Abstract
We describe the home range and movements of a population of Kinosternon integrum in Tonatico, Estado de México, México, over 3.5 years (during rainy and dry season months) using radiotelemetry in 37 adult turtles. The results showed that the home range of K. integrum was 0.151 ± 0.051 ha using 50% kernel density estimator (KDE), and 0.657 ± 0.214 ha using 95% KDE; the home range did not vary between sexes. Kinosternon integrum showed low distances traveled 51.44 ± 4.50 m, where 87.3% (n = 373) of movements were <100 m. The distance traveled differed by season, and movement category (aquatic and terrestrial movements). The shortest distance occurred during the dry season, during which some individuals move to estivation sites, and these movements were shorter than movements to artificial ponds (cattle ponds). In this population, home range and movement are similar to other species of the genus Kinosternon. Overall, the results indicate than K. integrum are highly dependent on aquatic habitats, but also utilize the terrestrial habitats for different biological activities, and to maintain viable populations. Therefore, the conservation of the entire inhabited area is fundamental. This study highlights the need to increase the studies, in Central México, concerning habitat use of freshwater turtles in order to increase the efficiency of conservation strategies.
Highlights
In turtles, knowledge about how individuals move within their habitat is essential to understanding the ecological rationale of dispersion, migrations, and movements to other habitats (Gibbons, Greene, & Congdon, 1990)
The mean of home range using MCP (37 turtles) was 0.977 ± 0.418 ha; in this study, we report the home range of K. integrum by MCP (Table 1), for comparisons to other turtles; MCP was not used in statistical analyses and comparisons between MCP and kernel density estimator (KDE) were not performed
The movements of K. integrum in Tonatico, Estado de México, México, depend remarkably on the seasonality, especially rainfall. This population has high individual variation in the movements and did not exhibit a single movement pattern; while some individuals remain in the river continuously, others carry out seasonal migrations
Summary
Knowledge about how individuals move within their habitat is essential to understanding the ecological rationale of dispersion, migrations, and movements to other habitats (Gibbons, Greene, & Congdon, 1990). Different extrinsic factors have been identified that influence the movements of reptiles that inhabit freshwater systems including the following: periodic droughts, weather, season, size of wetlands, environmental variation, and distribution of resources (Bennett, Gibbons, & Franson, 1970; McIntyre & Wiens, 1999; Milam & Melvin, 2001; Plummer, Mills, & Allen, 1997; Roe & Georges, 2008) Intrinsic factors such as sex, size, sexual maturity, dominance, and physiological and behavioral traits (Gibbons et al, 1990; Hall & Steidl, 2007; Litzgus & Mousseau, 2004; Morreale, Gibbons, & Congdon, 1984; Roe & Georges, 2008; Stone, 2001; Swingland, 1983) can influence the home range and movement patterns. Water systems are highly variable environments and conditions can change dramatically between different ponds or within the same pond over time (Euliss et al, 2004), especially in temporary ponds, which occasionally dry (Bauder, 2005; Kennett & Georges, 1990)
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