Browsing by Subject "Testudo graeca"

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    Assessing DESS solution for the long-term preservation of nematodes from faecal samples
    (Elsevier, 2022-10-18) Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Rodríguez-Caro, R.C.; Maíz-García, A.; Gómez, L; Giménez Casalduero, Andrés; Graciá, E.; Gonzálvez Juan, Moisés; Sanidad Animal
    Preservation of biological samples is a relevant issue for many scientific disciplines. Although traditional preservers, such as formaldehyde or ethanol, imply major disadvantages related to health risks, DNA degradation and distortion of structures, they are widely used. Hence, the search for viable alternatives preserving morphometry and genetics seems necessary. Here we assess the suitability of DESS solution to preserve adult nematodes and their eggs in faeces. Concretely, faecal samples of terrestrial tortoises with oxyurids were used to: (i) compare the 1-month storage efficacy of eggs from different conservation protocols (faeces without preserver at -20 °C, faeces with DESS solution at room temperature, faeces with DESS solution at -20 °C and faeces with ethanol 70% at room temperature); (ii) address morphological nematode identification after 2 years of storage with DESS. We also corroborated that nematode DNA remained viable after 2 years. Overall, our results showed that DESS solution at room temperature is an advisable alternative to conserve both parasite eggs and adult nematodes for morphological identification and genetic purposes. It also offers the advantages of being low-cost, safe and suitable for fieldwork conditions and shipments without refrigeration for nematode preservation.
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    Detection of a novel Chlamydia species in captive spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) in southeastern Spain and proposal of Candidatus Chlamydia testudinis
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2020-03) Laroucau, Karine; Vorimore, Fabianne; Aaziz, R.; Mitura, A.; Szymanska-Czerwinska, M.; Cicerol, Marta; Salinas, Jesús; Sachse, Konrad; Caro, María Rosa; Ortega Hernández, Nieves; Sanidad Animal
    The spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is an endangered Mediterranean tortoise that lives in NorthAfrica, Southern Europe and Southwest Asia. In the wake of recent legislation making their keeping as domestic animals illegal, many of these animals have been returned to wildlife recovery centers in Spain. In the present study, a population of such tortoises showing signs of ocular disease and nasal discharge was examined for the presence of Chlamydia spp. Cloacal, conjunctival and/or choanal swabs were collected from 58 animals. Using a real-time PCR specific for the family Chlamydiaceae, 57/58 animals tested positive in at least one sample. While only a few samples proved positive for C. pecorum, sequencing of the 16SrRNA gene revealed a sequence identical to previously published sequences from specimens of German and Polish tortoises. Whole-genome sequences obtained from two conjunctival swab samples, as well as ANIb, TETRA values and a scheme based on 9 taxonomic marker genes revealed that the strain presentin the Spanish tortoises represented a new yet non-classified species, with C. pecorum being its closest relative. We propose to designate the new species Candidatus Chlamydia testudinis.
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    ¿Drenajes de carreteras o pasos de fauna?: la conectividad oculta de vertebrados terrestres bajo infraestructuras lineales de transporte
    (Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre, 2025-04-08) Bruno, Daniel; Mora, Ramón; Estal, Goodwill; Pujante, Nuria; Audisio, Carolina; Giménez, Andrés; Jiménez Franco, María Victoria; Ecología e Hidrología; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Biología
    Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Linear transport infrastructures, such as roads, are one of the main causes of habitat fragmentation and may be corrected by wildlife crossings, although their implementation is still scarce. However, drainage culvert under linear transport infrastructures could indirectly act as wildlife crossings by increasing landscape connectivity. Our aim is to identify which vertebrate species crossroad drains in a protected area in Almería (SE Spain). For this purpose, camera traps were installed in 8 transversal drainage culverts during a complete year (2023-2024), analysing the crossing events by different vertebrate species as well as their spatial and temporal patterns. The results showed that the drainage culverts can be used as wildlife crossings by vertebrate species of interest including mammals (e.g. Capra pyrenaica, Eliomys quercinus, Felis silvestris, Oryctolagus cuniculus) and reptiles (Testudo graeca, Timon nevadensis). An increase in vertebrate crossing rates was detected during the months of May-June and September-October. Most of the crossing events by mammals occurred at night, whereas those of ectotherms such as reptiles were detected during the day. We reported the first detections of T. graeca, an endangered reptile in Andalusia (Spain), crossing drainage culverts or non-wildlife crossing under a linear transport infrastructure in its whole distribution range. We conclude that in the absence of suitable and specific wildlife crossings, which need to be increasingly implemented in the short term, road culverts could have potential to improve the connectivity of vertebrate populations, including endangered species.
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    Patrones de actividad estacional y diaria de la tortuga mora (Testudo graeca L. 1758 ssp. graeca) en el sureste de la Península Ibérica
    (Murcia: Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 2002) Pérez, Irene; Giménez, Andrés; Anadón, José Daniel; Martínez, Marcelo; Esteve Selma, Miguel A.; Sin departamento asociado; Facultad de Biología
    En la Sierra de Almenara (Murcia) se siguieron, durante un año y medio, once individuos de Testudo graeca graeca (seis hembras y cinco machos) mediante técnicas de radiorrastreo para describir el patrón de actividad estacional y diario, localizando cada individuo semanalmente y hasta cinco veces al día. Para el estudio de la actividad estacional se utilizaron los porcentajes de observaciones mensuales de tortugas activas e inactivas y las distancias medias mensuales entre localizaciones semanales, y para la diaria se dividió el periodo del día con luz en cinco tramos horarios y se utilizó el número de individuos activos en cada uno de los periodos. Los resultados obtenidos describen un periodo principal de actividad durante la primavera y otro de inactividad en invierno. Además, en otoño la especie puede entrar en actividad, pero en este caso el periodo es de menor intensidad que en primavera, variando entre individuos, al igual que ocurre con el periodo de inactividad veraniega. En términos generales, los resultados obtenidos se asemejan a los observados en la población del suroeste peninsular, sin embargo, las poblaciones del suroeste de Marruecos no poseen esta estacionalidad bimodal ya que la especie no hiberna por disfrutar, durante el invierno, de unas temperaturas ambientales moderadas y favorables para la especie. Por otra parte, las principales diferencias encontradas con la población de Doñana, la duración del periodo de actividad primaveral, más prolongado en el suroeste, y las fechas en que ocurre el periodo de actividad otoñal, anticipadas en el sureste, parecen deberse a diferencias en el régimen térmico y pluviométrico de ambas regiones. El resultado es un periodo de actividad más prolongado en Doñana que en la población de estudio, lo que podría explicar el mayor tamaño de los individuos del suroeste