DOI: 10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61js
title: Hibernation habitat selection by the threatened Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) in the Yellow River wetlands of Northwest China: Implications for conservation management

description: Hibernation is a crucial aspect of the life history of freshwater turtles
 inhabiting temperate regions. Therefore, understanding their hibernation
 habitat selection is essential for the targeted conservation of turtle
 species and their habitats. The Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus
 sinensis), a medium-sized freshwater turtle, is widely distributed in
 China; however, populations are rapidly declining, threatened by habitat
 destruction, overfishing, and water pollution. Little is known regarding
 this species’ habitat selection during the winter months. In 2020–2022, we
 equipped 22 P. sinensis with radio transmitters (VHF), and we successfully
 relocated 13 turtles, 11 of which buried in submerged substrates and 2
 buried in terrestrial soil for hibernation. In aquatic habitats, turtles
 preferred ponded areas formed during the dry period of the Yellow River
 with low water velocity and less anthropogenic disturbance. However, we
 found little evidence for the selection of dissolved oxygen levels. In
 terrestrial habitats, turtles buried under densely vegetated soils with
 their dorsal carapace approximately 5 cm beneath the surface, allowing
 respiration through a protruded neck. Terrestrial hibernacula were close
 to the water, maintained more than 30% humidity throughout the winter, and
 were effectively protected against freezing. To the best of our knowledge,
 this is the first formal report of the behavior of terrestrial hibernation
 in softshell turtles. Our results suggest that P. sinensis has selectivity
 towards hibernation habitats with specific microenvironmental
 characteristics, indicating that protection of the characterized habitats
 provided in this study is important for the future conservation of this
 threatened softshell turtle species.
description: # Hibernation habitat selection by the threatened Chinese softshell turtle
 (Pelodiscus sinensis) in the Yellow River wetlands of Northwest China:
 Implications for conservation management
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61js](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61js) ## Description of the data and file structure Qingjun Zhu, Meiling Hong, Qiutong Xie, Fei Kong, Liu Lin and Hai-tao Shi Data for the hibernation habitat selection of the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensisi). The study area is located in Dali County, Shaanxi Province, China. We use radio-telemetry to locate the hibernation site of turtles, a multifunctional water quality detector to measure the environmental variables of aquatic hibernation sites and randomly generated sites, and a thermometer to measure the temperature of terrestrial hibernation sites. Contact Qingjun Zhu ([Hainan Normal University](691617154@qq.com)) with any questions. Data files include: ### Data_environment variables.xlsx This file contains information on site characteristics for aquatic hibernation sites and randomly generated sites. Turtle ID- Hibernation sites of each specific numbered turtle and its corresponding random sites Depth of water | cm | Water depth of the hibernation site cm Water velocity | m/s | Water velocities of the hibernation site DO | mg/L | Dissolved oxygen level at a depth of 50cm below the water surface at the hibernation site pH pH level at a depth of 50cm below the water surface at the hibernation site Salinity- pptSalinity level at a depth of 50cm below the water surface at the hibernation site Number of humans - The number of humans within a range of 10m × 10m centered at the hibernation site ### Data_temperature.xlsx This file contains information on temperatures fro terrestrial hibernation sites at different depths and air from 2020 to 2022. Air temperature | °C | October 2020 to March 2022 at 1h intervals Soil temperature_surface | °C | December 2021 to February 2022 at 3h intervals Soil temperature_5 cm | °C | The depth at which turtles are buried in the soil during terrestrial hibernation, December 2020 to February 2022 at 3h intervals Soil temperature_10 cm | °C | December 2021 to February 2022 at 3h intervals Soil temperature_15 cm | °C | December 2021 to February 2022 at 3h intervals