Herpetofauna of Estação Ambiental de Peti, an Atlantic Rainforest fragment of Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil

Fornecemos aqui uma lista de espécies de anfíbios e répteis da Estação de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Ambiental de Peti, uma reserva de Mata Atlântica localizada nas montanhas da Cadeia do Espinhaço, estado de Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil. Essa lista originou-se de um inventário conduzido durante 78 dias de trabalhos de campo, 13 anos após a realização de um primeiro levantamento. Entre abril de 2002 e outubro de 2004, aplicamos o método de procura visual durante caminhadas nas trilhas da floresta, em diversos corpos d'água e nos sítios reprodutivos dos anuros. Foram registradas 48 espécies, incluídas nas ordens Anura (29), Gymnophiona (1), Chelonia (1), Crocodylia (1) e Squamata (16 espécies: uma anfisbena, cinco lagartos e 11 serpentes). Treze espécies não haviam sido registradas no inventário anterior, e 14 espécies registradas anteriormente não foram detectadas em nosso inventário. São discutidas possíveis explicações para as diferenças observadas. Embora nenhuma espécie esteja incluída nas listas de espécies ameaçadas do Estado de Minas Gerais e do Brasil, a reserva deve ser considerada importante para a manutenção das populações da herpetofauna local.Here we provide a list of amphibians and reptiles of Estação de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Ambiental de Peti, an Atlantic rainforest reserve located in the mountains of the Espinhaço Range, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. This list originated from a 78-days inventory conducted in the area 13 years after a first inventory. We actively searched for amphibians and reptiles in forest trails and anuran breeding sites. Between April 2002 and October 2004 we recorded 48 species belonging to Anura (29 species), Gymnophiona (1), Chelonia (1), Crocodylia (1), and Squamata (16 species: one amphisbaenian, five lizards and 10 snakes). Thirteen species were not recorded in the first inventory, and 14 species previously recorded were not found in the present work. Possible explanations for these differences are discussed. Although none of the recorded species is included in the available lists of threatened species for the State of Minas Gerais and Brazil, the reserve must be considered an important source of natural habitats to the local herpetofauna.CEMI

Relationship between multiple paternity and reproductive parameters for Podocnemis sextuberculata (Testudines: Podocnemididae) in the Trombetas River, Brazil

Genetic studies of multiple paternity are a valuable tool to gain information on the reproductive biology of turtles. We analyzed paternity type in Podocnemis sextuberculata and related number of fathers per nest to nesting period (beginning, middle, or end of nesting season); clutch size (number of eggs); female size; and hatchling success. Females were captured and maximum linear carapace lengths measured during the 60 days that encompass the nesting season at Rio Trombetas Biological Reserve (Pará, Brazil). Nests were marked and blood samples collected from hatchlings. Six heterologous loci were used: five from Podocnemis unifilis and one from Podocnemis expansa. Hatchlings were analyzed from 23 nests, and the rate of multiple paternity was 100%. The mean number of fathers per nest was six (± 0.9), and no significant difference between number of fathers in a nest and nesting period. Similarly there was no significant relationship between number of fathers in a nest and female size or hatchling success rate. Number of fathers was, however, positively correlated with clutch size (Spearman correlation rho = 0.47; P > 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first study to test the relationship between multiple paternity and ecological aspects of the reproductive ecology of turtles in the genus Podocnemis. © FUNPEC-RP

Vulnerability of giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa) nesting habitat to climate-change-induced alterations to fluvial cycles

A change in seasonal flooding cycles in the Amazon may negatively impact nesting success of the Giant South American Turtle (Podocnemis expansa). Our aim was to devise a technique that could be replicated in the entire Amazon basin, for monitoring alterations in fluvial cycles and their effects on turtle nest mortality. We mapped the spatial distribution and height of P. expansa nests and tested the effects of different inundation scenarios within the Trombetas River Biological Reserve, Para state, Brazil. We also used historical data on water level and hatchling production to test whether the sharp decline in the Trombetas River P. expansa population over the past thirty years was related to detected changes in the flood pulse. Our models indicate that an increase of 1.5m in the water level is sufficient to decrease the time of exposure to less than the minimum required for incubation and hatching (55 days above the water) in 50% of the nesting area. This model explains the low hatchling production in dry seasons when the total nesting site exposure was less than 200 days. Since 1971, there was an average decline of 15 days per decade in sandbank exposure during the nesting season (a total of 62 days from 1971 to 2015). However, the decrease in sandbank exposure was not significantly correlated with the sharp decline in hatchling production. Changes to the water cycle in combination with the main sources of decline (overharvest, construction of dams, and dredging of riverbeds) might have an accumulative effect on P. expansa populations. © The Author(s) 2016

Aspectos da Biologia Reprodutiva de Rhinemys rufipes (Spix, 1824) (Chelidae, Testudines) na Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, Amazonas, Brasil

This work identifies some basics aspects on reproductive behavior of Rhynemis rufipes in the Forest Reserve Adolpho Ducke (3º08`S; 60º04W) between April and July, 2006 and compare this aspects with other species from the genus Phrynops and Mesoclemmys. Probably, Rhynemys rufipes have the nest season associated with the raining season. Females with egg are more active during the full moon, suggesting a possible relation with more lighting nights and the oviposition day. When the oviposition is induced by ocitocine injection, females laid their eggs faster when the procedure happens just after the capture on field. It was not finded multiple clutches in the same reproductive period with the methodology employed. Rhinemys rufipes large females laid heavier eggs. Among species from Phrynops, Rhynemis and Mesoclemmys genus, larger species produce more spherical eggs and more numerous. Species with eggs relatively larger in relation to the body size present less spherical eggs. This group eggs attributes are related with the specie habitat and localization, where the data was collected on the South America. However, there is no relation with the genus. Conservation and management programs should pay attention on the reproductive biology of each species. These characteristics can vary even between species from the same genus.Este trabalho identificou alguns aspectos básicos da biologia reprodutiva de Rhynemis rufipes (Testudines, Chelidae) na Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke (3º08`S; 60º04W) durante três meses, entre abril e junho de 2006, e os comparou com outras espécies dos gêneros Phrynops e Mesoclemys. Rhynemys rufipes apresenta o período de desova ligado à estação chuvosa. Fêmeas, quando apresentam ovos, são mais ativas durante a lua cheia, indicando uma possível relação entre as desovas e noites mais iluminadas. Quando levadas a desovarem por injeção de ocitocina, elas desovam mais rápido com esse procedimento ocorrendo logo após a captura no campo. Não foram encontrados indícios de desovas múltiplas para essa espécie através da metodologia utilizada. Fêmeas maiores desovam ovos mais pesados. Entre as espécies dos gêneros Phrynops, Rhynemis e Mesoclemmys, espécies maiores apresentam ovos mais esféricos e em maior quantidade e espécies com ovos relativamente maiores em relação ao tamanho do corpo apresentam ovos menos esféricos As características dos ovos neste grupo estão ligadas ao hábitat das espécies e ao local onde os dados foram coletados na América do Sul, mas não há relação entre os gêneros. Programas de conservação e manejo devem ficar atentos aos detalhes da biologia reprodutiva de cada espécie, pois eles variam muito, mesmo em espécies do mesmo gênero

Spatial and temporal patterns of harvesting of the Vulnerable pig-nosed turtle Carettochelys insculpta in the Kikori region, Papua New Guinea

Management of wildlife use by communities living a partially traditional lifestyle is usually more successful when the interactions between those communities and the environment are well understood. We mapped the harvest areas for the Vulnerable pig-nosed turtle Carettochelys insculpta for six language-groups in the Kikori region of Papua New Guinea and compared harvest parameters between different areas and language-groups and, when possible, between 1980–1982 and 2007–2009. Spatially, the main influence on harvest method was a tribe\u27s location relative to the turtle\u27s distribution. No small juveniles (< 20 cm straight-line carapace length) were found outside the Kikori delta, which is probably the species’ feeding grounds. In contrast, nesting females were captured only in upstream and coastal sandbank areas. Temporally there were distinct differences in harvesting parameters between tribes, which may be explained by differential employment opportunities. To halt the decline of pig-nosed turtles in the Kikori region we recommend the establishment of beach and feeding-ground protection initiatives, together with monitoring of the turtle population and harvest. Concomitantly, trips specifically targeted at harvesting the turtles, which account for 81% of the animals captured, need to be restricted. These initiatives should include all six language-groups and take into account their specific harvesting patterns