Community Characteristics of Sympatric Freshwater Turtles from Savannah Waterbodies in Ghana

Despite increasing pressures on freshwater resources worldwide, and the threatened status of most turtles, there is still limited knowledge habitat use niche partitioning in Afrotropical turtle communities. In this study, we describe associations, community diversity, temporal patterns occurrence species Dahomey Gap ecoregion Ghana (West Africa). We gathered data from 13 sites central along Sene Arm Lake Volta Digya National Park (Bono East Region). employed opportunistic short-term surveys (at seven sites) together with longer-term (six-months duration) standardized evaluations presence numbers different habitats six sites). Overall, a total 210 individuals four (Trionyx triunguis, Cyclanorbis senegalensis, Pelomedusa sp. Pelusios castaneus) were recorded; precise capture type recorded for 139 individuals, but 71 observed marketplaces not considered our analyses. At local scale, three sympatric various study sites. each these sites, dominant was either C. senegalensis or sp., latter being more abundant temporary waterbodies numerous permanent ones. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis suggested that, all associated similar physical variables. Canonical Analysis, showed that density herbaceous emergent vegetation important P. castaneus than senegalensis. Comparisons diversity metrics between previous studies revealed composition across savannah