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Kissel AM, Wallace B, Anderson J, Dickson BG, Van Neste K, Landau V, Averill‐Murray RC, Allison LJ, Fesnock A. Range‐wide occupancy trends for the Mojave desert tortoise (
Gopherus agassizii
). Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
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Lara-Reséndiz RA, Rosen PC, Sinervo B, Miles DB, Méndez-de La Cruz FR. Habitat thermal quality for Gopherus evgoodei in tropical deciduous forest and consequences of habitat modification by buffelgrass. J Therm Biol 2022; 104:103192. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Dickson BG, Scherer RD, Kissel AM, Wallace BP, Langin KM, Gray ME, Scheib AF, Weise B. Multiyear monitoring of survival following mitigation-driven translocation of a long-lived threatened reptile. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:1094-1105. [PMID: 30793368 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Translocation is used by managers to mitigate the negative impacts of development on species. Moving individuals to a new location is challenging, and many translocation attempts have failed. Robust, posttranslocation monitoring is therefore important for evaluating effects of translocation on target species. We evaluated the efficacy of a translocation designed to mitigate the effects of a utility-scale solar energy project on the U.S. federally listed Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). The species is a long-lived reptile threatened by a variety of factors, including habitat loss due to renewable energy development in the Mojave Desert and portions of the Colorado Desert in southern California (southwestern United States). We translocated 58 individual tortoises away from the project's construction site and intensively monitored them over 5 years (2012-2017). We monitored these individuals and tortoises located in the translocation release area (resident tortoises; n = 112) and control tortoises (n = 149) in a nearby location. We used our tortoise encounter data and known-fate survival models to estimate annual and cumulative survival. Translocated tortoises in each of 2 size classes (120-160 mm, >160 mm) did not survive at lower rates than resident and control tortoises over the study period. For models with different sets of biotic and abiotic covariates, annual and cumulative estimates of survival were always >0.87 and >0.56, respectively. Larger tortoises tended to have higher survival, but translocated tortoises were not differentially affected by the covariates used to model variation in survival. Based on these findings, our translocation design and study protocols could inform other translocation projects for desert species. Our case study highlights the benefits of combining rigorous scientific monitoring with well-designed, mitigation-driven management actions to reduce the negative effects of development on species of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett G Dickson
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 5694, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011-5694, U.S.A
| | - Rick D Scherer
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - Amanda M Kissel
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - Bryan P Wallace
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - Kathryn M Langin
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - Miranda E Gray
- Conservation Science Partners, Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - Amanda F Scheib
- Scheib Biological LLC, 2625 Chateau Clermont Street, Henderson, NV, 89044, U.S.A
| | - Bruce Weise
- Southwestern Ecological Research Company, 215 E. 18th Street, Tucson, AZ, 85701, U.S.A
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Averill-Murray RC, Christopher TE, Henen BT. Reproductive Ecology and Life History of Female Sonoran Desert Tortoises (Gopherus morafkai). HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 2018. [DOI: 10.1655/herpmonographs-d-18-00003.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roy C. Averill-Murray
- Nongame Branch, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA
| | - Terry E. Christopher
- Smithsonian Institution, Department of Zoological Research, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Brian T. Henen
- Smithsonian Institution, Department of Zoological Research, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC 20008, USA
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Lovich JE, Puffer SR, Agha M, Ennen JR, Meyer-Wilkins K, Tennant LA, Smith AL, Arundel TR, Brundige KD, Vamstad MS. Reproductive Output and Clutch Phenology of Female Agassiz's Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in the Sonoran Desert Region of Joshua Tree National Park. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.37.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey E. Lovich
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, MS-9394, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Shellie R. Puffer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, MS-9394, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Mickey Agha
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Joshua R. Ennen
- Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, Tennessee Aquarium, 175 Baylor School Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405, USA
| | | | - Laura A. Tennant
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, MS-9394, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Amanda L. Smith
- Sonoran Institute, 100 North Stone Ave Suite 400, Tucson, AZ 85701, USA
| | - Terence R. Arundel
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, MS-9394, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Kathleen D. Brundige
- Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, 73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 200, Palm Desert, CA 92260–2516, USA
| | - Michael S. Vamstad
- National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277–3597, USA
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Loehr VJT. Thermoregulatory challenges in the habitat of the world's smallest tortoise, Chersobius signatus. J Therm Biol 2018; 71:62-68. [PMID: 29301701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ectotherms have various means of dealing with low environmental temperatures, but relatively few species have been rigorously investigated. Consequently, we have little information to predict how ectotherm populations might respond to global temperature changes. Tortoises from temperate and subtropical regions often overcome periodically cool conditions by hibernation, but speckled dwarf tortoises (Chersobius signatus) need to remain active to exploit ephemeral resources in their arid winter-rainfall habitat. This study investigated how dwarf tortoises cope with low temperatures in winter and spring, by measuring thermal habitat quality and thermoregulation based on differently-sized operative temperature models in sun, shade, and in deep crevices. Investigations continued in summer and autumn to obtain a year-round picture of thermoregulatory challenges. Although large models (i.e., larger than dwarf tortoises) were expected to have lower operative temperatures than smaller models, due to the former's larger thermal inertia, all model sizes had similar temperatures. Hence, the species' small body size does not appear constrained by obtainable body temperatures in cool seasons. Nevertheless, low operative temperatures in winter posed a challenge for the tortoises, which reached their field-preferred body temperature for an average of only 0.8-0.9h per day. Moreover, a low thermoregulation effectiveness suggested that tortoises traded-off physiological benefits of favourable body temperatures against predation risk. Spring and autumn provided higher temperatures, but summer caused the greatest thermoregulatory challenge. Although summer body temperatures were closer to field-preferred body temperature than in any other season, tortoises required rock crevices to avoid overheating. The small size of dwarf tortoises might help them utilise crevices. In summer, maximum operative temperatures in crevices were similar to field-preferred body temperature, indicating that an increase in environmental temperatures might be detrimental to dwarf tortoises. In light of projected temperature rises, future studies should assess if dwarf tortoises can cope with higher environmental temperatures in summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor J T Loehr
- Homopus Research Foundation, Kwikstaartpad 1, 3403ZH IJsselstein, The Netherlands.
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Nafus MG, Tuberville TD, Buhlmann KA, Todd BD. Precipitation quantity and timing affect native plant production and growth of a key herbivore, the desert tortoise, in the Mojave Desert. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1186/s40665-017-0032-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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