A Slow and Underappreciated Forest Megafauna: Food Habits, Movements, and Multiscale Habitat Preferences of Critically Endangered Sundaic Giant Tortoises (Manouria emys emys)

Integrative Zoology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 14, 2025

ABSTRACT Sundaic giant tortoises ( Manouria emys ) are the largest chelonians in Asia. Classified as critically endangered, they extremely rare throughout their range. The limited knowledge of behavior and ecology hampers effective conservation initiatives. We integrated GPS tracking, behavioral observations, local ecological knowledge, resource selection functions, spatial distribution modeling, landscape functional connectivity to assess key aspects food habits, movement patterns, habitat relationships at broad scale Sumatra, Indonesia. were predominantly diurnal (93% activities) had a mean home range 27.5 ha (±28.8 SD; N = 3 individuals, autocorrelated kernel density estimate). identified 40 plant species from 20 families, including ferns, monocots, dicots, consumed by tortoises. They fruits 30 these plants, swallowing seeds large those Durio Artocarpus (>2 × 4 cm), indicating potential seed dispersal over distances exceeding 1 km. Habitat preference analysis both island‐wide scales showed consistent for primary rainforests with steep slopes moderate altitudes, near rivers, mostly on western side island. 15 “priority areas,” that is, high suitability but lacking formal protection. Among these, only one, Gunung Talang, lacked other forest areas, prompting us propose wildlife corridor connecting it Kerinci Seblat National Park. In addition, we argue hold rewilding operations Sumatra parts range, emphasizing need targeted efforts.

Language: Английский

How much Eurasian beaver activity is there in Italy? Using field signs to monitor and map a returned species

Mammal Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 7, 2024

Language: Английский

Conclusion: Pathways for a Sustainable Future—Synthesis on Environmental Change and Biodiversity Conservation Efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa

Advances in global change research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 413 - 432

Published: Dec. 24, 2024

Language: Английский