Prediction of Environmental Factors That Affecting Habitat Suitability for Endemic Japanese Pond Turtles in Irrigation Ponds and Surrounding Areas

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  • ため池及びその周辺における日本固有種ニホンイシガメの生息に影響を及ぼす環境要因の推定
  • タメイケ オヨビ ソノ シュウヘン ニ オケル ニホン コユウシュ ニホンイシガメ ノ セイソク ニ エイキョウ オ オヨボス カンキョウ ヨウイン ノ スイテイ

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Abstract

<p>We identified environmental factors influencing habitat suitability for the endemic Japanese pond turtle, Mauremys japonica. To do so, we surveyed ten irrigation ponds in Shiso city, Hyogo Prefecture from May to November 2015 and collected data on 17 environmental variables. We examined relationships between each of these variables and the density of M. japonica as a dependent variable, using multiple regression analyses. We found that ponds with a higher density of M. japonica had structures such as exposed rocks and logs within the ponds that can be used for basking. Those ponds were also surrounded by less wooded and more open areas, providing suitable conditions for basking due to reduced shading. We also assessed the movement patterns of female M. japonica during the nesting season in June, by tracking them with data loggers attached to their carapaces. The maximum home range was 12,640 m2 and the maximum distance moved from the point of release was 210 m. Turtles used various habitats around the ponds, in particular, the terrestrial areas immediately adjacent to the ponds as well as one of the nearby rice fields. These findings suggest that for the conservation of the endemic M. japonica, it is important to preserve not only ponds themselves but also the surrounding terrestrial habitats including paddy fields.</p>

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