Observations on the influence of seasonality, lunar cycles, and weather condition on freshwater turtle activity in Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo)
Freshwater turtles were surveyed at two sites in Sarawak: Loagan Bunut National Park and Balai Ringin. Capture results were tested against environmental factors such as lunar phase, weather and seasonality to examine differences in activity level. Proportionally, soft-shelled turtles were most act...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Asiatic Herpetological Research Society
2008
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11866/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11866/1/Observations%20on%20the%20influence%20of%20seasonality%20%28abstract%29.pdf |
| Summary: | Freshwater turtles were surveyed at two sites in Sarawak: Loagan Bunut National Park and Balai Ringin.
Capture results were tested against environmental factors such as lunar phase, weather and seasonality to examine
differences in activity level. Proportionally, soft-shelled turtles were most active during the full moon (29.0%) and
the last quarter lunar phase (29.4%). Hard-shelled turtles were active during the full moon 50.0% of the time. Both
soft-shelled and hard-shelled turtles were more active during overcast periods (53.0% and 66.0%, respectively).
Seasonality did not seem to affect soft-shelled turtle activity, while hard-shelled turtles were active 50.0% of the time
during the dry South-west Monsoon from June to September. |
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