The importance of protected and unprotected areas for the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise demography in northwest Morocco

Abstract Collection for the pet trade has been considered one of the major threats to the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise Testudo graeca, since it modulates the size and structure of the species’ populations and, therefore, their demography. Maamora forest is one of the most suitable habitats for this species. The proximity of the forest to Rabat indicated the possibility of these tortoise populations being particularly sensitive to over-collecting. Population demography was studied in four populations, in protected and unprotected areas in Maamora forest. The results showed significant differences as regards population size and structure between protected and unprotected areas. They specifically highlighted: i) higher density (23-17 indiv · ha−1) balanced populations in the protected areas, in which young adults were predominant, ii) a higher body condition in the protected areas, especially the females, and iii) a low density (5.5 ind · ha−1) more unbalance population in the unprotected areas, in which older females and younger males were predominant. In addition, a survey carried out by interviewing local adults () showed that most people owned tortoises (61%, ), mainly juveniles (65%, ). The respondents stated that their tortoises had been captured in the forest (68%, ). Maamora forest is home to one of the highest density populations of Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoises documented to date, and its conservation is essential if this species is to be maintained. Our social survey suggested that one of the challenges is to change the social perception of the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise as a pet and highlight its intrinsic ecological value.

Download Full-text

Protected areas network is not adequate to protect a critically endangered East Africa Chelonian: Modelling distribution of pancake tortoise, Malacochersus tornieri under current and future climates

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0238669 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0238669

Author(s):

Abraham Eustace ◽

Luíz Fernando Esser ◽

Rudolf Mremi ◽

Patrick K. Malonza ◽

Reginald T. Mwaya

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Area Network ◽

Pet Trade ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

The Impact

While the international pet trade and habitat destruction have been extensively discussed as major threats to the survival of the pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri), the impact of climate change on the species remains unknown. In this study, we used species distribution modelling to predict the current and future distribution of pancake tortoises in Zambezian and Somalian biogeographical regions. We used 224 pancake tortoise occurrences obtained from Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia to estimate suitable and stable areas for the pancake tortoise in all countries present in these regions. We also used a protected area network to assess how many of the suitable and stable areas are protected for the conservation of this critically endangered species. Our model predicted the expansion of climatically suitable habitats for pancake tortoises from four countries and a total area of 90,668.75 km2 to ten countries in the future and an area of 343,459.60–401,179.70 km2. The model also showed that a more significant area of climatically suitable habitat for the species lies outside of the wildlife protected areas. Based on our results, we can predict that pancake tortoises may not suffer from habitat constriction. However, the species will continue to be at risk from the international pet trade, as most of the identified suitable habitats remain outside of protected areas. We suggest that efforts to conserve the pancake tortoise should not only focus on protected areas but also areas that are unprotected, as these comprise a large proportion of the suitable and stable habitats available following predicted future climate change.

Download Full-text

Protected areas network is not adequate to protect a critically endangered East Africa Chelonian: Modelling distribution of pancake tortoise, Malacochersus tornieri under current and future climates

10.1101/2020.08.24.264796 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Abraham Eustace ◽

Luíz Fernando Esser ◽

Rudolf Mremi ◽

Patrick K. Malonza ◽

Reginald T. Mwaya

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Area Network ◽

Pet Trade ◽

Suitable Habitats ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTWhile the international pet trade and habitat destruction have been extensively discussed as major threats to the survival of the pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri), the impact of climate change on the species remains unknown. In this study, we used species distribution modelling to predict the current and future distribution of pancake tortoises in Zambezian and Somalian biogeographical regions. We used 224 pancake tortoise occurrences obtained from Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia to estimate suitable and stable areas for the pancake tortoise in all countries present in these regions. We also used a protected area network to assess how many of the suitable and stable areas are protected for the conservation of this critically endangered species. Our model predicted the expansion of climatically suitable habitats for pancake tortoises from four countries and a total area of 90,668.75 km2 to ten countries in the future and an area of 343,459.60 - 401,179.70 km2. The model also showed that a more significant area of climatically suitable habitat for the species lies outside of the wildlife protected areas. Based on our results, we can predict that pancake tortoises may not suffer from habitat constriction. However, the species will continue to be at risk from the international pet trade, as most of the identified suitable habitats remain outside of protected areas. We suggest that efforts to conserve the pancake tortoise should not only focus on protected areas but also areas that are unprotected, as these comprise a large proportion of the suitable and stable habitats available following predicted future climate change.

Download Full-text

Trade and the Mediterranean Tortoises

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605300016574 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 81-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. R. K. Lambert

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Temperature Measurements ◽

Testudo Graeca ◽

Moroccan Population ◽

South West ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Time Of Year ◽

Size And Structure ◽

Made In

In 1969 an investigation supported by the FPS/WWF Revolving Fund established that there had been wholesale collecting of tortoises Testudo graeca throughout Morocco. The three exporting dealers reported that tortoises were very sparse in the Casablanca region, their exporting centre; only in the Oued Souss valley of south-west Morocco were they to be found in any numbers. The total Moroccan population in 1969 was estimated to be about five million, occupying an area of approximately 162,000 sq km at a mean density of around 30 per sq km. Because so few were found (only 23), comparisons in abundance between different regions were made only in relative terms; the effects of bulk trade collection on population size and structure could not be pinpointed. Routine size/weight measurements were made in relation to age, sex and maturity; air temperature measurements were recorded in relation to activity and time of year.

Download Full-text

When people change their story: The social perception of actors who vary the causal accounts for their misdeeds

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e633872013-195 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Jaime Anstee ◽

Markus Kemmelmeier

Keyword(s):

Social Perception ◽

The Social

Download Full-text

Eyblism and the Social Environment in Theory and Practice

Sociology and Law ◽

10.35854/2219-6242-2020-4-25-31 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 25-31

Author(s):

N. N. Khomutova ◽

K. A. Vizner ◽

S. A. Makhortova ◽

S. N. Chudievich

Keyword(s):

Social Environment ◽

Social Problem ◽

People With Disabilities ◽

Theory And Practice ◽

Social Survey ◽

Good Level ◽

The Social ◽

Free Environment ◽

Barrier Free

The problem of the discrimination of people with disabilities remains being an urgent social problem. Misunderstanding of the meaning of this problem by others results in a situation when invalid’s level of life cannot be equal to a healthy person’s level of life. This article raises the issue of ableism in order to explore the idea of barrier-free environment integration. The results of a social survey are demonstrating a good level of respondent’s awareness concerning this problem and their will to participate in a discussion and taking of measures for the integration of a barrier-free environment with the intention to raise the invalid’s level of life.

Download Full-text