Microhabitat selection of the big-headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China

Understanding species habitat requirements is vital for ensuring the success of targeted conservation and habitat restoration measures. The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is a freshwater species which is distributed across Southeast Asia. Due to the human threats posed by illegal pet trade and overharvesting for food and medicinal purposes, the species has undergone rapid decline. Furthermore, limited research has been conducted on this species, particularly regarding habitat preferences on Hainan Island, China. Therefore, this study examined the microhabitat selection of P. megacephalum using cage and sample plot methods in the Diaoluo Mountain area of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. Our results indicated that big-headed turtles select stream microhabitats at higher altitudes, in proximity to rocky substrates, several caves, and high diversity of food sources. Microhabitat utilization did not differ significantly between adults and juveniles. This suggests ..., , , # Microhabitat selection of the big-headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China

## Description of the data file:

A sample plot of 10 m length with water surface as width of the stream was established. A capture cage containing a turtle was considered to be at the center of the experimental plot, with 5-m intervals up and down the stream as the plot length. A sample plot centered around a cage with no turtles present was used as a control plot. Ten ecological factors were recorded, including vegetation coverage, water surface width (m), water depth (cm), water surface velocity (m/s), substrate type (stone/sand/mud, covering > 60% of the plot), exposed stone rate (piece/m2), number of caves, plant root system (clump), food diversity (number of species in the turtle cage), and distance from disturbance (< 50 m, 50–100 m, > 100 m). A cave was defined as a small cavity formed by two or more stones large enough to accommodate a big...

明确物种的栖息地需求，是确保针对性保护与栖息地修复措施取得成效的关键所在。大头龟（Platysternon megacephalum）为淡水物种，分布于东南亚地区。受非法宠物贸易、过度捕捞用于食用与药用等人类活动威胁，该物种种群已出现快速衰退。此外，针对该物种的研究相对匮乏，尤其是关于中国海南岛内该物种的栖息地偏好的研究尤为不足。为此，本研究于海南热带雨林国家公园吊罗山片区，采用笼捕法与样方法，探究大头龟的微生境选择偏好。研究结果显示，大头龟偏好选择海拔较高、邻近岩质基质、存在多处洞穴且食物来源多样性较高的溪流微生境；成体与幼体在微生境利用上并无显著差异。这表明……
# 中国海南热带雨林国家公园内大头龟（Platysternon megacephalum）的微生境选择

## 数据集文件说明
本研究设置以溪流水面宽度为样方宽度、长度为10米的调查样地。以放置有大头龟的捕获笼作为实验样方的中心，沿溪流上下游各延伸5米作为样方总长度；以未放置龟类的捕获笼为中心的样地作为对照样方。本研究共记录10项生态因子：植被盖度、水面宽度（单位：米）、水深（单位：厘米）、水面流速（单位：米/秒）、基质类型（以样地内占比超过60%的基质为准，分为石块、沙粒、泥质三类）、裸露石块密度（单位：块/平方米）、洞穴数量、植物根系（丛生状）、食物多样性（捕获笼内的食物物种数）以及干扰距离（分为<50米、50–100米、>100米三个等级）。洞穴的定义为：由两块及以上石块堆叠形成的小型空腔，其空间足以容纳一头大头龟……