed: Upset
(righting response), swimming performance and running (crawling speed).
Hatching rates were higher in tracajá transferred nests, P.unifilis, (65.4 ± 14.8%,
P <0.05) than in natural nests (52.3±12.9%). For P.sextuberculata, natural nests
presented a higher proportion of young males (0.80 ± 0.2) than the transferred
(0.37 ± 0.2). The larger, heavier and older were the P.unifilis female the havier
was the total mass of eggs produced and a greater hatching rate and the lower
proportion of male offspring produced per nest (CRC: P <0.007, R2 = 35
2%; weight: P <0.04, R2 = 22%). P.unifilis puppies transferred nests were
higher (CCR = 38.3 ± 2.5 mm; p <0.0001; height = 17.9 mm ± 2.0; P <0.0001)
heavier (12 9 ± 2.2 g; P <0.0001) and quicker turn to (4.9 ± 6.0 sec; P <0.0001)
and swimming (8.9 ± 5.6 sec; P < 0.0001) than bhatchlings of natural nests. Nests
transferred tended to have higher hatching rates, lower incubation period, a
higher proportion of females and cubs faster in the locomotor skills tests.
Were also analyzed the results of turtle nesting sites protection program
(Podocnemis expansa) developed with the support of rubber tappers communities
since 1977 in Resex Middle Jurua and RDS Uacari. Between 1977-2014 were
protected 13,897 nests and 1,400,917 hatchlings of P.expansa and 392,821hatchlings of P.unifilis. Between 2004-2011 were captured and marked 2728
P.sextuberculata (CRC = 17.7 ± 3.0 cm; weight = 674,7 ± 378.9 g, sex ratio:
54,4M: 45,6F), 146 P.unifilis (CRC = 24.8 ± 8.7 cm; weight = 2,507.0 ± 2,522.9
g; sex ratio: 47.7M: 53.3F) and 135 P.expansa (CRC = 31.1 ± 15.5 cm; weight
= 5,878.6 ± 9,710.3 g; sex ratio: 89.1F: 10.1m). The relationship between CC
and weight (P <0.0001; R2 = 0.89) of P.sextuberculata was estimated by logistic
curve: Y = 2,382 / (1 + 196 (-0.2404.X)); and the growth curve ageXweight
was the best growth curve estimated by Von Bertalanffy (P <0.001; R² =
0.82): Y = 2382 / (1-.9762 (-0,0561.X)). It was possible to estimate the
abundance of the population of P.sextuberculata Resex in the Middle Jurua
between 138.764 and 143.455 animals. The average expectation of
P.sextuberculata life was estimated to be 6.3 ± 3.9 years (Maximum = 16-22
years) and 10.0 ± 16,5 years for P.expansa. It was estimated that 42.9% of
P.sextuberculata migrate to other areas, leaving their home area. The intrinsic
growth rate of the population (r) varied from 0.41 to 0.83, which indicates
that the population of P.expansa from Resex in middle Juruá and in the RDS
Uacari is growing (r> 0). Between 2004 and 2007 a study was conducted to
evaluate the growth of tracajás (Podocnemis unifilis) and estimate survival rate in
the first 24 months of life in the cities of Barreirinha and Parintins, in the
Middle Amazon. 58,303 puppies were marked with cuts carapace scales and
1,114 with microchips (transponders). The survival rate for tracajás cubs
(P.unifilis) managed, kept for two months in nurseries before being released,
was higher than the estimated rates for puppies not managed, a positive
indicator for the use of this technique in areas where populations of this
species are reduced.