Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Marlow, R. W., & Tollestrup, K. (1982). Mining and exploitation of natural mineral deposits by the desert tortoise, gopherus agassizii. Animal Behaviour, 30(2), 475–478.
Added by: Admin (24 Aug 2008 19:37:32 UTC) Last edited by: Beate Pfau (18 Oct 2009 12:02:51 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: 10.1016/S0003-3472(82)80058-4 BibTeX citation key: Marlow1982a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Ernährung = nutrition, Gopherus, Gopherus agassizii, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae Creators: Marlow, Tollestrup Collection: Animal Behaviour |
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| Abstract |
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Gopherus agassizii Testudinidae Six female desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii, were observed to consume the soil of a ‘limelayer’ on an exposed site, or to excavate through the overburden where the layer was not exposed. The calcium content of soil from the layer mined was significantly higher than that of adjacent surface soil. All geophagous episodes involved reproductively mature females during the nesting season, a period in which the females were in potential calcium stress. To our knowledge this is the first report of mining and long-term exploitation of natural mineral deposits by a lower vertebrate and may represent behaviour at least as complicated as that seen in many ungulates. Added by: Admin Last edited by: Beate Pfau |