Movement and Home Range of Amur Soft-Shell Turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) in the Ussuri River, Heilongjiang Province, China

TL;DR

This study tracks the movement and home range of Amur soft-shell turtles in the Ussuri River, revealing differences between juveniles and adults that can help guide conservation efforts.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed analysis of the spatial ecology of the endangered Amur soft-shell turtle in the Ussuri River.

Findings

Juvenile turtles prefer still water channels and undisturbed shorelines, while adults travel greater distances and have broader ranges.

Home range size averaged 1.02 hectares and was not correlated with body size.

Daily movement rates were positively linked to water temperature and linear home range.

Abstract

In our research, we investigated the home range of the Amur soft-shell turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) along the Ussuri River, Heilongjiang Province, China, using radiotelemetry. Our findings revealed that juvenile turtles heavily relied on still water channels and undisturbed vegetation-rich shorelines for their survival, with their home range predominantly restricted to these environments. Interestingly, adults exhibited a broader distribution range, with greater daily distances traveled compared to juveniles, suggesting potential habitat segregation. This study offers valuable insights to inform future conservation strategies and fills a gap in knowledge of the natural history of this endangered species.

Comprehensively understanding the spatial ecology and habitat preferences of endangered species is essential for population restoration and conservation. We investigated the home range and movement of the endangered Amur soft-shell turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) in the Ussuri River, Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China. The study involved tracking 19 Amur soft-shell turtles from late June to mid-October, 2022, resulting in complete and partial home range size data for eight subadults and two adults, respectively. The primary analysis focused on eight subadults, and the models that best described daily movement were identified. We also explored the potential factors influencing home range size. The mean movement rate ranged from 39.18 ± 20.04 m/day to 72.45 ± 29.36 m/day and was positively correlated with the linear home range and water temperature. The most enlightening estimation of home range was derived from a 95% kernel density estimate, utilizing likelihood cross-validation smoothing while adhering to constraints delineated by the river boundaries. The average size of the home range was determined to be 1.02 hectares and displayed no correlation with body size. Subadults tended to establish well-defined home ranges over time, whereas defining home ranges for adults proved challenging. This research addresses a gap regarding the ecology of the Amur soft-shell turtle and provides a foundation for future conservation plans.

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