Sex-specific ecophysiological responses to environmental fluctuations of free-ranging Hermann's tortoises: implication for conservation

Sibeaux, Adélaïde; Michel, Catherine Louise; Bonnet, Xavier; Sébastien, Caron; Fournière, Kévin; Gagno, Stéphane; Ballouard, Jean-Marie

doi:10.1093/conphys/cow054

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 80 publications

(111 reference statements)

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“…However, the CI showed a mean negative value in males and a mean positive value in females and was significantly different between males and females. Similar differences were also reported from France [ 49 ] and the Turkish Thrace [ 7 ]. The CI can be affected by habitat conditions, food and water availability, and tortoise activities [ 35 , 49 ]; it increases in spring and decreases in summer [ 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Similar differences were also reported from France [ 49 ] and the Turkish Thrace [ 7 ]. The CI can be affected by habitat conditions, food and water availability, and tortoise activities [ 35 , 49 ]; it increases in spring and decreases in summer [ 49 ]. Our study was conducted during the mating season, and males tend to feed less frequently during this time.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

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Morphological Divergence of Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) in Albania

Duro

Sönmez

Gündemir

et al. 2021

Animals

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Testudines show phenotypic plasticity, and variation among specific populations within a species is widespread. Morphological differences between populations may reflect ecological factors that drive adaptation to local conditions. In this context, we gathered basic data on the morphology of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) to document their variation across different geographical regions. We surveyed Hermann’s tortoises in five different locales within Albania during April and May 2020 and measured 20 morphological characteristics, including carapace and plastron dimensions. We measured 188 tortoises (81 males, 107 females) in this study, and females were larger (p = 0.0001) and heavier (p = 0.0001) than males. Mean straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass were 172.4 mm and 1128.8 g, respectively, for females, and 151.3 mm and 735 g, respectively, for males. The Albanian T. h. boettgeri were regionally diverged into three different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati, and Ballshi), and southern (Saranda) Albania. The body size (curved carapace length (CCL)) of females was positively correlated (r = 0.216; p = 0.025) with the latitude, in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. However, there was no correlation between body size and latitude in males. These striking regional differences among Albanian T. h. boettgeri strongly suggest that further study of molecular variations and reproductive output of Hermann’s tortoises is warranted.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Morphological Divergence of Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) in Albania

Duro

Sönmez

Gündemir

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similar differences were also reported from France [49] and the Turkish Thrace [7]. The CI can be affected by habitat conditions, food and water availability, and tortoise activities [35,49]; it increases in spring and decreases in summer [49]. Our study was conducted during the mating season, and males tend to feed less frequently during the mating season.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Morphological Divergence of Hermann’s Tortoise (<em>Testudo hermanni boettgeri</em>) in Albania

Duro¹,

Sönmez²,

Gündemir³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Testudines show phenotypic plasticity, and variation among specific populations within a species is widespread. Morphological differences between populations reflect ecological factors that drive adaptation to local conditions. In this context, gathered basic data on morphology of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) to document their variation across different geographical regions. We surveyed Hermann’s tortoises, in five different locales within Albania during April and May 2020 and measured 20 morphological characteristics, including carapace and plastron dimensions. We measured 188 tortoises (81 males, 107 females) in this study, and females were larger (P=.0001) and heavier (P=.0001) than males. Mean straight carapace length [SCL] and body mass were = 172.4 mm and 1128.8 g, respectively, for females and 151.3 mm and 735 g, respectively, for males. The overall Albanian T. h. boettgeri population were regionally diverged into 3 different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati and Ballshi) and southern (Saranda) Albania. The body size (curved carapace length; CCL) of females was positively correlated (r=0.216; P=0.025) with the latitude degree, in accordance with Bergmann's rule. However, there was no correlation between body size and degrees north latitude in males. These striking regional differences among Albanian T. h. boettgeri strongly suggest that further study of molecular variations in and reproductive output of Hermann’s tortoises is warranted.

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“…The activity of Hermann's tortoises is variable and influenced by climatic conditions and sex. Physiological blood parameters are also influenced by many different factors, including sex, season, growth, and mating season (Erler, 2003;Holz, 2007;Goldberg et al, 2013;Scope et al, 2013;Sibeaux et al, 2016). In order to interpret these parameters, it is important to establish appropriate reference intervals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An additional difficulty in establishing reference intervals is obtaining reasonable numbers of representative samples (Scope et al, 2013). Decisions on which parameters to include in studies on blood biochemistries in tortoises have also differed depending on the study, and only limited numbers of blood parameters have been evaluated in some cases (Sibeaux et al, 2016). The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of sex and season on biochemical blood parameters and to establish new reference intervals that include these variables.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Plasma Chemistry Parameters in Hermann's Tortoises (Testudo hermanni) Influenced by Season and Sex

Leineweber

Stöhr

Öfner³

et al. 2019

Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery

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The metabolism of tortoises is influenced by many factors, which in turn also influences the clinical chemistry parameters in these animals. There are currently limited data available on species, sex, and season-specific reference intervals. The goal of this study was to establish new reference intervals for adult Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni), which include variations according to season and sex. Lithium heparinized blood samples from 256 Hermann's tortoises were collected and biochemistry parameters (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], glutamate-dehydrogenase [GLDH], alanine-aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate-aminotransferase [AST], bile acids [BA], creatine kinase [CK], total protein [TP], albumin [Alb], urea, uric acid [UA], inorganic phosphorus [P], total calcium [Ca], sodium [Na], and potassium [K]) were measured from May 2016 to October 2017. The results showed many variations depending on sex and season. Male Hermann's tortoises had higher ALT, BA, CK, and UA concentrations, and females had higher Ca concentrations. The concentrations of BA, UA, GLDH, TP, and Alb decreased during the course of the year, and ALT increased over time in males. The present study demonstrates that it is important to establish specific reference intervals for each species that include seasonal and sex specific variations in order to facilitate correct interpretation of blood results.

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Sex-specific ecophysiological responses to environmental fluctuations of free-ranging Hermann's tortoises: implication for conservation

Cited by 15 publications

References 80 publications

Morphological Divergence of Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) in Albania

Morphological Divergence of Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) in Albania

Morphological Divergence of Hermann’s Tortoise (<em>Testudo hermanni boettgeri</em>) in Albania

Changes in Plasma Chemistry Parameters in Hermann's Tortoises (Testudo hermanni) Influenced by Season and Sex

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