Movimentação de fêmeas nidificantes de jacaré-tinga (Caiman crocodilus) em floresta de várzea no Rio Purus, Amazônia Central brasileira

Abstract

Crocodilians reproduction, especially for Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) is well described, however few studies were carried out on movements of nesting females. Knowledge on behaviors displayed for space occupancy should help future conservation actions for C. crocodilus in Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve and in others areas where, for next years, the species can be manage under economical harvesting conditions. Our main objective was to evaluate how females ‘movement is influenced by water level of Purus river and how it vary between pre-nest, nesting and post-nest phases. We also analyzed relation between nest location and habitat use by females. Eight females (mean SVL = 76.5 cm ± 4.7) were marked with a VHF transmitter and monitored from 52 to 408 days. Purus river water level did not influenced significantly C. crocodilus females movements. Females with nest hatched, flooded or predated by primates Sapajus apella, presented similar patterns of movement. By the way, our study demonstrated that adult females of C. crocodilus stay most of the year in proximity of respective nesting sites. Similar behaviors were already demonstrated for females other species. In same population, past studies revealed that nesting females had a worse body condition than non-nesting females. Future studies may target on movement of these two categories, aiming understand better the reproductive strategy of C. crocodilus females in flooded forests of Amazon basin