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1. Dwarf vipers on a small island: body size, diet and fecundity correlates

Author

Ljiljana Tomović, Marko Anđelković, Ana Golubović, Dragan Arsovski, Rastko Ajtić, Bogoljub Sterijovski, Sonja Nikolić, Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović, Margareta Lakušić, and Xavier Bonnet

Subjects
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Abstract

Insular populations offer excellent opportunities to study the factors that influence phenotypes. We observed island dwarfism in a widespread snake, the nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes). Island vipers were ~20% smaller than mainland individuals. They also produced fewer and smaller offspring. In snakes, food availability has a positive influence on body size, fecundity and offspring size. Consequently, low energy intake is a plausible explanation for insular dwarfism. The diet of island vipers was principally represented by lizards and centipedes, whereas the most profitable prey items (e.g. rodents) were regularly found in the stomach of mainland vipers. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals captured with a full stomach and good body condition were lower on the island compared with the mainland. Thus, island vipers were likely to be experiencing permanent energy restriction, with cascading effects on adult body size and reproductive output. Large prey promotes high relative jaw length in snakes. Island vipers displayed smaller relative jaw length compared with mainland populations, suggesting that plasticity played a role in insular dwarfism. But the difference in relative tail length between island and mainland populations, a trait not subjected to food-induced plasticity, indicates local adaptation. Both plasticity and adaptation might influence the phenotype of island vipers.

Published
2022

3. Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity

Author

Beth A. Reinke, Hugo Cayuela, Fredric J. Janzen, Jean-François Lemaître, Jean-Michel Gaillard, A. Michelle Lawing, John B. Iverson, Ditte G. Christiansen, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Gregorio Sánchez-Montes, Jorge Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, Francis L. Rose, Nicola Nelson, Susan Keall, Alain J. Crivelli, Theodoros Nazirides, Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth, Klaus Henle, Emiliano Mori, Gaëtan Guiller, Rebecca Homan, Anthony Olivier, Erin Muths, Blake R. Hossack, Xavier Bonnet, David S. Pilliod, Marieke Lettink, Tony Whitaker, Benedikt R. Schmidt, Michael G. Gardner, Marc Cheylan, Françoise Poitevin, Ana Golubović, Ljiljana Tomović, Dragan Arsovski, Richard A. Griffiths, Jan W. Arntzen, Jean-Pierre Baron, Jean-François Le Galliard, Thomas Tully, Luca Luiselli, Massimo Capula, Lorenzo Rugiero, Rebecca McCaffery, Lisa A. Eby, Venetia Briggs-Gonzalez, Frank Mazzotti, David Pearson, Brad A. Lambert, David M. Green, Nathalie Jreidini, Claudio Angelini, Graham Pyke, Jean-Marc Thirion, Pierre Joly, Jean-Paul Léna, Anton D. Tucker, Col Limpus, Pauline Priol, Aurélien Besnard, Pauline Bernard, Kristin Stanford, Richard King, Justin Garwood, Jaime Bosch, Franco L. Souza, Jaime Bertoluci, Shirley Famelli, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Kathleen Matthews, Sylvain Boitaud, Deanna H. Olson, Tim S. Jessop, Graeme R. Gillespie, Jean Clobert, Murielle Richard, Andrés Valenzuela-Sánchez, Gary M. Fellers, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Phillip G. Byrne, Thierry Frétey, Bernard Le Garff, Pauline Levionnois, John C. Maerz, Julian Pichenot, Kurtuluş Olgun, Nazan Üzüm, Aziz Avcı, Claude Miaud, Johan Elmberg, Gregory P. Brown, Richard Shine, Nathan F. Bendik, Lisa O’Donnell, Courtney L. Davis, Michael J. Lannoo, Rochelle M. Stiles, Robert M. Cox, Aaron M. Reedy, Daniel A. Warner, Eric Bonnaire, Kristine Grayson, Roberto Ramos-Targarona, Eyup Baskale, David Muñoz, John Measey, F. Andre de Villiers, Will Selman, Victor Ronget, Anne M. Bronikowski, David A. W. Miller, Northeastern Illinois University, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), Penn State System, Department of Ecology and Evolution [Lausanne], Université de Lausanne = University of Lausanne (UNIL), Iowa State University (ISU), W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), Michigan State University [East Lansing], Michigan State University System-Michigan State University System, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive - UMR 5558 (LBBE), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement (VAS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Texas A&M University [College Station], Earlham College, Partenaires INRAE, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Universität Zürich [Zürich] = University of Zurich (UZH), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales [Madrid] (MNCN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC), Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Department of Biological Sciences [Lubbock], Texas Tech University [Lubbock] (TTU), School of Biological Sciences [Wellington, New Zealand], Victoria University of Wellington, Tour du Valat, Research Institute for the conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands, Auteur indépendant, Department of Conservation Biology [UFZ Leipzig], Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung = Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems [CNR, Italy] (IRET), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Le Grand Momesson, Bouvron, France, Denison University, Fort Collins Science Center (FORT), US Geological Survey [Fort Collins], United States Geological Survey [Reston] (USGS)-United States Geological Survey [Reston] (USGS), University of Montana, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Info Fauna Karch 2000, Flinders University [Adelaide, Australia], Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM), University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Macedonian Ecological Society, University of Kent [Canterbury], Naturalis Biodiversity Center [Leiden], CEREEP-Ecotron Ile de France (UMS 3194), Département de Biologie - ENS Paris, École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris (iEES Paris ), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation [Rome, Italy], Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Université de Lomé [Togo], Museo Civico di Zoologia, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions [Australia], Parks and Wildlife Service of Northern Territory, Colorado State University [Fort Collins] (CSU), Redpath Museum, McGill University = Université McGill [Montréal, Canada], Kunming Institute of Botany [CAS] (KIB), Chinese Academy of Sciences [Beijing] (CAS), Macquarie University, Association Objectifs Biodiversités (OBIOS), Équipe 4 - Écophysiologie, Comportement, Conservation (E2C), Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), CSIRO, EcoSciences Precinct, StatiPOP, scientific consulting, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Université de Montpellier (UM), Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Ohio State University [Columbus] (OSU), Northern Illinois University, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Universidad de Oviedo [Oviedo], Department of Biology [Mato Grosso], Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz' (ESALQ), Universidade de São Paulo = University of São Paulo (USP), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT University), University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Naturhistorisches Museum [Bern], USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Deakin University [Waurn Ponds], Palmerston North Research Centre, Plant & Food Research, Station d'écologie théorique et expérimentale (SETE), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universidad Austral de Chile, ONG Ranita de Darwin, U.S Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, SO Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences [Wollongong], Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health [Wollongong], University of Wollongong [Australia]-University of Wollongong [Australia], Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES), Office national des forêts (ONF), University of Georgia [USA], Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Eco-éthologie (2C2A-CERFE), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA), Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi, University College of Kristianstad, Watershed Protection Department, Cornell Lab of Ornithology [New York], Cornell University [New York], Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University System, University of Virginia, Auburn University (AU), University of Richmond, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente (CITMA), Pamukkale University, Stellenbosch University, Millsaps College, Éco-Anthropologie (EA), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), This study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant R01AG049416 (to A.M.B., F.J.J., and D.A.W.M.). H.C. was supported as a postdoctoral researcher by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 31003A_182265)., Office National des Forêts (ONF), University of Virginia [Charlottesville], Éco-Anthropologie (EAE), National Research Council of Italy | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Rennes (UR), and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

Subjects
life history, demography, Aging, phenotype, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], Longevity, tetrapod, ectothermy, phylogeny, Amphibia, Amphibians, VERTEBRADOS, evolution, Animals, animal, Multidisciplinary, nonhuman, article, Reptiles, mortality, Biological Evolution, phylogenetics, reptile, GN, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, environmental temperature, body size
Abstract

Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.

Published
2022

4. Distribution of Hermann’s tortoise across Serbia with implications for conservation

Author

Marko Anđelković, Vuk Iković, Ana Golubović, Miloš Popović, Slađana Gvozdenović, Ljiljana Tomović, Sonja Nikolić, Marko Nikolic, and Dragan Arsovski

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Tortoise, testudo hermanni boettgeri, Population, Conservation, Testudo hermanni boettgeri, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, media_common.cataloged_instance, European union, education, ecological niche model, lcsh:QH301-705.5, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, media_common, Ecological niche, education.field_of_study, Testudo hermanni, biology, species distribution model, Ecology, conservation, Species distribution model, 15. Life on land, biology.organism_classification, Geography, Habitat destruction, lcsh:Biology (General), Ecological niche model, serbia, Habitats Directive, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Natura 2000, Serbia
Abstract

Paper description: The Hermann’s tortoise and its habitats are among conservation priorities in the European Union. Populations of western subspecies are closely monitored and basic information about eastern subspecies is just starting to emerge. We used precise observation data to model the distribution of Hermann’s tortoise in Serbia and its ecological niche. Both modeled and observed distributions suggest that most suitable habitats are situated in lowland areas of eastern, central and southern Serbia, under semi-open habitats ranging from pastures and shrubs to broad leaf forests. Our results provide crucial information which should be considered when shaping NATURA 2000 sites in Serbia. Abstract: Hermann’s tortoise ( Testudo hermanni ) is among the conservation priorities in the European Union. Consequently, it is included in Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive, Annex II of the Bern Convention, and Annex II of the CITES Convention. Hermann’s tortoise conservation programs compile insights on the threats affecting population viability, along with factors shaping the species’ distribution. Serbian populations of the eastern subspecies ( Testudo hermanni boettgeri ) seem numerous and therefore prosperous, but recent population viability analyses revealed that they are susceptible to rapid demographic changes and/or habitat destruction. This implies the need for effective population monitoring and protection, as well as mapping and conservation of suitable habitats. In this paper we summarized current knowledge about the geographic distribution of Hermann’s tortoise in Serbia and modeled its ecological niche. Our results corroborate and uphold the known species’ distribution in Serbia. Most suitable habitats are situated in the lowland areas of eastern, central and southern Serbia, under semi-open habitats, such as pastures and shrubs, broadleaf forests, and all successional stages in between. The results provided in this paper should be considered in the selection and shaping of NATURA 2000 sites in Serbia. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS190406034G Received: April 6, 2019; Revised: May 1, 2019; Accepted: May 7, 2019; Published online: June 5, 2019 How to cite this article: Golubovic A, Tomovic Lj, Nikolic M, Nikolic S, Anđelkovic M, Arsovski D, Ikovic V, Gvozdenovic S, Popovic M. Distribution of Hermann’s tortoise across Serbia with implications for conservation. Arch Biol Sci. 2019;71(3):509-16.

Published
2019

5. Inside the shell: body composition of free-ranging tortoises (Testudo hermanni)

Author

Dragan Arsovski, Ana Golubović, Xavier Bonnet, Ljiljana Tomović, Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stankovic [Belgrade] (IBISS), University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Macedonian Ecological Society [North Macedonia], Faculty of Biology (University of Belgrade), Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), and Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, 0301 basic medicine, Male, Body condition index, Zoology, Age and sex, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Subcutaneous fat, 03 medical and health sciences, fat reserves, Chelonians, Animals, Sex Characteristics, Free ranging, Testudo hermanni, biology, Total body, biology.organism_classification, Turtles, Fat bodies, 030104 developmental biology, Adipose Tissue, dissection, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Body Composition, Animal Science and Zoology, Digestive tract, Composition (visual arts), Female
Abstract

International audience; Body condition indices (BCI – mass scaled by size) are widely used in ecological studies. They presumably reflect variations of endogenous fat reserves in free-ranging animals. In the field, however, accurately quantifying internal body reserves is a difficult task. This is especially true in armoured animals where convenient clues that may guide BCI assessment (e.g. visible subcutaneous fat deposits) remain inaccessible. Alternatively, inclusive dissections may provide anatomical abacuses to estimate body reserves in living individuals. Sacrificing animals for this purpose is not acceptable. We opportunistically tested the ability of BCI to estimate body reserves in 13 free-ranging Hermann's tortoises (Gmelin, 1789) dissected soon after they died from natural causes. On average, BCI values were lower in dissected tortoises relative to living individuals (N > 10,000 measurements), but they remained within the range of variation of the studied populations. Shell mass relative to body mass was high and showed considerable inter-individual variation (33.5% to 52.3%). Stomach and digestive tract content represented another important and variable part of total body mass (4.4% to 14.5%). The contribution of fat bodies was negligible (0.0% to 0.5%). Overall, in the studied tortoises, variations of body condition are weakly determined by variations of fat stores. Other endogenous (e.g. muscles, visceral tissues, liver) and “exogenous” (e.g. digestive tract content, clutch) elements should be considered to better understand age and sex specific life-history trade-offs faced by chelonians.

Published
2020

6. Covariates streamline age‐specific early life survival estimates of two chelonian species

Author

Arnaud Béchet, Dragan Arsovski, Ljiljana Tomović, Anthony Olivier, S. Drilholle, Aurélien Besnard, Ana Golubović, Xavier Bonnet, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de recherche de la Tour du Valat, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade [Belgrade], ARVALIS - Institut du végétal [Paris], Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de La Rochelle (ULR), Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre de recherche de la Tour du Valat, Faculty of Biology [Serbia], Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Tortoise, [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes, Emys orbicularis, capture-recapture, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, survival, Testudo hermanni, law.invention, Mark and recapture, law, Covariate, Turtle (robot), Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, biology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, 15. Life on land, covariates, biology.organism_classification, Age specific, [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society, Early life, inestimable, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, chelonian, Animal Science and Zoology, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, life histories, Demography
Abstract

International audience; Delayed maturity and high survival rates of immatures and adults characterize long‐lived species’ life histories. Understanding how these traits interact in stochastic environments is essential to understand early life in long‐lived species and to assist conservation planning. Unfortunately, available information of demographic traits in immatures are often fragmentary and the logistical difficulties of capturing and recapturing this cohort leave little room for improvement. Published immature chelonian survival estimates vary broadly, are often not age‐specific, and lack precision. In an attempt to overcome this issue, we developed a novel modelling approach based on Capture‐Recapture data to obtain robust age‐specific survival probabilities in two chelonian species (the freshwater European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, and the terrestrial Hermann's tortoise, Testudo hermanni). More specifically, we show that implementing a linear relationship between survival probabilities and age does not distort survival estimates and improves precision. Both species display a progressive increase in survival with age, reaching a plateau at the ages of four to five. As maturity occurs later in both species (8–12 years‐old), the survival plateau might be governed by the final hardening of the carapace, which brings obvious survival benefits. Taking advantage of the flexibility of multievent models we encourage a systematic field approach even when very large samples from immatures cannot be amassed. Only so can demographic traits in chelonians, and more generally in long‐lived species, be properly explored. The elusive nature of immature animals with delayed maturity has hindered the estimation of age‐specific survival. Early life capture‐recapture datasets are often sparse and incomplete precluding precision. In order to ameliorate this circumstance, we present here a novel statistical approach that can help streamline results of age‐specific early life survival of two chelonian species. Such endeavors are crucial for proper construction of projection matrices, indispensable to ecological and evolutionary studies and efficient conservation planning.

Published
2018

7. Is sexual brutality maladaptive under high population density?

Author

Xavier Bonnet, Ana Golubović, Ljiljana Tomović, Dragan Arsovski, Faculty of Biology (University of Belgrade), University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), University of Belgrade [Serbia], Institute of Zoology [Serbia], Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de La Rochelle (ULR), Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, 0301 basic medicine, OSR, Biology, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Population density, Testudo hermanni, 03 medical and health sciences, 030104 developmental biology, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, cloacal injury, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, sexual coercion, Demography
Abstract

International audience; Coercive copulation is frequent in promiscuous mating systems, generating both benefits (e.g. higher copulation rate) and costs (e.g. injuries and fewer foraging opportunities). The negative consequences of sexual harassment are expected to increase with increasing population density with male-biased operational sex ratio (OSR). This study offers an example in which the frequency and severity of the injuries inflicted on female tortoises during forced copulations increased with population density and biased OSR. Male Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) harass females during courtship, ramming and biting them until they eventually force mating. They also use their horny and mobile tail to stimulate females, sometimes damaging their cloaca. We compared the frequency and severity of cloacal injuries between two populations in the Republic of Macedonia. Under high density and balanced OSR at one site (Konjsko), 25% of females exhibited cloacal injuries. Under very high density and extremely biased OSR at another site (Golem Grad Island), 75% of females were wounded, often severely. Furthermore, exclusively on Golem Grad, many small and immature females were courted and wounded. This behavioural shift toward juveniles generated costs without benefits. Perhaps brutal reproductive behaviours in male Hermann’s tortoises evolved under low or moderate population densities? Under very high densities, coercive mating seems maladaptive, negatively affecting females and possibly further skewing OSR.

Published
2018

8. When carapace governs size: variation among age classes and individuals in a free-ranging ectotherm with delayed maturity

Author

Ljiljana Tomović, Sonja Nikolić, Ana Golubović, Jean-Marie Ballouard, Dragan Arsovski, Xavier Bonnet, Bogoljub Sterijovski, Rastko Ajtić, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de La Rochelle (ULR), University of Belgrade [Serbia], Institute of Zoology [Serbia], Faculty of Biology (University of Belgrade), University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Macedonian Ecological Society - herpetology group, Macedonian Ecological Society, Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Station d’Observation et de Protection des Tortues et de leurs Milieux (SOPTOM) [France], CRCC Centre for Research and Conservation of Chelonians, and Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, 0301 basic medicine, Adult, Tortoise, media_common.quotation_subject, Population, Longevity, Zoology, Biology, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, 03 medical and health sciences, Species Specificity, Animal Shells, Juvenile, Animals, Body Size, Humans, Carapace, VBS, education, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, media_common, education.field_of_study, Infant, Newborn, Growth curve (biology), Indeterminate growth, Turtles, 030104 developmental biology, Ectotherm, Child, Preschool, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Cohorts
Abstract

International audience; Juvenile growth strongly impacts life-history traits during adulthood. Yet, in juveniles with delayed maturity, elusiveness has hindered age-specific studies of growth, precluding any detailed research on its consequences later in life. Different complex growth patterns have been extracted from captive animals, suggesting species-specific trajectories occur in free-ranging animals. How pronounced are growth and body size variation (VBS) throughout a long-lived ectotherm’s life? Is VBS constant among age classes prior to maturity, or do compensatory and/or cumulative effects driven by long-lived-animal-specific strategies create distinct VBS cohorts, to ensure survival? To tackle the issue, we modelled growth data from continuous and dense annual capture–mark–recapture sampling (5096 body measurements of 1134 free-ranging individuals) of both immature and mature, long-lived Hermann’s tortoises. We analysed population, cohort, and individual-based growth and VBS. Growth ring inferred ages were cross validated with annual recaptures in 289 juveniles. Analyses unravelled an S-shaped growth curve and identified three age cohorts across which VBS increases in a step-wise manner. Neonate-specific constraints and compensatory effects seem to control VBS until 4 years of age, possibly promoting survival with size. Subsequently, a hardened carapace takes over and cumulative effects fuelled by faster growth progressively increase VBS. Whereas ungulates are in a hurry to attain adult size before growth ceases (minimizing VBS), indeterminately growing tortoises can shape individual asymptotic sizes even after growth decelerates. Tortoise size is clearly shaped by age-specific ecological constraints; interestingly, it is likely the carapace that conducts the strategy, rather than maturity per se.

Published
2018

9. Slow life history and rapid extreme flood: demographic mechanisms and their consequences on population viability in a threatened amphibian

Author

Laurent Boualit, Pierre Joly, Eric Bonnaire, Sylvain Boitaud, Dragan Arsovski, Hugo Cayuela, Claude Miaud, Aurélien Besnard, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), Office National des Forêts (ONF), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), and Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])

Subjects
life history, education.field_of_study, Extinction, Flood myth, Ecology, Flooding (psychology), Population, Endangered species, flood, multi-event capture–recapture model, Aquatic Science, Biology, Life history theory, 13. Climate action, Threatened species, Population growth, amphibian, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, education, Bombina variegata
Abstract

International audience; 1. In the Northern Hemisphere, an increase in both the frequency and magnitude of violent flooding events has been reported due to climate change. According to life history theory, one might postulate that in ‘slow’ species: (i) environmental canalisation may act as a selective force that minimises to some extent adult survival variations caused by catastrophic flood and (ii) extreme flooding events would cause important variations in recruitment and young survival. Hence, it may be hypothesised that (iii) the population growth rate of ‘slow’ species might be relatively insensitive to changes in the frequency of extreme climatic events if adult survival remains largely unaffected.2. In this study, we investigated how extreme rainfall events resulting in severe flood impact popula- tion dynamics of a long-lived endangered amphibian, the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata: Bombinatoridae). To address this issue, we used capture–recapture (CR) data collected on two populations (768 and 1154 individuals identified) in southern France and developed multi-event CR models.3. Our results indicated that extreme flooding did not cause any variation in sub-adult or adult survival, whereas recruitment and juvenile survival were negatively impacted. Furthermore, our simulations indicated that the population growth rate was only marginally sensitive to potential changes in the frequency of extreme flooding in the future.4. Hence, we suggest that extreme flooding does not appear to be a proximal factor of extinction risk for this endangered amphibian species.

Published
2015

10. Locomotor performances reflect habitat constraints in an armoured species

Author

Marko Anđelković, Ana Golubović, Xavier Bonnet, Dragan Arsovski, Ljiljana Tomović, Faculty of Biology (University of Belgrade), University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' [Serbia], Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stankovic [Belgrade] (IBISS), and Université de La Rochelle (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Tortoise, Foraging, Zoology, Biology, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Testudo hermanni, Predation, Jumping, Muscular strength, 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences, 050102 behavioral science & comparative psychology, Righting, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Phenotypic plasticity, Herbivore, Reproductive success, Ecology, 05 social sciences, Hermann’s tortoise, 15. Life on land, Antipredator behaviour, Habitat, Animal ecology, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Animal Science and Zoology
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.

Published
2017

11. Skills or strength—how tortoises cope with dense vegetation?

Author

Dragan Arsovski, Marko Andjelkovic, Ana Golubović, Ljiljana Tomović, Vuk Iković, Ana Vujović, and Sonja Djordjević

Subjects
Tortoise, ved/biology, Ecology, Behavioural strategy, ved/biology.organism_classification_rank.species, Balkans, Vegetation cover, Biology, Testudo hermanni, Shrub, Predation, Tortoises, Habitat, Spatial ecology, medicine, Animal Science and Zoology, Pull force, medicine.symptom, Vegetation (pathology), Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Abstract

Dense vegetation cover undoubtedly offers certain advantages for small and slow-moving animals, but its disadvantages concerning some aspects of spatial ecology (e.g. movements) were neglected in previous studies. Tortoises could get stuck in vegetation by protuberant part of the shell and thus succumb to overheating, dehydration or predators. To examine how vegetation cover shapes behavioural responses of `trapped' tortoises, we tested adults of six populations from habitats with contrasting vegetation cover. The tortoises were fitted with a non-stretchable rope, representing a piece of vegetation, stuck on the protruding front part of the plastron. Results suggested the existence of two distinct releasing techniques. First, and only successful in this study, is frequent changing of the movement direction, with a minimal pulling force, until the obstacle detached. The other involved the maximal pulling force aimed at ripping out the constraint. Tortoises from shrub habitats had more releasing success, used less pulling force and needed shorter time period to release, contrary to tortoises from herbaceous habitats. Although sexes showed similar releasing success, females obtained lower number of direction changes and higher yanking force compared to males, suggesting slightly different liberating strategies between the sexes. For immobilized tortoises without suitable shelter from overheating and dehydration, appropriate behavioural response could be vital, especially during drought years, due to increased physiological stresses. Variability of behavioural patterns among tortoise populations, described in this study, could have an adaptive significance. Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia {[}173043]

Published
2013

12. Moving in the real world: tortoises take the plunge to cross steep steps

Author

Xavier Bonnet, Dragan Arsovski, Rastko Ajtić, Ljiljana Tomović, and Ana Golubović

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Testudo hermanni, biology, Tortoise, Ecology, Boldness, media_common.quotation_subject, 05 social sciences, Endangered species, Context (language use), biology.organism_classification, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Habitat, 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences, 050102 behavioral science & comparative psychology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, media_common
Abstract

Despite exhibiting low velocity and limited agility, many tortoises undertake large scale movements and must overcome various obstacles, notably in populations living in hilly or rocky habitats. Although crucial, studies exploring how tortoises move in complex and irregular environments are scarce. In this context, we examined an important behavioural trait: how tortoises (Testudo hermanni) deal with step-like obstacles. In their natural habitat, individuals were positioned in a challenging situation: they were placed on a bench approximately 50 cm high, and were observed over a 10-min period. We compared the behaviour of the tortoises (taking a risk to ‘jump’ or waiting) from two populations living in contrasted habitats: flat versus rugged (crisscrossed by cliffs and rocky steps). Individuals from the flat habitat were reluctant to jump, whereas most tortoises from the rugged habitat jumped. Immature tortoises were less willing to jump compared to larger and more experienced adults. These results suggest that challenging habitats increase boldness. In addition to fundamental findings, these results may have conservation value and assist in improving translocation strategies for endangered tortoise populations. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London

Published
2013

13. Does habitat unpredictability promote the evolution of a colonizer syndrome in amphibian metapopulations?

Author

Claude Miaud, Dragan Arsovski, Pierre Joly, Aurélien Besnard, Arnaud Bellec, Laurent Boualit, Julian Pichenot, Jean-Paul Léna, Hugo Cayuela, Eric Bonnaire, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), Office National des Forêts (ONF), Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Eco-éthologie (2C2A-CERFE), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), and Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Amphibian, environmental predictability, life history, Population Dynamics, Metapopulation, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Intraspecific competition, Life history theory, biology.animal, Animals, dispersal, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Bombina variegata, Ecosystem, Demography, biology, Ecology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, Interspecific competition, Fecundity, Biological Evolution, Fertility, Habitat, colonizer syndrome, multievent capture–recapture models, Biological dispersal, amphibian, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, Anura
Abstract

International audience; Dispersal is a central component of life history evolution. An increasing number of studies suggest that spatiotemporally variable environments may promote the evolution of “dispersal syndromes,” consisting of covariation patterns between dispersal and morphologi- cal, physiological, behavioral, and life history traits. At the interspecific scale, the “colonizer syndrome” appears to be one of the most frequently recorded associations between dispersal and life history traits, linking a high dispersal rate, high fecundity, and a short lifespan as sys- tematically combined adaptations in spatiotemporally varying environments. However, few studies have highlighted the existence of a “colonizer syndrome” at the intraspecific scale, and none have investigated how different degrees of habitat stochasticity might shape covariation patterns between dispersal and life history traits. In this study, we examined this issue in free- ranging metapopulations of the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) using capture–recap- ture data. Combining the results of this study with another recent study, we found that a high dispersal rate, high fecundity, and a short lifespan are associated in metapopulations experi- encing unpredictable environments. In contrast, a very low dispersal rate (close to zero), low fecundity and a long lifespan are associated in metapopulations occupying predictable environ- ments. We discuss these results as well as their demographic and evolutionary consequences.

Published
2016

14. The impact of severe drought on survival, fecundity, and population persistence in an endangered amphibian

Author

Dragan Arsovski, Aurélien Besnard, Hugo Cayuela, Pierre Joly, R. Duguet, Eric Bonnaire, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), Office National des Forêts (ONF), Alcedo Faune Flore, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), and Office national des forêts (ONF)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Population, Endangered species, Context (language use), drought, Biology, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Population growth, education, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, Bombina variegata, Wildlife conservation, education.field_of_study, Ecology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, fungi, food and beverages, 15. Life on land, Fecundity, multievent capture-recapture models, Population model, 13. Climate action, Threatened species, amphibian, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
Abstract

International audience; Climate is globally changing. In Europe, studies have highlighted an increasing trend in both the frequency and magnitude of droughts. Abrupt changes in the frequency, location, or intensity of extreme heatwaves and droughts can have direct and severe effects on wild populations. Amphibians are the planet's most threatened group of vertebrates, with over 40% of known species considered in decline. To date, researchers have mainly focused on the influence of repeated droughts on species occurrence and community composition; however, evidence of the direct impact of climatic factors on the demographic parameters of amphibians is currently not well documented. Further investigation of this issue is therefore of critical importance in order to optimize local and global wildlife conservation policies in the context of a changing climate. This study used capture-recapture data to investigate the impact of severe drought on the survival and fecundity of a threatened amphibian, the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata, L.), as well as to predict how potential changes in the frequency of droughts might influence the population growth rate. By developing multievent capture-recapture models, we showed that severe drought has a negative impact on fecundity and postmetamorphic survival at different ontogenetic stages. Then, using stochastic matrix population models, we predicted that changes in drought frequency negatively influence the population growth rate, which is a warning sign for population persistence. Direct conservation actions are then proposed to mitigate the detrimental effects of drought on population dynamics.

Published
2016

15. Demographic responses to weather fluctuations are context dependent in a long-lived amphibian

Author

Julian Pichenot, Sylvain Boitaud, Dragan Arsovski, Eric Bonnaire, Hugo Cayuela, Claude Miaud, Pierre Joly, Aurélien Besnard, Jean-Marc Thirion, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), OBIOS - (Ojectifs BIOiversitéS), Office National des Forêts (ONF), Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Eco-éthologie (2C2A-CERFE), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), and Association Objectifs Biodiversités (OBIOS)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Amphibian, Climate Change, Population, Population Dynamics, Climate change, demographic responses, Context (language use), 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Bombina variegata, survival, biology.animal, Seasonal breeder, Environmental Chemistry, Animals, education, Weather, climate, General Environmental Science, Demography, Global and Planetary Change, education.field_of_study, skipping behavior, Ecology, biology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, biology.organism_classification, weather fluctuation, Variation (linguistics), recruitment, 13. Climate action, amphibian, Anura, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
Abstract

International audience; Weather fluctuations have been demonstrated to affect demographic traits in many species. In long-lived organisms, their impact on adult survival might be buffered by the evolution of traits that reduce variation in interannual adult survival. For example, skipping breeding is an effective behavioral mechanism that may limit yearly variation in adult survival when harsh weather conditions occur; however, this in turn would likely lead to strong variation in recruitment. Yet, only a few studies to date have examined the impact of weather variation on survival, recruitment and breeding probability simultaneously in different populations of the same species. To fill this gap, we studied the impact of spring temperatures and spring rainfall on survival, on reproductive skipping behavior and on recruitment in five populations of a long-lived amphibian, the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata). Based on capture–recapture data, our findings demonstrate that survival depends on interactions between age, population and weather variation. Varying weather conditions in the spring result in strong variation in the survival of immature toads, whereas they have little effect on adult toads. Breeding probability depends on both the individual’s previous reproductive status and on the weather conditions during the current breeding season, leading to high interannual variation in recruit- ment. Crucially, we found that the impact of weather variation on demographic traits is largely context dependent and may thus differ sharply between populations. Our results suggest that studies predicting the impact of climate change on population dynamics should be taken with caution when the relationship between climate and demo- graphic traits is established using only one population or few populations. We therefore highly recommend further research that includes surveys replicated in a substantial number of populations to account for context-dependent variation in demographic processes.

Published
2016

16. Contrasting patterns of environmental fluctuation contribute to divergent life histories among amphibian populations

Author

Jean-Maric Thirion, Pierre Joly, Dragan Arsovski, Sylvain Boitaud, Aurélien Besnard, Eric Bonnaire, Claude Miaud, Julian Pichenot, Anne-Lise Brison, Hugo Cayuela, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), Association Objectifs Biodiversités (OBIOS), Office National des Forêts (ONF), Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Eco-éthologie (2C2A-CERFE), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA), Lorraine DREAL, Rhone-Alpes DREAL, Agence de l'Eau Rhone-Alpes, Agence de l'Eau Rhin-Meuse, Office National des Forets, Conseil Regional de Lorraine, Conseil Regional de Champagne-Ardenne, Conseil Regional de Picardie, Conseil General de l'Aisne, Conseil General d'Ardeche, Conseil General d'Iser, Communaute de Communes de l'Argonne Ardennaise (2C2A), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), and OBIOS - (Ojectifs BIOiversitéS)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Amphibian, Male, environmental predictability, life history, Conservation of Natural Resources, demography, Time Factors, Offspring, slow–fast continuum, Population Dynamics, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Models, Biological, Intraspecific competition, Species Specificity, biology.animal, Animals, Ecosystem, Life history, Bombina variegata, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Life Cycle Stages, biology, Ecology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, multievent capture-recapture models, Environmental variation, Variation (linguistics), Energy expenditure, Female, amphibian, Anura, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
Abstract

International audience; Because it modulates the fitness returns of possible options of energy expenditure at each ontogenetic stage, environmental stochasticity is usually considered a selective force in driving or constraining possible life histories. Divergent regimes of envi- ronmental fluctuation experienced by populations are expected to generate differences in the resource allocation schedule between survival and reproductive effort and outputs. To our knowledge, no study has previously examined how different regimes of stochastic variation in environmental conditions could result in changes in both the temporal variation and mean of demographic parameters, which could then lead to intraspecific variation along the slow–fast continuum of life history tactics. To investigate these issues, we used capture–recapture data collected on five populations of a long-lived amphibian (Bombina variegata) experiencing two distinct levels of stochastic environmental variation: (1) constant availability of breeding sites in space and time (predictable environment), and (2) variable spatio-temporal availability of breeding sites (unpredictable environment). We found that female breeding propensity varied more from year to year in unpredictable than in pre- dictable environments. Although females in unpredictable environments produced on average more viable offspring per year, offspring production was more variable between years. Survival at each ontogenetic stage was slightly lower and varied significantly more from year to year in unpredictable environments. Taken together, these results confirm that increased environmental stochasticity can modify the resource allocation schedule between survival and reproductive effort and outputs and may lead to intraspecific variation along the slow–fast continuum of life history tactics.

Published
2015

17. TWO FANGS GOOD, A HUNDRED LEGS BETTER: JUVENILE VIPER DEVOURED BY AN ADULT CENTIPEDE IT HAD INGESTED

Author

Rastko Ajtić, Ivona Trajčeska, Dragan Arsovski, Ljiljana Tomović, Ana Golubović, Marko Anđelković, Sonja Đorđević, and Xavier Bonnet

Subjects
VIPeR, biology, Vipera ammodytes, Insect Science, Juvenile, Animal Science and Zoology, Plant Science, Anatomy, biology.organism_classification, Scolopendra cingulata, Centipede, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Predation
Abstract

On May 14th 2013, on the island of Golem Grad (Prespa Lake, FYR of Macedonia) a juvenile female nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) was found dead, with head of a Scolopendra cingulata protruding through the body wall of its lower abdomen. The authors discuss the possibility that the snake had swallowed the centipede alive, and that, paradoxically, the prey has eaten its way through the snake, almost reaching its freedom.

Published
2014

18. Unexpected life history traits in a very dense population of dice snakes

Author

Marko Andjelkovic, Marko Djurakic, Ana Golubović, Sonja Djordjević, Aurelie Aïdam, Milivoj Krstić, Rastko Ajtić, Aleksandar Simović, Catherine Louise Michel, Bogoljub Sterijovski, Dragan Arsovski, Ljiljana Tomović, Jean-Marie Ballouard, Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović, Sladjana Gvozdenovic, Xavier Bonnet, Goran Šukalo, Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stankovic [Belgrade] (IBISS), Macedonian Ecological Society - herpetology group, Macedonian Ecological Society, Department of Biology and Ecology (Faculty of Natural Sciences), University of Niš, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Science, University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro (UCG), Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), CRCC-SOPTOM, and Center of Research and Conservation of Chelonians

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Avian clutch size, Snake, Population, Natural history, Colour polymorphism, Predation, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Population density, Life history theory, Sexual dimorphism, Mortality, education, Phenotypic plasticity, education.field_of_study, Juveniles, biology, Ecology, 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology, Reproduction, Natrix tessellata, Mark recapture study, biology.organism_classification, Macedonia, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, Animal Science and Zoology
Abstract

A population of dice snakes (Natrix tessellate) monitored since 2008 in a small island (18 ha, 850 m a.s.l., FYR of Macedonia) revealed unforeseen patterns for snakes living in temperate climates. More than 5000 individuals have been marked and the density is one of the highest ever recorded (>500 resident snakes per hectare). Reproductive and mortality rates are elevated, suggesting a high population turnover. These traits evoke a tropical rather than a temperate-climate ophidian demographic system. The population is highly polymorphic, three colour morphs (dotted, grey, and black) are observed in both sexes and each morph is represented by large numbers of individuals. This polymorphism pattern was not previously documented in snakes. Data obtained for other life history traits (e.g. body size, size at maturity, clutch size, diet, predation) markedly diverged in comparison to available information. Overall, our results reinforce the notion that the strong inter-population variability (often mediated by phenotypic plasticity) of snakes should be taken into account over large geographic scales; otherwise attempts to derive general patterns may well be strongly biased. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia [173043, 173025]; Republic of France; Republic of Serbia; French Embassy; French Cultural Centre in Belgrade

Published
2013

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