Dragana M. STOJADINOVIC, Djuradj D. MILOSEVIC, Katarina S. SRETIC, Milica P. CVETKOVIC, Tatjana R. JOVANOVIC, Bogdan Lj. JOVANOVIC, Jelka M. CRNOBRNJA-ISAILOVIC

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

We analyzed variation in the distribution of eastern Hermann s tortoise ( Testudo hermanni boettgeri ) in a complex landscapeconsisting of both natural and human-altered habitats in a temperate climate region in Serbia. Our results indicated nonrandomdistribution 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, orgardens). The results suggested that these tortoises preferred some particular habitats more than others when performing specificactivities. They also did not exhibit the same distribution pattern among habitats over consequent years. In other words, they were notrandomly distributed among habitat types with regard to specific activity or year. The information on preferences in complex habitatsystems is important for the conservation management of eastern Hermann s tortoise and should be considered when planning activitiesrelated to sustainable development within the region of study.

PDF

___

Anadón JD, Giménez A, Martínez M, Palazón JA, Esteve MA (2007). Assessing changes in habitat quality due to land use changes in the spur-thighed tortoise Testudo graeca using hierarchical predictive habitat models. Diversity Distrib 13: 324-331.
Berardo F, Carranza ML, Frate L, Stanisci A, Loy A (2015). Seasonal habitat preference by the flagship species Testudo hermanni : implications for the conservation of coastal dunes. C R Biol 338: 343-350.
Celse J, Catard A, Caron S, Ballouard JM, Gagno S, Jardé N, Cheylan M, Astruc G, Croquet V, Bosc M et al. (2014). Management Guide of Populations and Habitats of the Hermanns Tortoise. LIFE 08 NAT/F/000475. Aix-en-Provence, France: ARPE PACA.
Cohen J (1977). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 10th ed. New York, NY, USA: Academic Press.
Corti C, Bassu L, Biaggini M, Bressi N, Capula M, Di Cerbo AR, Di Francesco N, Di Tizio L, Fiacchini D, Lo Cascio P et al. (2013). Aggiornamento sulla distribuzione italiana delle testuggini terrestrial appartenenti al genere Testudo . In: Di Tizio L, Cameli A., Di Francesco N, editors. Atti II Congresso Societas Herpetologica Italica Abruzzo e Molise. Molise, Italy: SHI, pp. 153-170 (in Italian).
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.
Couturier T, Besnard A, Bertolero A, Bosc V, Astruc G, Cheylan M (2014). Factors determining abundance and occurrence of Hermanns tortoise Testudo hermanni in France and Spain: fire regimes and landscape changes as the main drivers. Biol Conserv 170: 177-187.
Crnobrnja-Isailović J, Ajtić R, Tomović Lj (2007). Activity patterns of the sand viper ( Vipera ammodytes ) from the central Balkans. Amphibia-Reptilia 28: 582-589.
Cruce M, Răducan I (1976). Reproducerea la broascatestoasă de uscat ( Testudo hermanni hermanni G.). Revue Roumaine de Biologie Serie Biologie Animale 28: 175-180 (in Romanian).
Fernández-Chacón A, Bertolero A, Amengual A, Tavecchia G, Homar V, Oro D (2011). Spatial heterogeneity in the effects of climate change on the population dynamics of a Mediterranean tortoise. Glob Change Biol 17: 3075-3088.
Fritz U, Auer M, Bertolero A, Cheylan M, Fatizzo T, Hundsdörfer AK, Martín Sampayo M, Pretus JL, iroký P, Wink M (2006). A rangewide phylogeography of Hermanns tortoise, Testudo hermanni (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae): Implications for taxonomy. Zool Scr 35: 531-543.
Gasc JP, Cabela A, Crnobrnja-Isailović J, Dolmen D, Grossenbacher K, Haffner P, Lescure J, Martens H, Martínez-Rica JP, Maurin H et al., editors. (1997). Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe.Collection Patrimoines Naturels 29th edition. Paris, France: Societas Europaea Herpetologica & Muséum National dHistoire Naturelle & Service du Patrimoine Naturel.
Hailey A, Pulford E, Stubbs D (1984). Summer activity pattern of Testudo hermanni Gmelin in Greece and France. Amphibia- Reptilia 5: 69-78.
Haxhiu I (1995). Results of studies on the chelonians of Albania. Chelonian Conserv Bi 1: 324-326.
Huot-Daubremont C, Grenot C (1997). Rythmes dactivité de la tortue dHermann ( Testudo hermanni hermanni ) dans le massif des Maures (Var). Revue dÉcologie (Terre et Vie) 52: 331-344 (in French).
Ljubisavljević K, Džukić G, Kalezić M (2011). The commercial export of land tortoises ( Testudo spp.) from the territory of the former Yugoslavia: a historical review and the impact of overharvesting on wild populations. North-West J Zool 7: 250- 260.
Ljubisavljević K, Džukić G, Vukov TD, Kalezić ML (2014). Distribution patterns of Hermanns Tortoise Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789, in the region of former Yugoslavia. Herpetozoa 26: 125-138.
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. Biodivers Conserv 10: 1131-1140.
Mazzotti S, Pisapia A, Fasola M (2002). Activity and home range of Testudo hermanni in Northern Italy. Amphibia-Reptilia 23: 305-312.
Meek R (1988). The thermal ecology of Hermanns tortoise ( Testudo hermanni ) in summer and autumn in Yugoslavia. J Zool 215: 99-111.
Pough FH, Andrews RM, Cadle JE, Crump ML, Savitzky AL, Wells KD (2004). Herpetology. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Ranđelović N, Ranđelović V, Zlatković B (1996). Flora and vegetation of natural resources within area of Ni. In: Vlajković M, editor. The City in EcologyEcology in the City Ni. 10th ed. Ni, Serbia: City Directorate for Environmental Protection, pp. 110-120.
Rozylowicz L, Dobre M (2010). Assessment of threatened status of Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovics, 1889 (Reptilia: Testudines: Testudinidae) population from Romania. North- West J Zool 6: 190-202.
Rozylowicz L, Popescu VD (2013). Habitat selection and movement ecology of eastern Hermanns tortoises in a rural Romanian landscape. Eur J Wildl Res 59: 47-55.
Rugiero L, Luiselli 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.
Sillero N, Campos J, Bonardi A, Corti C, Creemers R, Crochet PA, Crnobrnja-Isailović J, Denoël M, Ficetola GF, Gonçalves J et al. (2014). Updated distribution and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles of Europe. Amphibia-Reptilia 35: 1-31.
Stojadinović D, Miloević DJ, Crnobrnja-Isailović J (2013). Righting time versus shell size and shape dimorphism in adult Hermanns tortoises: field observations meet theoretical predictions. Anim Biol 63: 381-96.
Swingland IR, Klemens MW, editors (1989). The Conservation Biology of Tortoises. Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) No. 5. Broadview, IL: Kelvyn Press, Inc.
Turnek BAJ (2006). The village Kunovica in the context of sustainable development. Arch Civ Eng 4: 25-39.
Türkozan O, Kiremit F, Taşkavak E, Olgun K (2005). Status, distribution and population structure of land tortoises in European Turkey and Southern Anatolia. Russian Journal of Herpetology 12: 209-216.
Türkozan O, Kiremit F (2007). Testudo trade in Turkey. Appl Herpetol 4: 31-37.
van Dijk PP, Corti C, Mellado VP, Cheylan M (2004). Testudo hermanni . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. e.T21648A9306057. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.
Willemsen RE (1990). The Status of Testudo hermanni in Southern Tuscany (Province Grosseto and Livorno). Report to WWF Tuscany. Florence, Italy: WWF.
Willemsen RE (1991). Differences in thermoregulation between Testudo hermanni and Testudo marginata and their ecological significance. Herpetol J 1: 559-567.
Wright J, Steer E, Hailey A (1987). Habitat separation in tortoises and the consequences for thermo regulation and activity. Can J Zool 66: 1537-1544.