Arid
DOI10.1670/08-306R1.1
Seasonal and Site Variation in Angulate Tortoise Diet and Activity
Joshua, Quinton I.; Hofmeyr, Margaretha D.; Henen, Brian T.
通讯作者Hofmeyr, Margaretha D.
来源期刊JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
ISSN0022-1511
EISSN1937-2418
出版年2010
卷号44期号:1页码:124-134
英文摘要

We do not know whether the availability of food plants is the primary factor enabling Angulate Tortoises to inhabit a wide variety of habitats along the southern and western coasts of South Africa. Here we used focal observations to study the diet of Angulate Tortoises over four seasons at two distinct sites in the southwestern Cape, the West Coast National Park (WCNP), and Dassen Island (DI). Seasonal fluctuations in temperature, rainfall, and food plant availability influenced the activity pattern and feeding activity of Angulate Tortoises. Tortoises were more active during the wet season, winter and spring, than during the dry season, summer and autumn. Diet differed between sites and among seasons. WCNP tortoises had a diverse diet of grasses, shrubs, herbs, and succulents, whereas DI tortoises ate mostly herbaceous plants. DI tortoises had few dietary choices available compared to choices available to WCNP tortoises. At both sites, herbs and seedlings were important diet components during the wet season. The dry season diet consisted largely of dry plant material. Angulate Tortoises on DI supplemented their intake of dry plant material with rabbit feces, which comprised more than 27% of the diet in summer and autumn. The opportunistic feeding behavior of Angulate Tortoises helps explain their distribution among a wide variety of habitats. Their persistence in disturbed areas is probably determined by the abundance of easily digestible, herbaceous plants during the wet season and the tortoises’ low activity and low metabolic demands during unfavorable periods.


类型Article
语种英语
国家South Africa
收录类别SCI-E
WOS记录号WOS:000275489700013
WOS关键词SOUTH-AFRICA ; GOPHERUS-AGASSIZII ; ACTIVITY PATTERNS ; DESERT TORTOISES ; ALDABRA-ATOLL ; GEOCHELONE-PARDALIS ; CHERSINA-ANGULATA ; LEOPARD TORTOISES ; GIANT TORTOISES ; DASSEN ISLAND
WOS类目Zoology
WOS研究方向Zoology
资源类型期刊论文
条目标识符http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/165279
作者单位Univ Western Cape, Dept Biodivers & Conservat Biol, ZA-7535 Bellville, South Africa
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GB/T 7714
Joshua, Quinton I.,Hofmeyr, Margaretha D.,Henen, Brian T.. Seasonal and Site Variation in Angulate Tortoise Diet and Activity[J],2010,44(1):124-134.
APA Joshua, Quinton I.,Hofmeyr, Margaretha D.,&Henen, Brian T..(2010).Seasonal and Site Variation in Angulate Tortoise Diet and Activity.JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY,44(1),124-134.
MLA Joshua, Quinton I.,et al."Seasonal and Site Variation in Angulate Tortoise Diet and Activity".JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 44.1(2010):124-134.
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