Soil Type Impacts Macrohabitat Selection and Spatiotemporal Activity Patterns of Testudo graeca in an Eastern Mediterranean Ecosystem

Habitat preference is determined by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic habitat features and species-specific requirements. In many terrestrial organisms, studies of habitat preference emphasize the role of vegetation. Yet, in land-dwelling ectotherms, an often-overlooked characteristic that may have a strong effect on habitat preference is soil type. We followed 18 Spur-thighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca) mounted with radio transmitters to quantify their seasonal activity patterns, home-range sizes, and preferred habitats, including soil type. We used Maximum Entropy to quantify the spatial distribution of Testudo graeca in the study area based on species occurrence records and nine environmental variables derived from LiDAR. We describe for the first time a strong preference for soil type in Testudo graeca, as well as preference for flat terrain (avoidance of steep slopes). Individuals avoided areas with dense woody vegetation and chose habitats containing heterogeneous vegetation, including isolated trees, shrubs, and open patches. We further found that individuals in the study area do not hibernate but decrease activity in summer-autumn. Finally, home-range size was comparable between the sexes. The overlapping home ranges within and between the sexes throughout the year, including the mating season, suggest that this species is not territorial.