The thermal ecology of Hermann's tortoise <i>(Testudo hermanni)</i> in summer and autumn in Yugoslavia

Meek, Roger

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb04887.x

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The lower summer activity of the other populations can be related to high environmental temperatures (Cheylan, 1981;Hailey et al, 1984;Swingland and Stubbs, 1985;Meek, 1988;Huot-Daubremont , 1996). On the other hand, the relatively northern location, and the peculiar wooded habitat of our study area, mitigate summer temperatures and presumably determine the unimodal activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…This larger size may be favorable in the relatively colder climate of our study area (Gregory, 1982). The difference in body size between females and males may be related to their differences in body temperature and in seasonal activity (Meek, 1988;Diaz-Paniagua, 1995). Females, bigger than males, require more time for warming but retain temperature longer, and this may delay the onset, and extend the end, of their daily activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Several studies have shown that thermal relations strongly in uence the behavior and ecology of Hermann's tortoise Testudo hermanni Meek, 1984Meek, , 1988Pulford et al, 1984;Chelazzi and Calzolai, 1986;Panagiota and Valakos, 1992;Carretero et al, 1995;Huot-Daubremont et al, 1996;Huot-Daubremont and Grenot, 1997;Mazzotti and Vallini, 1999). Long-term research on the movement patterns and homing behaviour of Hermann's tortoise (Chelazzi and Francisci, 1979) have shown that these tortoises stay within a stable home range, whose size varies seasonally (Calzolai and Chelazzi, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Activity and home range of Testudo hermanni in Northern Italy

Fasola¹,

Mazzotti²,

Pisapia³

2002

Amphib Reptilia

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We describe the behavioral adaptations of a population of Hermann's tortoise to the climate of a northern sector of its range, and to a wooded biotope that is uncommon for the species. The activity, the home range, and the thermal relations along the daily and the yearly cycle are described. In contrast to other populations that have bimodal activity peaking in spring and in autumn, the tortoises in our study area had unimodal seasonal activity that can be related to lower summer temperatures. Home range size, 7.4 ha for females and 4.6 ha for males in our study area, was from three to seven times larger than that of all other populations . The large home range, and the low population density of the tortoises in our study area, may be due to food scarcity in the wooded habitat.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Activity and home range of Testudo hermanni in Northern Italy

Fasola¹,

Mazzotti²,

Pisapia³

2002

Amphib Reptilia

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“…Hermann's tortoise has a regular activity break in winter, which is shorter in the semiarid Mediterranean part of the distribution area (October/November to February/ March) (Willemsen, 1991;Huot-Daubremont and Grenot, 1997) than in more temperate climate areas (October to March/April) (Haxhiu, 1995;Mazzotti et al, 2002). In summer, Hermann's tortoises in the Mediterranean area have bimodal daily activity while in the temperate region they tend to be active throughout the day (Cruce and Răducan, 1976;Hailey et al, 1984;Meek, 1988), except in extremely high daily temperatures (Willemsen, 1990; also Stojadinović and Crnobrnja-Isailović's unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activity patterns and habitat preference of eastern Hermann’s tortoise(Testudo hermanni boettgeri) in Serbia

Stojadinović¹,

Milošević²,

Sretić³

et al. 2017

Turk J Zool

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We analyzed variation in the distribution of eastern Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) in a complex landscape consisting of both natural and human-altered habitats in a temperate climate region in Serbia. Our results indicated nonrandom distribution of tortoises within different habitat types with large and medium effect size for year and activity pattern, respectively. Additionally, the tortoises expressed relatively weak preference for habitats modified by human activity (e.g., vineyards, orchards, or gardens). The results suggested that these tortoises preferred some particular habitats more than others when performing specific activities. They also did not exhibit the same distribution pattern among habitats over consequent years. In other words, they were not randomly distributed among habitat types with regard to specific activity or year. The information on preferences in complex habitat systems is important for the conservation management of eastern Hermann's tortoise and should be considered when planning activities related to sustainable development within the region of study.

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“…Resting and thermoregulation sites can be extremely important, because maintaining high body temperatures can be important to digestion, immune function, mating activity, etc. (Chelazzi and Calzolai, 1986;Meek, 1988;Huot Daubremont et al, 1996). Testudo hermanni is endemic to southern Europe, with T. hermanni boettgeri in the eastern part of the range and T. h. hermanni in the west, including scattered populations in Italy (Mazzotti, 2006).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The turtle is in the details: microhabitat choice by Testudo hermanni is based on microscale plant distribution

Vecchio

Burke

Rugiero³

et al. 2011

Animal Biol

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Although research on habitat use and habitat selection is essential for understanding population ecology and behavior, most such zoological studies have used only general habitat categories describing main habitat features instead of using modern plant ecological approaches. Here, we analyze Testudo hermanni microhabitat use at a coastal Mediterranean site in central Italy by modeling tortoise presence/absence at three spatial scales, using a logistic regression design and quantitative vegetation and plant community analysis to reveal correlates of tortoise habitat use on a fine scale. Our analyses showed that only a few plant species among the many present, and these on a very small spatial scale, are important determinants of tortoise presence and site selection. We also find that tortoises chose a paradoxical combination of high levels of bare soil and high total vegetation cover. This suggests that these tortoises are selecting small patches of habitat in a matrix of less desirable habitat. Our findings also have important implications for habitat management, in that increasing the number of habitat patches containing the few significant plants is likely to be desirable, whereas increasing the size of such patches is probably less relevant.

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The thermal ecology of Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) in summer and autumn in Yugoslavia

Cited by 23 publications

References 10 publications

Activity and home range of Testudo hermanni in Northern Italy

Activity and home range of Testudo hermanni in Northern Italy

Activity patterns and habitat preference of eastern Hermann’s tortoise(Testudo hermanni boettgeri) in Serbia

The turtle is in the details: microhabitat choice by Testudo hermanni is based on microscale plant distribution

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