A stable home: Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimated home ranges of the critically endangered Elongated tortoise

Home range analysis is a standard and fundamental concept in ecology used to describe animal space use over their lifetimes. Connecting home sizes with characteristics, location, habitat can be inform conservation decisions. Reptiles are frequently lacking robust estimates of use, particularly reptiles tropical regions. Here we analyse publicly available dataset, collected by the authors this study, describing movements Critically Endangered Elongated tortoises Indotestudo elongata. The tortoise data included locations 17 (12 females, 5 males) on average once every three days for an duration 353.76 SE ± 33.10 days. We these estimate tortoise, explore how size sex influences size. To mitigate issues resulting from low effective sample temporal resolution data, modern estimation method – Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimators (AKDE). found 14 individuals appear occupying stable (using variograms determine residency). AKDE all residency was 44.81 10.44 ha. Bayesian Regression Models suggest comparable between male female ranges, despite males being physically larger than females both mass carapace length. These have added utility more other studies, less susceptible errors suboptimal tracking regime, well positioned inclusion future meta-analyses. Keywords: testudine, autocorrelated kernel density estimator, spatial ecology, Thailand, elongata