Movimentação e uso do espaço por adultos de Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848, na reserva biológica do rio Trombetas, Pará, Brasil

Abstract

Adults of Podocnemis unifilis were monitored using VHF radiotelemetry from September 2013 to September 2014 in the Rio Trombetas Biological Reserve, Pará, Brazil. Our principal aim was to analyze movements and use of space by this species, near the Tabuleiro base, by describing movements, size and shape of the estimated home ranges. Twenty transmitters were attached to 10 males and 10 females. We never found the signal of one female during the study. Mean movements around 9.6 km and a rate of 65 meters per day were found. The home range calculated through the fixed kernel (KF) method with 95% of the locations averaged 79.28 ± 77.08 ha (0.56 – 215.07; N = 13). There was a relation found by multiple regression between female home ranges and weight (F1,3 = 16.98; R2 = 0.85; p<0.05; N = 5). The mean of overlapping areas with the KF95% was 14.07%. The comparison related to the environment use was statistically significant between sexes (χ2 = 110.63; df = 6; p<0,0001). Males stayed more often in open flooded forest areas (IAM), besides females were frequently at lake. For conservation purposes it is necessary to continue the protection of the nesting sand beaches and increase that effort throughout the campinas inside the lake where the species nest in the dry season. The flooded forest areas as zones of intense use at the wet season and the linkage lake canals, as the bridge between the environments trough the seasons should be preserved.