The effects of a large-scale fire on the demographic structure of a population of Hermann's (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovics, 1889) and Spur-thighed (Testudo graeca ibera Pallas, 1814) tortoises in Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Bulgaria

The numerous fires during the last decade in the area of Eastern Rhodopes (Southeastern Bulgaria) led to large losses of habitat for the Hermann’s (Testudo hermanni) and Spur-thighed (Testudo graeca) tortoises. The data from this study demonstrate that the fire in the vicinity of Kolets village, Haskovo district, has caused large negative impacts on the population of T. hermanni and slightly lower impacts on T. graeca. The average density of the populations of T. hermanni in the burned areas (D = 0.7 ind./ha) is 7.2 times lower than that of the control areas (D = 5.3 ind./ha). The differences in the population densities of T. graeca are smaller, but are still well pronounced -- the density for the burned area (D = 0.5 ind./ha) is 4.2 times lower than that of the control area (D = 2.0 ind./ha). The recorded mortality due to fire for T. hermanni is 64.3 %.