nad a22 4500 551468491 20181215081821.0 cr unu---uuuuu 181215e20181101xx s 000 0 eng 10.5167/uzh-159667 doi 10.1002/zoo.21449 doi (ZORA)oai:www.zora.uzh.ch:159667 570 ddc 630 ddc Evaluation of artificial heating sources for the thermoregulation of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in Zurich zoo [Elektronische Daten] [Wilfredo Falcón, Samuel Furrer, Martin Bauert, Jean-Michel Hatt, Dennis M Hansen, Marcus Clauss] restrictedAccess eu-repo We recorded the thermoregulatory patterns of five Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) (25-193 kg) during spring (ZRH spring trial), after the installation of a heating area (concrete heat pad and basking lamp) at Zurich Zoo, Switzerland. The measurements were compared to published results on the same tortoises observed prior to the installation of the heater (ZRH summer and winter trials), and on wild tortoises on Aldabra Atoll. The mean environmental temperature outside the heating area was 23.3 °C, significantly lower compared to Aldabra Atoll (30.3 °C; r ange: 23.8-43.8 °C), and to the environmental temperature range at which tortoises maximize their activity in the wild (Ta-opt; 25.8-31.7 °C). The heating area exhibited a mean temperature of 36.3 °C, and tortoises that made use of the heating area were able to maintain a mean core body temperature (Tbc) of 30.0 °C, which was comparable to the Tbc of tortoises during ZRH summer and on Aldabra trials, and an improvement over the mean Tbc recorded during the ZRH winter trial (21.2 °C). The smaller individuals reached the upper limits of Tbc recommended for the species, probably due to heating pad temperatures above Ta-opt.We discuss current practices to provide external heating sources for tortoises and how this method can be used to provide an adequate thermal environment for large captive reptiles. Finally, we provide recommendations for the installation of artificial heating sources for tortoises and large reptiles. Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies zora Department of Small Animals zora Animal Science and Zoology, General Medicine zora Falcón Wilfredo joint author Furrer Samuel joint author Bauert Martin joint author Hatt Jean-Michel joint author Hansen Dennis M. joint author Clauss Marcus joint author Zoo Biology 37(6):458-465 https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/159667/1/ZooBiol_tortoise_temperature_2018.pdf text/html WWW-Backlink auf das Repository 1 Journal Article PeerReviewed zora SNSF/Projectfunding/31003A_143940/CH zora grantAgreement ZORA 856 40 https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/159667/1/ZooBiol_tortoise_temperature_2018.pdf text/html WWW-Backlink auf das Repository ZORA 700 1- Falcón Wilfredo joint author ZORA 700 1- Furrer Samuel joint author ZORA 700 1- Bauert Martin joint author ZORA 700 1- Hatt Jean-Michel joint author ZORA 700 1- Hansen Dennis M. joint author ZORA 700 1- Clauss Marcus joint author ZORA 773 0- Zoo Biology 37(6):458-465 BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 ZORA ZORA ZORA Journal Article restrictedAccess