Nesting ecology of Podocnemis erythrocephala (Testudines, Podocnemididae) of the Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

We studied reproductive ecology and egg survivorship of Podocnemis erythrocephala (Spix 1824) in 4 campina habitats on the Ayuanã River, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil. There were 2 nesting periods, the first in early October and the other in the beginning of December, separated by a period of flash floods. A total of 117 nests were recorded, with a nest density of 19.9 nests/ha, a mean clutch size of 8.7 eggs, and a mean egg volume of 14 cm3. Females chose to nest in the most open sites, with plant cover of up to 50%. Nest loss reached 100% for the season: 70% was from flash floods, 12% was from predation by the weasel Eira barbara (Mustelidae), 9% was by the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae), 5% by humans, 2% by Crocodilurus lacertinus (Teiidae), and 1 % by Daptrius ater (Falconidae). © 2008 Chelonian Research Foundation.