Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/194
Title: Variations in righting behaviour across Hermann's tortoise populations
Authors: Golubović, Ana 
Bonnet, Xavier
Djordjević, Sonja 
Djurakic, Marko
Tomović, Ljiljana 
Keywords: Balkans;Righting behaviour;Sexual dimorphism;Testudo hermanni
Issue Date: 1-Sep-2013
Project: Diversity of the amphibians and reptiles on the Balkan Peninsula: evolutionary and conservation aspects 
Journal: Journal of Zoology
Abstract: 
In terrestrial animals with rigid protective structures, the ability to upright after being overturned can make the difference between life and death, especially in suboptimal thermal conditions or in the presence of predators. This trait is assumed to be under strong selection. Different factors can influence righting ability, body dimensions and body mass for instance. As these morphological traits diverge among populations, inter-population variability in righting ability is expected. Previous studies on tortoises were performed within single populations and they usually focused on juveniles raised in captivity, precluding an assessment of the inter-population variability in a natural (realistic) context. In the current study, we quantified the righting performance in four populations of free-ranging adult tortoises. We found strong differences in righting success among populations and between genders, suggesting possible adaptations to local conditions. For instance, the topography (e.g. slopes) of each study site varied markedly. On average, males were more successful in righting themselves than females. Body size did not influence righting performances in males, but larger females were less successful compared to smaller ones. The success in righting was positively correlated with carapace domedness (height) and short bridges.© 2013 The Zoological Society of London.
URI: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/194
ISSN: 0952-8369
DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12047
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