ИСТИНА

Testudo graeca nikolskii, which validity was confirmed at the genetic level, inhabits the Western Caucasus. Its area prolongs from Anapa city to Sukhumy city along the coastline of the Black Sea. One of the major key habitats of the subspecies, and one of the largest and most stable territorial groups of the Mediterranean tortoise T. g. nikolskii exists at the Abrau Peninsula. One of the purposes of Utrish reserve created in Russia in 2010 at the Abrau Peninsula is to protect this tortoise. Studies of T. g. nikolskii conducted since 1980 brought together an impressive material about its biology, ecology and biogeography. During field researches the tortoises were studied on the routes and permanent sites using tagging, radio telemetry tracking with subsequent measurements. Maximal T. g. nikolskii population density at the Abrau Peninsula reaches 10 ind./ha on the gentle slopes of the south-western and southern exposure within 100 m above sea level, covered with bushes, shiblyak, rock-oak forests and woodlands of juniper and pistachio. In other habitats average density is 1-5 ind./ha. Demographic structure is stable throughout many decades, adult males and females older than 20 years dominate (carapace length up to 249 mm) Younger generation are more variable in size, due to various (including anthropogenic) causes. T. g. nikolskii lives in nature approximately till 70 years and even more. Investigation of excrements and behavior showed that besides vegetation tortoises can consume carrion, eggs and nestlings. Hyalomma aegyptium is the ectoparasite of the tortoises. Some years density of the ticks can reach 50-55 individuals per one tortoise. Radio tracking showed that the tortoises can stay at one place for a long time or move rapidly to a big distance. Hibernation of the tortoises takes place at the gentle slopes in the broadleaf forests with thick litter. Mediterranean tortoise ecologically is very plastic. It can survive even in extremely rarefied space between individuals and the barriers between populations. The main negative influence on the tortoise population: reducing and cutting of the area, hunting of the domestic animals on the tortoises, collecting as the pets.