Tropentag, September 17 - 19, 2013 in Stuttgart-Hohenheim "Agricultural development within the rural-urban continuum"

Thermoregulation of Radiated Tortoises in an Altered Landscape in Madagascar

¹University of Antananarivo, Dept. of Zoology, Madagascar
²University of Hamburg, Biocenter Grindel, Germany

Abstract

The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) is an endemic species of southern Madagascar. It is classified as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Forest degradation, deforestation and subsequent livestock grazing or agriculture result in an increase of ambient temperature (Ta) in the species' native habitats. Ambaro, a degraded zone located at the North-eastern border of Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, was selected as a study site to understand the responses of tortoises to thermal stress imposed by changes in habitat characteristics due to changes in land use management. We studied the contributions of alteration in daily activity, behaviour and microhabitat utilisation for the regulation of body temperatures (Tb) in A. radiata in relation to changes of Ta. Our results showed a bimodal daily activity pattern of tortoises. The morning activity was characterised by frequent changes of burrows, while the afternoon activity was related to searching food. Throughout the day the tortoises maintained relatively stable Tb. Thus, animals limited their activity time and remained inactive in their refuges most time of the day. The tortoises preferred partially shaded microhabitats with a substrate covered by leaf litter and thus thermoregulated so that Tb stayed consistently below Ta, especially during the hot midday conditions. Since the rigid thermoregulatory behaviour suggests a vital role of Tb for proper maintenance, we suggest that conservation of the intact spiny forest ecosystem is important for the reproduction and survival of the species in the long run.
The study has been supported by the BMBF Sustainable Land Management "SuLaMa".

Keywords: Astrochelys radiata, body temperature, Madagascar, radiated tortoise, spiny forest, thermoregulation, Tsimanampetsotsa National Park

Contact Address: William Ronto, University of Antananarivo, Dept. of Zoology, Ankatso, Antananarivo, Madagascar, e-mail: ronto84mananjarayahoo.fr