The conservation of aquatic and semiaquatic turtles requires knowledge of the area and vegetation structure of habitat used for nesting, and nesting migration route. We aimed to survey the effects of habitat features to the nest site selection, nesting success, and test the possibility of nest site fidelity. Our study was carried out at 10 different nesting areas, with special emphasis on data from returning females in a pond system in Hungary between 2014 and 2017. Most nesting attempts were found in closed sand steppes, uncharacteristic dry and semi-dry grasslands habitat patches. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that increased sandy soil cover, sunlight and slope were important variables in nest site choice. The increasing PCA first axis score significantly increased the chance of an emergence. The degradation of open steppe vegetation, occurrence of weeds, invasive and disturbance tolerant species have a negative effect on the selection of nest sites. We observed that 96.55% of nests were located within 20 m south of a pine forest at preferred nest site at pond 5, which provided the right incubation temperature through partial shading. The returning females nested significantly closer to the northern pine forest than the single clutch females. Most probably the returning females already has the necessary experience to select the right nesting site. The individually marked females did not choose new nesting areas during the monitored years which suggests nesting area fidelity, but we did not find nest site fidelity. The maintenance of mosaic habitat structure, slowing down the succession process at the nesting area should be basic priorities in European pond turtle conservation programs. We suggested a spatial and temporal scheduling of land management and agricultural work to the local farmers. If the actual nest site is in an agricultural area, all work should be avoided throughout the year. Agricultural machinery should avoid the migration routes of adult turtles and emerged hatchlings during the concerned period. Under strong predation pressure, predator control should be carried out, and use nest protection.

中文翻译：

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巴巴特谷（匈牙利格德勒）欧洲池龟（Emys orbicalis）种群的巢址选择和保真度


水生和半水生龟的保护需要了解筑巢栖息地的面积和植被结构以及筑巢迁徙路线。我们的目的是调查栖息地特征对筑巢地点选择、筑巢成功的影响，并测试筑巢地点保真度的可能性。我们的研究在 10 个不同的筑巢区域进行，特别关注 2014 年至 2017 年间在匈牙利池塘系统中返回的雌性的数据。大多数筑巢尝试是在封闭的沙​​质草原、不寻常的干燥和半干燥草原栖息地斑块中发现的。主成分分析（PCA）表明，增加的沙质土壤覆盖、阳光和坡度是巢址选择的重要变量。 PCA 第一轴得分的增加显着增加了出现的机会。开阔草原植被的退化、杂草的出现、入侵和耐干扰物种对巢址的选择产生负面影响。我们观察到，96.55% 的巢位于松树林以南 20 m 范围内，首选巢址为 5 号池塘，通过部分遮荫提供了合适的孵化温度。返回的雌性筑巢地比单窝雌性更靠近北松林。很可能返回的雌性已经具备了选择正确筑巢地点的必要经验。在监测年份中，单独标记的雌性没有选择新的筑巢区域，这表明筑巢区域保真度，但我们没有发现筑巢地点保真度。维护马赛克栖息地结构、减缓筑巢区的演替过程应该是欧洲池塘龟保护计划的基本优先事项。 我们向当地农民建议了土地管理和农业工作的时空安排。如果实际筑巢地点位于农业区，则全年应避免所有工作。农业机械应避开成年海龟和刚孵化的海龟在此期间的迁徙路线。在较强的捕食压力下，应进行捕食者控制，并采用巢保护。