Literaturdatenbank
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Griffiths, C. J., Jones, C. G., Puttoo, M., Hansen, D. M., Müller, C. B., & Harris, S. , The need for non-indigenous ecosystem engineers in restoration programs: using extant tortoises to restore island ecosystem function. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 22:23:41 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Griffiths2007 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Aldabrachelys, Aldabrachelys dussumieri, Astrochelys, Astrochelys radiata, Geochelone, Habitat = habitat, Pazifik = Pacific, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae Creators: Griffiths, Hansen, Harris, Jones, Müller, Puttoo Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Dipsochelys dussumieri Geochelone radiata We describe a pressing need to restore and preserve Mascarene habitats suffering from ecosystem dysfunction following the extinction of the only large endemic herbivores, Cylindraspis giant tortoises. The occurrence of two distinctive shell morphologies, domed and saddleback shell, suggests that there were grazers and browsers, respectively. Historical records and fossil evidence indicates that huge populations occurred in the palm savannah, a mosaic of grassland and palm forest. We present evidence, which suggests that they were responsible for creating and maintaining the open aspect of this habitat. Furthermore, rreferences to their feeding ecology, and inference based on their skull morphology and the feeding ecology of extant giant tortoises in Aldabra and the Galapagos suggests that Mascarene tortoises were also important seed dispersers of both palms and hardwoods. We focus on Mauritian habitats, with particular reference to the offshore islet, Round Island, which harbors the remnants of palm savannah. To determine whether lost ecosystem functions can be resurrected using surrogate species, the Government of Mauritius and a local NGO, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, have introduced a small population of both sub-adult giant Aldabra and Madagascar radiated tortoises to Round Island. Since the eradication of exotic mammalian herbivores from Round Island in the 1970s and 1980s many of the native and endemic flora has suffered in the absence of a grazer and seed disperser. Restoring these key ecosystem functions is imperative for the persistence of this habitat, which is of high conservation value. We describe rationale for the choice of tortoise species and suggest other suitable surrogate species for the extinct tortoises. We briefly describe what precautions we took before introducing these tortoises, our experimental design, what evidence we have to date of the impact of tortoises on the plant community and conclude with plans for future work.
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