Study On Courtship Behavior And Simulation Nest Predation Of Cuora Galbinifrons And C.Mouhotii

Endangered species protection is one of the core issues of biodiversity conservation, andthe survival and continuity of the population is directly related to its breeding. The Cuoraspecies in China are the richest. Nine species distribution are all recorded, and five of nine areChinese endemic speceis. The Indo-Chinese box turtle C. galbinifrons was listed as criticallyendangerous species by INCN and the Keeled Box Turtle C. mouhotii was listed asendangered. Most previous research focused on the taxonomy and systematics, but little isknown about the reproductive. From March to September,2013, behavior sampling methodand artificial nests were used to investigate the reproductive behavior and nest predation atDiaoluoshan village, Diaoluo nature reserve in Hainan Island, which would be useful for thetwo species’ protection.By using the video camera, the courtship behaviors of C. galbinifrons and C. mouhotiiwere recorded in the artificial simulation habitat.196courtship sequences (C. galbinifrons:60;C. mouhotii:136) were recorded. By comparing the courtship sequences, the courtshipbehaviors of C. galbinifrons and C. mouhotii had many similarities. The similar courtshipsequence "APâ†'SI/FDâ†'MOâ†'AOâ†'CO" were mainly used by the two species, which couldlead the two species mating with each other in the wild. All eggs of the two species werecollected, and the related parameters of the eggs were measured and recorded.28eggs (22clutches) of C. galbinifrons and120eggs (68clutches) of C. mouhotii were collected finally,and the hatching rates of the two species were0%and3.39%. The result indicated that theclutch size of C. galbinifrons was smaller than C. mouhotii (P<0.01), and the egg length, eggwidth and egg weight of C. galbinifrons were significantly bigger than C. mouhotii（P<0.01）.We concluded that there were different reproductive strategies between the two species, whichC. galbinifrons may adopt the way of producing larger eggs, while C. mouhotii may adopt theway of producing more eggs.To investigate the type of nest predators, predation rates, the effect on breeding successin different habitats and the effect of different fertilization rates on nest predation of the twospecies, we buried eggs of red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) to simulate theIndo-Chinese box turtle nests at Diaoluoshan village, Diaoluo nature reserve, and triggeredcameras were placed remotely around a sample of nests to identify predator. We found thatsmall mammals (Niviventer fulvescens and Tupaia belangeri mainly) and ants were the mainpredators.120artificial nests (2eggs per nest) were placed in plantations forest, secondaryforest and native forest.66.7%nests were depredated. Predation rates in these forests were 72.5%,62.5%and62.5%respectively, but differences were not significant (P>0.05, n=40). Insecondary forest, nest predation rate was higher in forest center than in forest edges (P＜0.05,n=20). No obvious differences were found in nest predation rate between forest centers andedges in plantation forest and primary forest. And150nests were placed in three fertilizationrates:100%,50%and0%in natural forest.91%nests were depredated. Predation rate wassignificantly higher in fertilization rate50%than in fertilization rate100%(P＜0.05, n=50)and predation rate in each stage varied with respect to different fertilization rates. Our resultssuggest that fertilization rate decreasing could increase turtle nest predation risk, andfurthermore could result in the extinct of C. galbinifrons if we do not take any effectivemeasure.