干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): High-Level Inactivity Despite Favorable Environmental Conditions in the Rock-Dwelling Dwarf Tortoise Chersobius boulengeri

Arid

DOI	10.1655/Herpetologica-D-20-00043.1
	High-Level Inactivity Despite Favorable Environmental Conditions in the Rock-Dwelling Dwarf Tortoise Chersobius boulengeri
	Loehr, Victor J. T.; Keswick, Toby; Reijnders, Merle A. D. E.; Zweers, Iris M.
通讯作者	Loehr, VJT (corresponding author), Dwarf Tortoise Conservat, Kwikstaartpad 1, NL-3403 ZH Ijsselstein, Netherlands.
来源期刊	HERPETOLOGICA
ISSN	0018-0831
EISSN	1938-5099
出版年	2021
卷号	77 期号:3 页码:232-238
英文摘要	In arid regions with summer rainfall, herbivorous reptiles are able to acquire water and fresh food in the presence of high environmental temperatures that can promote ectotherm activity. However, extremely high temperatures and below average rainfall may also limit foraging opportunities due to risks of overheating and predation while gathering scarce food. Karoo Dwarf Tortoises (Chersobius boulengeri) inhabit an arid region in South Africa where most rains fall around austral summer (October-May). We used focal-animal observations and instantaneous recording to assess their behavioral patterns. Despite relatively high rainfall and available plant growth, Karoo Dwarf Tortoises spent approximately 80-90% of their time in retreats. Whereas activity (behavior outside retreats) in the spring was unrelated to time of the day, possibly due to moderate ambient temperatures, activity in the summer was restricted to the afternoon and evening, when tortoises walked and scanned for food and retreats, and fed only 11 min/d on average. In summer, body temperature of tortoises within retreats was positively associated with retreat temperatures, but tortoises appeared to thermoregulate using bodily postures and possibly other means. We suggest that Karoo Dwarf Tortoises mitigate predation risks by maintaining a low level of activity and thermoregulating within retreats. The short feeding time of Karoo Dwarf Tortoises compared to other tortoise taxa may result in slow growth and reproductive rates, which might in turn affect population resilience and conservation needs of this endangered species.
英文关键词	Behavior Ecology Honwpus Rain Thermobiology Turtle Weather
类型	Article
语种	英语
收录类别	SCI-E
WOS记录号	WOS:000693103300004
WOS关键词	RETREAT-SITE SELECTION ; RESPIRATORY-TRACT DISEASE ; ACTIVITY PATTERNS ; CHERSINA-ANGULATA ; SMALLEST TORTOISE ; DASSEN ISLAND ; TIME BUDGETS ; HOT ROCKS ; BODY-SIZE ; BEHAVIOR
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/2XILL650/363511
作者单位	[Loehr, Victor J. T.; Keswick, Toby] Dwarf Tortoise Conservat, Kwikstaartpad 1, NL-3403 ZH Ijsselstein, Netherlands; [Reijnders, Merle A. D. E.; Zweers, Iris M.] Univ Utrecht, Fac Vet Med, Yalelaan 1, NL-3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Loehr, Victor J. T.,Keswick, Toby,Reijnders, Merle A. D. E.,et al. High-Level Inactivity Despite Favorable Environmental Conditions in the Rock-Dwelling Dwarf Tortoise Chersobius boulengeri[J],2021,77(3):232-238.
APA	Loehr, Victor J. T.,Keswick, Toby,Reijnders, Merle A. D. E.,&Zweers, Iris M..(2021).High-Level Inactivity Despite Favorable Environmental Conditions in the Rock-Dwelling Dwarf Tortoise Chersobius boulengeri.HERPETOLOGICA,77(3),232-238.
MLA	Loehr, Victor J. T.,et al."High-Level Inactivity Despite Favorable Environmental Conditions in the Rock-Dwelling Dwarf Tortoise Chersobius boulengeri".HERPETOLOGICA 77.3(2021):232-238.