Gopher tortoises

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5FwvUD2e94 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQSZjgl6Iss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF8UAEVWgwk

Tortoise facts Gopherus polyphemus 1 of 4 tortoise species in North America Family Testudinidae Desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii Texas tortoise Gopherus berlandieri Sonoran Desert tortoise Gopherus morafkai

Gopher tortoise Range:

Gopher tortoise ecology Like other NA tortoises, inhabits relatively arid environments in its range (sandhill, scrub, coastal scrub primarily here in FL) Often found in disturbed sites (retention ponds, roadsides) Not often found in association with sites with standing water/high water tables, although they can swim. Limiting factors (other than standing water) include difficult soils (compacted, clays), unbroken canopy, dense ground-level shrubby vegetation

Gopher tortoise ecology Primary remaining native grazer in FL grasslands Higher densities often associated with higher density (ground cover) of herbaceous vegetation Food items include broadleaf grasses, legumes, cacti (Opuntia), wiregrass (early spring), and opportunistic foraging (seeds, fruits, flowers) Potentially an important disperser for native grasses and other plants

Gopher tortoise biology Long-lived species (?) Females reach sexual maturity after 12-15 years Low fecundity (clutch size is ~ 5-6 eggs, single clutch per year) Mating and nesting occurs in the spring Eggs incubate over 100 days in the burrows Vast majority of eggs and young are killed (some reports estimate populations may only produce young that survive beyond the first year every 7 years or so. Racoons are primary nest predators, but lots of others

Gopher tortoise burrows Burrow depth limited by the water table Affect soil chemistry Serve as sites for plant recruitment Serve as key soil disturbance necessary for soil swimming vertebrates (e.g. sand skinks) Serve as refuge for numerous species (indigo snakes, Florida mouse) Hundreds of commensal species (flies, beetles, etc.)

Reasons for decline/threats Primary factors: habitat loss, habitat degradation (fire suppression), human predation Habitat loss: urban development is generally incompatible with tortoise ecology Habitat degradation: roads (roadkill), dense vegetation (due to lack of burning), loss of food plants (due to lack of burning) makes habitat unsuitable causing abandonment and/or death Gopher tortoise has been a food item for over 4000 years for humans. Until recently, regularly taken as food. Now illegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNknz8hYTRs Discuss issues of tortoise relocation (unexpected threats, problems)