Spatial distribution of the burrows of Porcellio albinus in the coastal area of Zarat (Gabès, Tunisia). Issue 3 (4th May 2017)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Spatial distribution of the burrows of Porcellio albinus in the coastal area of Zarat (Gabès, Tunisia). Issue 3 (4th May 2017)
- Main Title:
- Spatial distribution of the burrows of Porcellio albinus in the coastal area of Zarat (Gabès, Tunisia)
- Authors:
- Medini-Bouaziz, Lamia
El-Gtari, Mohamed
Hamaied, Sonia
Charfi-Cheikhrouha, Faouzia - Abstract:
- Abstract : Among the desert-dwelling Porcellio species, widespread in southern Tunisia, only Porcellio albinus exhibits a burrowing behaviour. In this study we investigated how P. albinus "choose" to dig their burrows, especially through the study of their burrow densities both in the nebkas and in flat, sandy-surface habitats; the direction of the openings of the burrows; and the influence of wind and vegetation type on the spatial distribution of P. albinus burrows in the nebkas. Several field samplings were carried out in the sandy coastal area of Zarat (Gabès, in the south-eastern part of Tunisia) between January and December 2013. The mean densities of burrows in the two habitats – nebkas and flat, sandy surfaces – were not significantly different. A low positive correlation was observed between burrow density and nebka area. In each nebka, the burrows of P. albinus were localised within a circular belt in a sector facing towards the south, thus avoiding the main wind direction (E–NE). P. albinus prefers to dig their burrows on nebkas covered with Astragalus armatus and Stipagrostis pungens, and avoids those covered with Calicotome villosa . The absence of burrows at the top of the nebkas might be caused by their exposure to sunlight and drying. The lack of burrows at the base of the nebkas is assumed to be the consequence of the presence of non-porous and non-permeable substratum in direct contact with this base. This substratum creates a barrier, which prevents P.Abstract : Among the desert-dwelling Porcellio species, widespread in southern Tunisia, only Porcellio albinus exhibits a burrowing behaviour. In this study we investigated how P. albinus "choose" to dig their burrows, especially through the study of their burrow densities both in the nebkas and in flat, sandy-surface habitats; the direction of the openings of the burrows; and the influence of wind and vegetation type on the spatial distribution of P. albinus burrows in the nebkas. Several field samplings were carried out in the sandy coastal area of Zarat (Gabès, in the south-eastern part of Tunisia) between January and December 2013. The mean densities of burrows in the two habitats – nebkas and flat, sandy surfaces – were not significantly different. A low positive correlation was observed between burrow density and nebka area. In each nebka, the burrows of P. albinus were localised within a circular belt in a sector facing towards the south, thus avoiding the main wind direction (E–NE). P. albinus prefers to dig their burrows on nebkas covered with Astragalus armatus and Stipagrostis pungens, and avoids those covered with Calicotome villosa . The absence of burrows at the top of the nebkas might be caused by their exposure to sunlight and drying. The lack of burrows at the base of the nebkas is assumed to be the consequence of the presence of non-porous and non-permeable substratum in direct contact with this base. This substratum creates a barrier, which prevents P. albinus from digging sufficiently deep burrows. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Ethology, ecology & evolution. Volume 29:Issue 3(2017)
- Journal:
- Ethology, ecology & evolution
- Issue:
- Volume 29:Issue 3(2017)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 29, Issue 3 (2017)
- Year:
- 2017
- Volume:
- 29
- Issue:
- 3
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2017-0029-0003-0000
- Page Start:
- 280
- Page End:
- 291
- Publication Date:
- 2017-05-04
- Subjects:
- terrestrial isopods -- xeric species -- burrow distribution -- burrow orientation -- abiotic factors -- nebka
Animal behavior -- Periodicals
Animal ecology -- Periodicals
Behavior evolution -- Periodicals
Behavior, Animal -- Periodicals
Ecology -- Periodicals
Biological Evolution -- Periodicals
Écologie animale -- Périodiques
Évolution du comportement -- Périodiques
Éthologie -- Périodiques
Animal behavior
Animal ecology
Behavior evolution
Periodicals
Electronic journals
591.5 - Journal URLs:
- http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/20334991.html ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/teee20/current ↗
http://www.unifi.it/unifi/dbag/eee/ ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1080/03949370.2016.1161665 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0394-9370
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 362.xml