Tortoise Faecal Decomposition Monitoring
As part of the Pre RaCE seasonal monitoring here on Aldabra one of the focusses of our studies is on Soil Ecology. Soils underpin terrestrial ecosystems, and their ecology is key to understanding ecosystem health and the impacts of environmental changes. Soil anchors roots, holds water, stores nutrients and carbon, and is home to numerous macro- and micro-organisms that fix nitrogen, decompose organic matter and are essential to many other species and processes. As part of this monitoring, litter decomposition is being investigated, and one branch of this includes monitoring Aldabra Giant Tortoise Faeces decomposition. The monitoring will track changes in tortoise faecal decomposition rates pre- and post-eradication. The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is the largest vertebrate on the atoll. It is likely to play key functional roles much like continental herbivores and can be considered an ecosystem engineer. Tortoises are known to modify their habitats through seed...
