Despite increasing pressures on freshwater resources worldwide, and the threatened status of most freshwater turtles, there is still limited knowledge of habitat use and niche partitioning in Afrotropical freshwater turtle communities. In this study, we describe habitat associations, community diversity, and temporal patterns of occurrence of freshwater turtle species in the Dahomey Gap ecoregion of Ghana (West Africa). We gathered data from 13 sites in central Ghana and along the Sene Arm of Lake Volta in the Digya National Park (Bono East Region). We employed opportunistic short-term surveys (at seven sites) together with longer-term (six-months duration) standardized evaluations of turtle presence and numbers in different habitats (at six sites). Overall, a total of 210 turtle individuals of four species (Trionyx triunguis, Cyclanorbis senegalensis, Pelomedusa sp. and Pelusios castaneus) were recorded; precise capture sites and habitat type were recorded for 139 individuals, but the 71 individuals observed in marketplaces were not considered in our analyses. At a local scale, we observed three sympatric species in various study sites. In each of these sites, the dominant species was either C. senegalensis or Pelomedusa sp., with the latter species being more abundant in temporary waterbodies and C. senegalensis more numerous in permanent ones. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis suggested that, in permanent waterbodies all species were associated with similar physical habitat variables. In a Canonical Correspondence Analysis, we showed that the density of herbaceous emergent vegetation was more important for P. castaneus than for C. senegalensis. Comparisons of diversity metrics between our study sites and previous studies revealed that turtle community composition was similar across savannah sites.

/pdf/community-characteristics-of-sympatric-freshwater-turtles-3823q7whpv.pdf

Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles from Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana


Defining priorities is important both in research and in conservation, especially when knowledge gaps are hindering successful management. In this review, we quantify the knowledge gaps for all non-marine West African chelonians based on 21 criteria. Additionally, we combine these knowledge gaps with each species’ maximum size, range size, presence in nationally protected areas, and IUCN Red List or TFTSG provisional status to introduce a ranking of species conservation priority in the region. Our analyses revealed a divergence between which species are lacking research studies and which would benefit most from conservation actions, though Cyclanorbis elegans is the species that is both the least-known and most-in-need of conservation. Broadly, Pelomedusidae are in the greatest need of research, yet they are also collectively the least threatened. Conversely, Trionychidae and Testudinidae have received greater research attention in most cases, however, these two families represent the greatest conservation priorities amongst West African chelonians. Our analyses also enabled us to evaluate which criteria representing aspects of chelonian biology have been most overlooked by the scientific community. Priorities for future research include reproductive and long-term population studies, each of which are critical for informing conservation actions and evaluating the results of those actions.

Knowledge gaps and conservation priorities for west African chelonians

Community forests as beacons of conservation: Enabling local populations monitor their biodiversity

Human density impacts Nubian Flapshell turtle survival in Sub-Saharan Africa: Future conservation strategies

Analysis of current and future habitat distribution models for the African Spurred Tortoise, Centrochelys sulcata

Prioritizing the next decade of freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation in West Africa

Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment

An abstract is not available for this content. As you have access to this content, full HTML content is provided on this page. A PDF of this content is also available in through the ‘Save PDF’ action button. 

Pearson Mcgovern

Papers

Prioritizing the next decade of freshwater turtle and tortoise conservation in West Africa

Knowledge gaps and conservation priorities for west African chelonians

Analysis of current and future habitat distribution models for the African Spurred Tortoise, Centrochelys sulcata

Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment

The African softshell turtle Trionyx triunguis in Senegal