Abstract Tortoise ecology is poorly studied in East Africa. Here, using two terrestrial Testudinidae (Stigmochelys pardalis and Kinixys belliana) as study models, we (i) present basic demographic characteristics (sex-ratio, and density), (ii) describe correlates of their presence at two spatial scales (micro-habitat and macro-habitat), (iii) evaluate the effects of rainfall on their seasonal activity patterns, and (iv) analyze abundance patterns in relation to macro- and micro-habitat characteristics. We also describe an experiment, using tortoise shells, that can allow to control, and eventually correct, the reliability of observed data by taking into account the detectability of the study species in the wild. On the basis of a suite of statistical analysis and GIS-based elaborations, we confirmed, and further uncovered, the remarkable ecological differences existing between S. pardalis and K. belliana. The habitat use was different interspecifically, with K. belliana being much more linked to dense vegetation spots, often nearby waterbodies, whereas S. pardalis being an habitat generalist, at both micro- and macrohabitat scale. Nonetheless, juveniles of both species were observed in areas with significantly higher % soil covered by vegetation taller than 200 cm than adults of both sexes. This different habitat selection is hypothesized to be due to antipredatory reasons. Overall, our data suggests that interspecific competition should be minimal between these species.

中文翻译：

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南苏丹多个空间尺度上同域热带草原陆龟的栖息地利用和空间生态位重叠

摘要 在东非，陆龟生态学研究很少。在这里，使用两种陆地睾丸科（Stigmochelys pardalis 和 Kinixys belliana）作为研究模型，我们（i）展示了基本的人口特征（性别比和密度），（ii）描述了它们在两个空间尺度（微栖息地）存在的相关性和宏观栖息地），(iii) 评估降雨对其季节性活动模式的影响，以及 (iv) 分析与宏观和微观栖息地特征相关的丰度模式。我们还描述了一个使用龟甲的实验，该实验可以通过考虑研究物种在野外的可检测性来控制并最终纠正观测数据的可靠性。在一套统计分析和基于 GIS 的阐述的基础上，我们确认并进一步发现，S. pardalis 和 K. belliana 之间存在显着的生态差异。栖息地的使用在种间是不同的，K. belliana 与茂密的植被点有更多的联系，通常是附近的水体，而 S. pardalis 在微观和大栖息地尺度上都是栖息地的通才。尽管如此，在高于 200 厘米的植被覆盖的土壤百分比显着高于两性成虫的地区观察到这两种物种的幼鱼。这种不同的栖息地选择被假设是由于反掠夺的原因。总的来说，我们的数据表明这些物种之间的种间竞争应该是最小的。而 S. pardalis 在微观和宏观栖息地尺度上都是栖息地的通才。尽管如此，在高于 200 厘米的植被覆盖的土壤百分比显着高于两性成虫的地区观察到这两种物种的幼鱼。这种不同的栖息地选择被假设是由于反掠夺的原因。总的来说，我们的数据表明这些物种之间的种间竞争应该是最小的。而 S. pardalis 在微观和宏观栖息地尺度上都是栖息地的通才。尽管如此，在高于 200 厘米的植被覆盖的土壤百分比显着高于两性成虫的地区观察到这两种物种的幼鱼。这种不同的栖息地选择被假设是由于反掠夺的原因。总的来说，我们的数据表明这些物种之间的种间竞争应该是最小的。