Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1750
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dc.contributor.authorGolubović, Anaen_US
dc.contributor.authorAnđelković, Markoen_US
dc.contributor.authorArsovski, Draganen_US
dc.contributor.authorBonnet, Xavieren_US
dc.contributor.authorTomović, Ljiljanaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-10-14T13:50:19Z-
dc.date.available2019-10-14T13:50:19Z-
dc.date.issued2017-06-01-
dc.identifier.issn0340-5443-
dc.identifier.urihttps://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1750-
dc.description.abstract© 2017, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Abstract: Physical limits of speed performances impose strong selective pressures on animals, influencing important functions such as predator avoidance and foraging success. Armoured herbivorous species such as tortoises represent a peculiar case: features that optimise encounter rate during reproduction, the ability to reach favourable sites for thermoregulation and resting, foraging or nesting sites may be more important than running speed. To explore this issue, we measured three characteristics related to travelling ability but that are independent of running speed: (1) muscular strength, (2) time needed for overturning and (3) jumping from a high step as proxies of the ability to overcome various obstacles. Additionally, reaction times in tortoises placed in a normal or overturned position were measured as a proxy of antipredator response. More than 400 adult Hermann’s tortoises from six populations were tested in the field during two seasons. Measures of travelling ability and antipredator response varied markedly among populations, and thus with environmental characteristics such as habitat type, terrain ruggedness and presence of predators. Tortoises from rugged and hot habitats (e.g. Mediterranean macchia) were the most successful and the fastest to accomplish the tests. Overturned tortoises were more reluctant to start moving compared to those in normal position, but this effect was absent in the two localities free from predators. Sex and season had limited effect on the measured performances. Overall, locomotor features essentially varied with environmental constraints. Future environmental studies should explore whether the observed differences among populations are linked to genetic adaptation or phenotypic plasticity. Significance statement: Locomotor performances crucially influence habitat use, foraging and reproductive success, thus directly affecting individual fitness. Although running speed is often considered as a main indicator of agility, in armoured terrestrial vertebrates some other agility components might be more important. Heavy, rigid armour imposes trade-off between protection of soft body parts and locomotor performances and consequently habitat use. This study compiles three tests of locomotor performance which might be important for overcoming various obstacles present in mosaic habitats of tortoises. Testing adult Hermann’s tortoises from six populations with various habitat characteristics, we found significant inter-population differences. The ability of tortoises to complete the tests positively correlates with climatic conditions and topography of their habitats. Additionally, presence of predators in the habitats dramatically affects tortoise’s antipredator behaviour. Measured locomotor performances and antipredator behaviour showed surprisingly low level of sexual dimorphism.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipMinistry of Education, Sciences and Technological Developmenten_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.relationDiversity of the amphibians and reptiles on the Balkan Peninsula: evolutionary and conservation aspectsen_US
dc.relation.ispartofBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiologyen_US
dc.subjectAntipredator behaviouren_US
dc.subjectHermann’s tortoiseen_US
dc.subjectJumpingen_US
dc.subjectMuscular strengthen_US
dc.subjectRightingen_US
dc.subjectTestudo hermannien_US
dc.titleLocomotor performances reflect habitat constraints in an armoured speciesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s00265-017-2318-0-
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-85019368458-
dc.identifier.urlhttps://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85019368458-
item.languageiso639-1en-
item.cerifentitytypePublications-
item.openairetypeArticle-
item.fulltextNo Fulltext-
item.grantfulltextnone-
item.openairecristypehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_18cf-
crisitem.author.deptChair of Morphology, Systematics and Phylogeny of Animals-
crisitem.author.deptChair of Morphology, Systematics and Phylogeny of Animals-
crisitem.author.orcid0000-0003-2155-5040-
crisitem.author.orcid0000-0002-5864-8382-
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