Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Skills or strength—how tortoises cope with dense vegetation?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
acta ethologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dense vegetation cover undoubtedly offers certain advantages for small and slow-moving animals, but its disadvantages concerning some aspects of spatial ecology (e.g. movements) were neglected in previous studies. Tortoises could get stuck in vegetation by protuberant part of the shell and thus succumb to overheating, dehydration or predators. To examine how vegetation cover shapes behavioural responses of ‘trapped’ tortoises, we tested adults of six populations from habitats with contrasting vegetation cover. The tortoises were fitted with a non-stretchable rope, representing a piece of vegetation, stuck on the protruding front part of the plastron. Results suggested the existence of two distinct releasing techniques. First, and only successful in this study, is frequent changing of the movement direction, with a minimal pulling force, until the obstacle detached. The other involved the maximal pulling force aimed at ripping out the constraint. Tortoises from shrub habitats had more releasing success, used less pulling force and needed shorter time period to release, contrary to tortoises from herbaceous habitats. Although sexes showed similar releasing success, females obtained lower number of direction changes and higher yanking force compared to males, suggesting slightly different liberating strategies between the sexes. For immobilized tortoises without suitable shelter from overheating and dehydration, appropriate behavioural response could be vital, especially during drought years, due to increased physiological stresses. Variability of behavioural patterns among tortoise populations, described in this study, could have an adaptive significance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bešić Lj (1978) Flora i Vegetacija Bjelopavlićke ravnice u Crnoj Gori. – Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb.

  • Bonnet X, Lagarde F, Henen BT, Corbini J, Nagy KA, Naulleau G, Balhoul K, Chastel O, Legrand A, Cambag R (2001) Sexual dimorphism in steppe tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii): influence of the environment and sexual selection on body shape and mobility. Biol J Linn Soc 72:357–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro J, Zamora R, Hodar JA, Gomez JM, Gomez-Aparicio L (2004) Benefits of using shrubs as nurse plants for reforestation in Mediterranean mountains: a 4-year study. Restor Ecol 12:352–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheylan M (1981) Biologie et ecologie de la tortue d’Hermann. Memoires Travailles EPHE 13:1–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Corti C, Zuffi MAL (2003) Aspects of population ecology of Testudo hermanni hermanni from Asinara Island, NW Sardinia (Italy, western Mediterranean sea): preliminary data. Amphibia-Reptilia 24:441–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Vecchio S, Burke RL, Rugiero L, Capula M, Luiselli L (2011) The turtle is in the details: microhabitat choice by Testudo hermanni is based on microscale plant distribution. Anim Biol 61:249–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewitt TJ, Sih A, Wilson DS (1998) Costs and limits of phenotypic plasticity. Trends Ecol Evol 13:77–81

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Djordjević S, Djurakić M, Golubović A, Ajtić R, Tomović L, Bonnet X (2011) Sexual body size and body shape dimorphism of Testudo hermanni in central and eastern Serbia. Amphibia-Reptilia 32:445–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Em H (1965) Šumske zajednice četinara u NR Makedoniji. Biološki Glasnik Zagreb 15:1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Filippi E, Rugiero L, Capula M, Burke RL, Luiselli L (2010) Population and thermal ecology of Testudo hermanni hermanni in the Tolfa mountains of central Italy. Chelonian Conserv Bi 9:54–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritz U, Auer M, Bertolero A, Cheylan M, Fattizzo T, Hundsdörfer AK, Sampayo MM, Pretus JL, Široký P, Wink M (2006) A rangewide phylogeography of Hermann’s tortoise, Testudo hermanni (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae): implications for taxonomy. Zool Scr 35:531–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golubović A, Arsovski D, Ajtić R, Tomović L, Bonnet X (2013) Moving in the real world: tortoises take the plunge to cross steep steps. Biol J Linn Soc 108:719–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hailey A (2000) Assessing body mass condition in the tortoise Testudo hermanni. Herpetol J 10:57–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagarde F, Louzizi T, Slimani T, El Mouden H, Ben Kaddour K, Moulherat S, Bonnet X (2012) Bushes protect tortoises from lethal overheating in arid areas of Morocco. Environ Conserv 39:172–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longepierre S, Hailey A, Grenot C (2001) Home range area in the tortoise Testudo hermanni in relation to habitat complexity: implications for conservation of biodiversity. Bodivers Conserv 10:1131–1140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longshore KM, Jaeger JR, Sappington JM (2003) Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) survival at two eastern Mojave Desert sites: death by short-term drought? J Herpetol 37:169–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loy A, Cianfrani C (2009) The ecology of Eurotestudo h. hermanni in a mesic area of southern Italy: first evidence of sperm storage. Ethol Ecol Evol 22:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luiselli L, Rugiero L (2006) Ecological modelling of habitat use and the annual activity patterns in an urban population of the tortoise, Testudo hermanni. Ital J Zool 73:219–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luiselli L, Rugiero L, Celletti S, Papi R, Gracceva G, Stacchiotti M, Mancini F, Berretta G, Berretta L, Bombara G, Fiaschetti R, Lucioli E, Trionfetti MG, Ungaro A (2009) Autumnal home range in radio-tracked tortoises (Testudo hermanni) from a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. Revue d’Ecologie (Terre et Vie) 64:73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzotti S, Pisapia A, Fasola M (2002) Activity and home range of Testudo hermanni in northern Italy. Amphibia-Reptilia 23:305–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meek R (1984) Thermoregulatory behaviour in a population of Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) in southern Yugoslavia. Brit J Herpetol 6:387–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemela PT, Vainikka A, Forsman JT, Loukola OJ, Kortet R (2013) How does variation in the environment and individual cognition explain the existence of consistent behavioral differences? Ecology and Evolution 3:457–464

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pausas JG, Llovet J, Rodrigo A, Vallejo R (2008) Are wildfires a disaster in the Mediterranean basin?—a review. Int J Wildland Fire 17:713–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson CC (1994) Different rates and causes of high mortality in two populations of the threatened desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii. Biol Conserv 70:101–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popgeorgiev G (2008) The effects of a large-scale fire on the demographic structure of a population of Hermann’s (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovics, 1889) and Spur-thighed (Testudo graeca ibera Pallas, 1814) tortoises in Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Bulgaria. Historia naturalis bulgarica 19:115–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozylowicz L, Popescu DV (2012) Habitat selection and movement ecology of eastern Hermann’s tortoises in a rural Romanian landscape. Eur J Wildl Res 59:47–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sih A (1992) Forager uncertainty and the balancing of antipredator and feeding needs. Am Nat 139:1052–1069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stubbs D (1981) Wildlife of the Alyki heaths, 1. Destruction by fire and plough. Animals 8:10–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Swingland IR, Frazier JG (1979) The conflict between feeding and overheating in Aldabran giant tortoise. In: Amlaner CJ, MacDonald DW (eds) A handbook of Biotelemetry and Radio-tracking. Pergamon Press, Oxford & New York, pp 611–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Türkozan O, Kiremit F, Taşkavak E, Olgun K (2005) Status, distribution, and population structure of land tortoises in Еuropean Тhrace and northwestern Аnatolia. Russ J Herp 12:187–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner FB, Medica PA, Lyons CL (1984) Reproduction and survival of the desert tortoise (Scaptochelys agassizii) in Ivanpah Valley, California. Copeia 1984:811–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vetter H (2006) Hermann’s tortoise, Boettger’s and Dalmatian tortoises. – Chelonian Library, Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.

  • Willemsen RE, Hailey A (2003) Sexual dimorphism of body size and shell shape in European tortoises. J Zool 260:353–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the members of the Serbian Herpetological Society ‘Milutin Radovanović’ and biology students from Serbia and Macedonia for their huge help in the field. Many thanks to Fifi and Xavier Bonnet for moral supports and provided equipment for the study. We are grateful to Gordan Kurbalija and his family for support. This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (grant no. 173043).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Ana Golubović, Sonja Djordjević & Ljiljana Tomović

  2. Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Marko Andjelković & Ljiljana Tomović

  3. Macedonian Ecological Society—Herpetology group, Bulevar ‘Kuzman Josifovski-Pitu’, 1000, Skopje, Macedonia

    Dragan Arsovski

  4. Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro, Džordža Vašingtona bb, 81101, Podgorica, Montenegro

    Ana Vujović

  5. Municipality of Danilovgrad, Trg 9. decembra, 81410, Danilovgrad, Montenegro

    Vuk Iković

Authors
  1. Ana Golubović
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marko Andjelković
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dragan Arsovski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ana Vujović
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vuk Iković
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sonja Djordjević
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ljiljana Tomović
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Golubović.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Golubović, A., Andjelković, M., Arsovski, D. et al. Skills or strength—how tortoises cope with dense vegetation?. acta ethol 17, 141–147 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-013-0171-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-013-0171-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation