2. Evaluación de la distribución y la ecología
re p ro d u c t iva d e l a p o bl a c i ó n d e
Podocnemis lewyana en el río Magdalena
(2004).

3. Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises:
A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC — Podocnemis lewyana Specialist Group
Podocnemididae Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
A.G.J. Rhodin, P.C.H. Pritchard, P.P. van Dijk, R.A. Saumure, K.A. Buhlmann, J.B. Iverson, and R.A. Mittermeier, Eds.
Chelonian Research Monographs (ISSN 1088-7105) No. 5, doi:10.3854/crm.5.024.lewyana.v1.2009
Podocnemis lewyana Duméril 1852 –
Magdalena River Turtle
VIVIAN P. PÁEZ1, ADRIANA RESTREPO1,
MARIO VARGAS-RAMIREZ2,3, AND BRIAN C. BOCK1
1
Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

4. ARTICLE IN PRESS
Vargas et al., 2008
´
M. Vargas-Ramırez et al. / Organisms, Diversity & Evolution 8 (2008) 388–398 395
Fig. 4. Relaxed molecular clock estimates for ages of extant Podocnemididae (Bayesian tree). Black circles correspond to fossil
calibration points: 100 mya for the podocnemidid–pelomedusid split (Gaffney 1990), 65 mya for the Erymnochelys–Podocnemis split
(Gaffney and Forster 2003). Inferred ages of podocnemidid divergences with standard deviations indicated. Abbreviations:
Pl ¼ Pliocene, Q ¼ Quaternary.
SD ¼ 0.62), P. vogli in the Late Oligocene (26.53 mya, monotypic genera, Peltocephalus and Erymnochelys,
SD ¼ 0.54), P. sextuberculata and P. unifilis in the respectively. Using morphological characters, Gaffney
Early Miocene (22.78 mya, SD ¼ 0.49 and 18.45 mya, (1988) and Gaffney and Meylan (1988) proposed
SD ¼ 0.43, respectively), and P. erythrocephala and that the Malagasy Erymnochelys constitutes the
P. lewyana split during the Middle Miocene at sister taxon of a purely South American clade,
15.45 mya (SD ¼ 0.38). Peltocephalus+Podocnemis. Georges et al. (1998) and
Noonan (2000) analyzed the phylogenetic relation-
ships of Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Peltocephalus
dumerilianus, and Podocnemis expansa, using 1382 bp of
Discussion the mitochondrial COI, 12S and 16S rRNA genes and
the nuclear genomic c-mos gene or 921 bp of the 12S and
Prior to the present work, the phylogeny of extant 16S rRNA genes, respectively. Both studies contradicted
podocnemidids was only incompletely assessed using Gaffney (1988) and Gaffney and Meylan (1988) and
DNA sequence data, and all previous studies focused on suggested that Neotropical podocnemidids are para-
the relationships of the three genera Erymnochelys, phyletic with respect to Erymnochelys, the latter being
Peltocephalus, and Podocnemis, but never tackled the sister to Podocnemis. In a subsequent study, Noonan
phylogeny of the six Podocnemis species. Traditionally, and Chippindale (2006) analyzed the divergence times
all extant podocnemidids were placed in the same genus of the three genera, using portions of four nuclear genes
(Podocnemis; e.g. Wermuth and Mertens 1961, 1977). (Rag1, NT3, BDNF, and POMC) and two mitochon-
Based on serological evidence, Frair et al. (1978) drial loci (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) for Erymnochelys
removed one Amazonian species and the Malagasy madagascariensis, Peltocephalus dumerilianus, and Podo-
species from Podocnemis and transferred them to two cnemis expansa. Phylogenetic analyses of these genes

5. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2008, 7(1): 45–51
Ó 2008 Chelonian Research Foundation
Distribution and Status of Podocnemis lewyana in the Magdalena River
Drainage of Colombia
ADRIANA RESTREPO1, VIVIAN P. PAEZ2, CATALINA LOPEZ3,
´ ´ AND BRIAN C. BOCK4
1
Instituto de Biologı´a, AA 1226, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellı´n, Colombia [restrepoadriana78@gmail.com];
2
Instituto de Biologı´a, AA 1226, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellı´n, Colombia [vppaez@gmail.com; Fax: (574) 233-1120];
3
Instituto de Biologı´a, AA 1226, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellı´n, Colombia [cata.lopezospina@gmail.com];
4
Instituto de Biologı´a, AA 1226, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellı´n, Colombia [BrianBock1@gmail.com]
Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2010, 9(1): 70–78
ABSTRACT. – We obtained evidence of the 2010 Chelonian Research Foundation of Podocnemis lewyana in 18 different
g continued presence
sites within the Magdalena River drainage of northern Colombia. However, abundances at most
sites were low, evenEcology where the species had previously been reported as lewyana) Although
Reproductive in areas of the Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis common. in the
hunting of adults is no longer Mompos Depression, Colombia consume individuals that are
commercially viable, local people
captured incidentally1 while fishing. Hunting of eggs during the incubation period each year 1
Jcontinues Cto be -H. , AMALIA M. CANO-CASTANO1, Vnegatively Arelated to DRIANA RESTREPO
UANA C. ORREA
1
intensive. Turtle abundances were IVIAN P. P EZ , AND A human densities
˜ ´
throughout this area. In the Chicagua River, where de Antioquia, A.A. 1226, were highest, we conducted
1
Instituto de Biologı´a, Bloque 7–136, Universidad turtle abundances Medellı´n, Colombia
standardized shoreline censuses of basking adults and documented abundances of approximately
[juanill@hotmail.com; amaliacano@yahoo.com; vivianpaez1@gmail.com; restrepoadriana78@gmail.com]
6 individuals/km2. Turtles often basked on mud banks, beaches, or emergent logs in aggregations
made BSTRACTall We studied various aspects of the reproductive biology of the Magdalena Riverclasses of
A up of . – size classes. Pilot trapping efforts also succeeded in capturing all size turtle
turtles, which suggests that more intensive monitoringlocations in would be feasible. Given the
(Podocnemis lewyana) during 2 nesting seasons in 2 programs the Mompos Depression in
evidence of declines in mostmonitored the nests; 22 that species, the current lack of regulation of its
northern Colombia. We areas of 53 range of this completed incubation in situ, 24 that were
transferred to protected areas (transferred nests), and 7 that were constructed using eggs removed
exploitation, and the projections for continued human population growth in this area, we
from females that had been consumed by local people (‘‘oviductal’’ nests). For each nest, we
recommend its Internationaldate, distance to the nearestof Nature (IUCN) type, vegetative cover,
registered the oviposition
Union for Conservation body of water, soil status be changed from
Endangered to Criticallydepth to the first egg, and maximum depth of the nest chamber. We also
exposure to sunlight, Endangered (CR A2acd).
KEY quantified–egg dimensions and clutch sizes, mean incubation temperatures and duration of
WORDS. Reptilia; Testudines; Podocnemididae; Pododnemis lewyana; turtle; threatened
species; status;periods, hatching success rates, and sex ratios. Most nests were located within 15 m of
incubation distribution; abundance; Colombia
the shoreline, in open or grassy areas with permanent exposure to sunlight, and in sandy soils. The

6. Las condiciones de incubación
de los nidos naturales
influyeron en las tasas de
eclosión y en los periodos de
incubación, pero no en el
tamaño de los neonatos o en su
CORREA-H. ET AL. — Reproductive Ec
peso.
ctive Ecology of the Magdalena River Turtle 73
ed, and Table 5. Descriptive statistics for incubation temperatures
ession. measured in Podocnemis lewyana nests in the Mompos
Depression.
otal
ests 2005 2006
3.0 All All Natural Transferred
5 nests nests nests nests
100
1 Entire incubation period
Mean (uC) 30.8 33.8 33.1 34.1
SD 1.4 0.7 0.9 0.2
were Range 28.7–32.8 31.8–34.6 31.8–34.0 33.7–34.6
enop- Middle third of incubation period
were Mean (uC) 31.4 34.0 34.0 34.1
SD 1.5 1.0 1.6 0.7
docu- n 6 15 4 11
ampo-
ed by
adult We measured 350 neonates, finding all 4 of the

7. Copeia 2009, No. 4, 698–704
A Comparison of Maternal and Temperature Effects on Sex, Size, and
Growth of Hatchlings of the Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana)
Incubated under Field and Controlled Laboratory Conditions
Vivian P. Paez1, Juana C. Correa1, Amalia M. Cano1, and Brian C. Bock1
´
During two nesting seasons we monitored 19 naturally incubated nests of Podocnemis lewyana obtained from two sites
in the Mompos Depression of northern Colombia. We incubated another nine nests in the laboratory under similar
humidity conditions, but at six different temperatures. We sexed the hatchlings obtained from all nests to confirm for
the first time the occurrence of temperature-dependent sex determination in this species and quantify sex ratios and
the pivotal temperature for this population. In both nesting seasons, the majority of the nests in the field produced
hatchlings of both sexes, but sex ratios differed between study beaches/years. The pivotal temperature documented
(33.4uC) appears to be among the highest reported for a turtle species. Incubation conditions in the naturally incubated
nests also influenced hatching success rates and incubation periods, but not hatchling size or weight. Hatchlings
obtained from the nests incubated in the laboratory were reared for one month in order to study the influence of pre-
hatching factors on growth rates. In these nests we documented maternal effects on egg size, initial hatchling size, and

8. Paez et al.—Temperature and maternal sex effects
´
Fig. 1. Sex ratios of the field nests (filled circles) and artificially
incubated eggs (open circles). At the presumed pivotal temperature of
La temperatura pivotal documentada (33.4ºC) fue
33.4uC, one natural nest produced primarily males and another
produced 100% females, while in the incubator set to 33.4uC, all of
una de las más altas reportadas para una especie
the males obtained belonged to one nest and all of the females
belonged to another nest.
de tortuga.
were similar among years, being 36% and 50% in 2005 and

9. 701
Las temperaturas de incubación de los
nidos artificiales también influyeron en
las tasas de eclosión, proporciones
sexuales, tasas de crecimiento y tamaño
pero no en el peso inicial de los neonatos.
Fig. 2. ‘‘Nest’’ effect (maternal effect) on egg weight (A), initial neonate

10. Restrepo et al. Actual Biol 30 (89): 151-159, 2008
GENETIC VARIABILITY IN THE MAGDALENA RIVER TURTLE,
PODOCNEMIS LEWYANA (DUMÉRIL, 1852), IN THE
MOMPOS DEPRESSION, COLOMBIA
VARIABILIDAD GENÉTICA DE LA TORTUGA DEL RÍO MAGDALENA, PODOCNEMIS LEWYANA
(DUMÉRIL, 1852), EN LA DEPRESIÓN MOMPOSINA, COLOMBIA
Adriana Restrepo1, 2, Brian C. Bock1, 3, Vivian P. Páez1, 4
Abstract
Two populations of the endangered Magdalena River turtle, Podocnemis lewyana, separated by 55 km in the Mom-
pos Depression were sampled to quantify levels of genetic variation and inspect for evidence of genetic structure.
Allozyme analyses resolved 22 presumptive gene loci, but only one resulted polymorphic. Genotype proportions at
both populations. However, allele frequencies at the locus did not differ between the two sites. The level of genetic

12. se estableció la disposición para
uo que permaneciera inmóvil en
uesto” y su desempeño tuvo un
CCB-0943. Factors influencing the
performance of Podocnemis lewyana
(Podocnemididae) neonates obtained
from eggs incubated under controlled
laboratory conditions.
Echeverri-García, Laura; Páez, Vivian P.;
and Bock, Brian C.

13. Durante el primer año efectuamos tres
pruebas asociadas al desempeño de
neonatos en tortugas: velocidad de
corrida, enderezamiento y nado. Pudimos
determinar la falta de asociación entre las
tres velocidades potenciales.
Encontramos diferencias significativas en
el tiempo de enderezamiento entre nidos
y localidades, pero no entre sexos. La
asociación entre el desempeño y las
medidas de huevos y neonatos fue muy
débil o nula.

14. Cambio climático
impacto negativo en reptiles por sus
características ecológicas.

15. Alto desempeño del modelo
(AUC=0.971)
2080  aumento en la
temperatura y la precipitación
Distribución geográfica continua (magnitud y variabilidad).
Límites Norte y Sur podrían estar más
extendidos. No se limitará la distribución
geográfica de P. lewyana.
Var iables más impor tantes se
relacionaron con la temperatura. Pero…
Al visitar cinco localidades, elegidas Consecuencias negativas en
al azar a partir del modelo, se pudo especies con TSD.
establecer su gran utilidad en la
determinación de nuevas Reducción en el tiempo en que las
localidades. playas de los ríos se despejan.

17. Contrastar los niveles de acumulación de
mercurio en dos especies de tortugas y
correlacionarlos con sus dietas y preferecias
de hábitat.
Evaluar si existe una asociación entre las
condiciones fisico-químicas del agua en tres
sitios de estudio y los niveles de acumulación
de mercurio en dos especies de tortugas.
Evaluar si existe una correlación entre los niveles
de acumulación de mercurio en el músculo y el
caparazón en dos especies de tortugas.
Evaluar el efecto de los niveles de mercurio
en el fitness de neonatos incubados bajo
condiciones controladas.

19. Inferir el pasado demográfico de las
poblaciones.
Estimar el tamaño efectivo poblacional.
Construir matrices
transicionales.
Realizar análisis de
elasticidad.
F14
F13
Estimar las tasas actuales de
G21 G32 G43
r e c l u t a m i e n t o ,
1. Crías 2. Juveniles 3. Adultos I 4. Adultos II
sobrevivencia, tamaño y
tasas de crecimiento
P11 P22 P33 P44
poblacional.

20. Estrategias
de historia
de vida
Efectos
antrópicos y
Ambientales
presentes
Procesos
Históricos

21. Pasado Presente Futuro

23. 41)"&./5)!+1!()
1'&1/)&#)3#$!3),1#,31())
TED
and Galbraith D.)78879():--1$&")#-)!)".//1')%'$+1!"1)%')'!&.+!3);#+&!3%&5)#-)!/.3&")#')!)
;#')"'!,,%'<)&.+&31")=Chelydra serpentine>()?!'()@()A##3()B8C7D7EF7DGH()
yn, D. Galbraith, J. Layfield y E. Nancekivell.) 7887!() I!&1+'!3) !'/) 1'2%+#';1'&!3)

24. Ezequiel
Laura
Juana
Amalia
Adri Aleja
Vivian Juli Brian Lina Lina