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The ecology of a Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo hermanni): Reproduction
Author(s) -
Swingland I. R.,
Stubbs D.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb03547.x
Subject(s) - biology , avian clutch size , reproduction , predation , ecology , nest (protein structural motif) , tortoise , zoology , mating , evening , seasonal breeder , sexual selection , biochemistry , physics , astronomy
A three‐year study on reproduction in wild populations of Testudo hermanni has shown that: ( a ) sexual activity occurs between March and October, except the nesting season (May and June), and is most frequent in August and September, ( b ) tortoises are promiscuous in their mating habits, there is no evidence of mate selection in relation to size, ( c ) nest site selection is correlated to ground temperature and nesting itself mainly occurs in the early evening before dark, when the ground temperature characteristics are most indicative of a specific site's relative temperature, ( d ) incubation takes about three months and is probably temperature dependent, ( e ) most nests are preyed upon by mammalian predators within a few days after laying (> 90% being destroyed), the main cue being the smell of the eggs, ( f ) average clutch size in Greece is higher than in France, while mean egg weight in France is higher than in Greece, and there is no strong relationship between body size or weight and egg or clutch weight in either country, ( g ) in contrast to other studies, there is no apparent correlation between rainfall and reproduction parameters, ( h ) some females nest in successive years, and more than once in a year, with a laying interval of 10–20 days, ( i ) mean size of sexually active individuals is not significantly different from the mean size of adults, although nesting females are significantly bigger; the minimum size for sexually active males is about 120 mm and for females 130 mm. The discussion examines these observations in an evolutionary context.