Movement and Space Use Patterns of the Beale's Eyed Turtle (Sacalia bealei) Suggest Sensitivity to Environmental Changes and Poaching

Wing Sing CHAN; Jonathan J. FONG; Timothy C. BONEBRAKE; Yik‐Hei SUNG

doi:10.1002/wll2.70037

Movement and Space Use Patterns of the Beale's Eyed Turtle (Sacalia bealei) Suggest Sensitivity to Environmental Changes and Poaching

Wing Sing CHAN
, Jonathan J. FONG
, Timothy C. BONEBRAKE^*
, Yik‐Hei SUNG^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Division of Science

Research output: Other Publications › Other Article › Communication

Abstract

Widespread declines of Asian freshwater turtles demand urgent conservation action. This study used radiotelemetry to track 25 individuals of the Endangered Beale's eyed turtles (Sacalia bealei) (12 females, eight juveniles, and five males) in Hong Kong for an average of 284 days. Movement (4.7 ± 8.9 m day−1) and home range (7986 ± 9701 m2) varied significantly across reproductive class and season, with males exhibiting greater displacement distances and home ranges than females in the wet and mating seasons. S. bealei exhibits strong aquatic dependence, favoring deep pools interspaced among riffle-pool sequences. Microhabitat selection varied diurnally and seasonally, with preferences for spatial elements that likely confer concealment advantages. The species' relatively large home range and aquatic dependence highlight its sensitivity to habitat loss and poaching, stressing the urgency for immediate protection of remnant populations. Conservation efforts must prioritize critical stream habitats and leverage telemetry data for informed action.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	Wildlife Letters
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/wll2.70037
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 13 Apr 2026

Bibliographical note

We thank the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government for issuing the research permit for conducting this project. We are grateful to Alex Liu, Amy Fok, Eric Au, and Ruth Lee for their assistance during the fieldwork. We would also like to thank Richard Blanchard and Mei Chan for their technical and logistical support during the procurement process of the radio telemetric units. The present work was part of Wing Sing Chan's PhD thesis.

Funding

This work was supported by Ocean Park Conservation Fund, Hong Kong SAR (project number: RP02.1920).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 15 Life on Land

Keywords

freshwater turtle
habitat use
home range
movement
radiotelemetry
Sacalia bealei
spatial behaviors
turtle conservation

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10.1002/wll2.70037Licence: CC BY

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wll2.70037

Cite this

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title = "Movement and Space Use Patterns of the Beale's Eyed Turtle (Sacalia bealei) Suggest Sensitivity to Environmental Changes and Poaching",

abstract = "Widespread declines of Asian freshwater turtles demand urgent conservation action. This study used radiotelemetry to track 25 individuals of the Endangered Beale's eyed turtles (Sacalia bealei) (12 females, eight juveniles, and five males) in Hong Kong for an average of 284 days. Movement (4.7 ± 8.9 m day−1) and home range (7986 ± 9701 m2) varied significantly across reproductive class and season, with males exhibiting greater displacement distances and home ranges than females in the wet and mating seasons. S. bealei exhibits strong aquatic dependence, favoring deep pools interspaced among riffle-pool sequences. Microhabitat selection varied diurnally and seasonally, with preferences for spatial elements that likely confer concealment advantages. The species' relatively large home range and aquatic dependence highlight its sensitivity to habitat loss and poaching, stressing the urgency for immediate protection of remnant populations. Conservation efforts must prioritize critical stream habitats and leverage telemetry data for informed action.",

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note = "We thank the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government for issuing the research permit for conducting this project. We are grateful to Alex Liu, Amy Fok, Eric Au, and Ruth Lee for their assistance during the fieldwork. We would also like to thank Richard Blanchard and Mei Chan for their technical and logistical support during the procurement process of the radio telemetric units. The present work was part of Wing Sing Chan's PhD thesis. ",

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N1 - We thank the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government for issuing the research permit for conducting this project. We are grateful to Alex Liu, Amy Fok, Eric Au, and Ruth Lee for their assistance during the fieldwork. We would also like to thank Richard Blanchard and Mei Chan for their technical and logistical support during the procurement process of the radio telemetric units. The present work was part of Wing Sing Chan's PhD thesis.

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N2 - Widespread declines of Asian freshwater turtles demand urgent conservation action. This study used radiotelemetry to track 25 individuals of the Endangered Beale's eyed turtles (Sacalia bealei) (12 females, eight juveniles, and five males) in Hong Kong for an average of 284 days. Movement (4.7 ± 8.9 m day−1) and home range (7986 ± 9701 m2) varied significantly across reproductive class and season, with males exhibiting greater displacement distances and home ranges than females in the wet and mating seasons. S. bealei exhibits strong aquatic dependence, favoring deep pools interspaced among riffle-pool sequences. Microhabitat selection varied diurnally and seasonally, with preferences for spatial elements that likely confer concealment advantages. The species' relatively large home range and aquatic dependence highlight its sensitivity to habitat loss and poaching, stressing the urgency for immediate protection of remnant populations. Conservation efforts must prioritize critical stream habitats and leverage telemetry data for informed action.

AB - Widespread declines of Asian freshwater turtles demand urgent conservation action. This study used radiotelemetry to track 25 individuals of the Endangered Beale's eyed turtles (Sacalia bealei) (12 females, eight juveniles, and five males) in Hong Kong for an average of 284 days. Movement (4.7 ± 8.9 m day−1) and home range (7986 ± 9701 m2) varied significantly across reproductive class and season, with males exhibiting greater displacement distances and home ranges than females in the wet and mating seasons. S. bealei exhibits strong aquatic dependence, favoring deep pools interspaced among riffle-pool sequences. Microhabitat selection varied diurnally and seasonally, with preferences for spatial elements that likely confer concealment advantages. The species' relatively large home range and aquatic dependence highlight its sensitivity to habitat loss and poaching, stressing the urgency for immediate protection of remnant populations. Conservation efforts must prioritize critical stream habitats and leverage telemetry data for informed action.

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ER -

Movement and Space Use Patterns of the Beale's Eyed Turtle (Sacalia bealei) Suggest Sensitivity to Environmental Changes and Poaching

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this