Nest Placement of the Giant Amazon River Turtle, Podocnemis expansa, in the Araguaia River, Goiás State, Brazil

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 212 - 217
• Main Authors: Ferreira Júnior, Paulo Dias, Tarso Amorim Castro, Paulo de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 01-05-2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal nesting; Animal reproduction; Animals; Beaches; Brazil; Conservation of Natural Resources; Dry season; Dunes; Female; Floods; Fluvial channels; Fluvial erosion; Freshwater; Geological Phenomena; Geology; Male; Morphology; Nesting; Nesting sites; Nests; Podocnemis expansa; Reproduction; Reptiles & amphibians; Rivers; Sand bars; Seasons; Sex determination; Sex ratio; Turtles; Variance analysis; Water Movements; Brazil; Goias Brazil; Brazil, Amazonia, Araguaia R; Brazil, Amazon R; South America, Amazon R; Brazil, Goias; ASW, Brazil
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1579/0044-7447-34.3.212

The giant Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis expansa) nests on extensive sand bars on the margins and interior of the channel during the dry season. The high concentration of nests in specific points of certain beaches indicates that the selection of nest placement is not random but is related to some geological aspects, such as bar margin inclination and presence of a high, sandy platform. The presence of access channels to high platform points or ramp morphology are decisive factors in the choice of nesting areas. The eroded and escarped margins of the beaches hinder the Amazon river turtle arriving at the most suitable places for nesting. Through the years, changes in beach morphology can alter nest distribution.