1. Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

2. Status Natural History Identification Threats to Species Importance of Species Management and Conservation Habitat Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

3. Identification Long-lived Related species in U.S.: Texas tortoise and desert tortoise, both in genus Gopherus Shovel like front feet adapted for digging Domed shell and stumpy feet Average adult size is 9-11 inches Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

4. Identification Gopher tortoise has unhinged plastron and carapace is generally unmarked Gopher tortoise lives in dry upland habitats Gopher Tortoise Florida Box Turtle Photo from Jamie Barichivich Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

5. Hatchling Identification  Yellowish orange in color  Approximately 1.7 inches in length Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

6. Age Determination in Tortoises Close up of adult scute Hatchling tortoise without growth rings Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

7. Sexual Dimorphism Males: – slightly smaller than females – have projection on plastron (underside of shell) – plastron is concave (indented) Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

8. Natural History Reproduction Distribution Burrows Activity Diet Hatchling Growth & Survival

9. Distribution photo from Joan Berish

10. Diet Grasses and other grass-like plants Legumes (plants with beans or pods) Fruits, including blackberries and fruit of the prickly pear cactus Legumes seem to be a favorite of juveniles photo from Joan Berish

11. Activity Active during warmest part of day, except in summer Spends most of its time in burrow, however most of its time above ground is spent basking, followed by walking and feeding Activity reduced during winter, especially in northern parts of range Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

12. Reproduction Female tortoises take 10-21 years to reach reproductive maturity, males take about 9-16 years. Mating occurs in early spring and nesting occurs in summer. Females lay clutch of about 6 eggs. photo from Joan Berish

13. Reproduction Nests are sometimes dug in apron of burrow. The nest site must be in a sunny area. Predation on eggs is high, especially during first week of deposition. Predators on nest are raccoons, opossums, and armadillos. Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

15. Hatchling Growth & Survival Incubation time depends on climate; eggs take longer to hatch in northern part of range Eggs hatch in about 80-90 days Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

16. Young may construct small burrows, or bury themselves in leaf litter or sand Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

17. Hatchling Growth & Survival The lowest survival rate of a gopher tortoise’s life occurs during the first few months Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

18. Growth & Survival Only predators on adult tortoises are humans and dogs Defensive position Expulsion of waste Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

19. Burrows Average 15 feet long and 6.5 feet deep Provide refuge from weather, predators, environmental disturbances Apron makes burrow easily recognizable Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

20. Burrows Remain at relatively constant temperature and humidity year-round Burrows are at center of home range activity One tortoise may use more than one burrow during the active season Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

21. Habitat Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

22. Habitat Necessary Components Well drained loose soils Sufficient low-lying herbaceous vegetation Sunlit sites Sandhill Habitat Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

23. Habitat Primarily inhabit sandhills Sand pine scrub, live oak hammocks, dry prairies, and mixed hardwood pine communities Disturbed areas, such as roadsides and old fields Also found in coastal dunes photo courtesy of Joan Berish Coastal Strand

24. Status Species of Special Concern in FL Protected to some extent across all its range photo from Joan Berish Unlawful to take, harm, harass or possess tortoises

25. Threats Direct threats from humans Habitat destruction Fire suppression Road mortality Disease Photo courtesy of Mark Hostetler

26. Direct Threats photo courtesy of Lora Smith Molestation from humans Predation from dogs is common, but its effects on tortoise populations unknown

27. Direct Threats Collection for tortoise races Major food source during the Depression Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

28. urbanization mining activities pine plantations Habitat destruction Loss and/or destruction of upland habitat caused by: Tortoise Habitat Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

29. Habitat Destruction Pine plantations are monocultures dominated by pine trees with low plant diversity Monocultures prevent: –Growth of low-lying food plants, such as legumes and cacti –Adequate sunlight for nesting sites Why aren’t sand pine plantations suitable tortoise habitat? Some clear-cutting and site prep practices may harm tortoises

30. Fires Fires are a natural part of sandhill community They keep the habitat suitable for tortoises by: –stimulating higher yields of tortoise food plants –preventing community succession Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

31. Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

33. Road Mortality Tortoise road mortality is even high in rural areas. Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

34. Disease Upper respiratory tract disease, (URTD), caused by a naturally occurring bacterium known as a mycoplasma infected healthy Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

35. Disease Disease probably made worse by stress put on tortoise populations by humans Spread by close contact Seemingly healthy tortoise may be a carrier Tortoise may get “sicker quicker” upon secondary infection Disease may be spread into uninfected population by tortoise pet releases and tortoise relocation

36. Disease Complications of URTD: Blood tests only report exposure, not infection of disease Mycoplasmal infection known to cause die-offs in western Gopherus species Effects on gopher tortoise not fully understood URTD may be spread through tortoise relocation projects photo courtesy of Joan Berish

37. Disease Currently populations of infected tortoises are being monitored to learn about URTD’s effects on the species Photo courtesy of Joan Berish

38. Importance of Species Burrows are important refuges for many organisms in the tortoise’s community Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding Gopher Frog

39. Importance of Species Burrow Occupants Gopher Frog Indigo Snake Hognose Snake Photo by Jamie Barichivich Photo from Camp Blanding

40. Removal of the species from its community would have a harmful effect on many other organisms in the community Keystone species: Importance of Species Protection of tortoises and their burrows helps all organisms that use the tortoise burrows Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

41. Importance of Species Gopher tortoises inhabit two declining ecosystems : old longleaf pine communities, home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker scrub habitat, home to the threatened scrub jay Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

42. Importance of Species Burrow mounds provide a foothold to young plants Burrowing returns leached nutrients to the surface Tortoises are seed dispersers Aprons provide suitable sand for “swimming” skinks Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

43. Sand Skink photo by Jamie Barichivich

44. Mitigation Tortoise mitigation and conservation is a controversial issue between biologists and land developers Developers have several options when building on land with active burrows photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

45. Mitigation Do not develop on site with active burrows Avoid burrows Tortoise captured, released on-site Mitigation banking Tortoise relocation off-site photo courtesy of Joan Berish Developer’s Options

46. Mitigation banking Highly controversial Allows developer to entomb tortoises Suitable habitat purchased elsewhere Photo courtesy of Lora Smith

47. Relocation An environmental consultant is hired to capture and relocate tortoises Potentially harmful to existing population Low site fidelity photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

48. Conservation Strategies Habitat management Establishment of preserves Protection from poaching Public education photo courtesy of Alan Long

49. Restock populations in areas tortoises once lived Nest enclosures to increase hatching rate and and provide head start for hatchlings Conservation Strategies photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

50. Summary Gopher tortoises are protected throughout their range, listed as Species of Special Concern in Florida Must have well drained soil, low-lying herbacious plants, and enough sunlight for nests Habitat loss is the major threat on tortoises today URTD threat increased due to stress on populations

51. Summary Relocation option is least effective because it does not provide permanent solution Controlled fires, habitat preservation, and plans to increase survivorship of eggs and young are all conservation strategies Protection of tortoise habitat provides protection for other listed species Burrows provide refuge for over 350 animals

52. Join the Gopher Tortoise Council. Visit their website at www.gophertortoisecouncil.org What you can do to help: Notify Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) if land with active burrows is slated for development. http://wld.fwc.state.fl.us/fwc_dir/offices.htm Report harassing, collecting, or killing of tortoises to FWC. Do not attempt to relocate tortoises yourself. Photo courtesy of Camp Blanding

53. For More Information To find out more about gopher tortoises in Florida, visit the UF/IFAS extension website at: www.ifas.ufl.edu/extension www.floridaconservation.org

54. Acknowledgments Created by Audrey Owens and Dr.Mark Hostetler, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida In conjunction with: Joan Diemer-Berish, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation; Lora Smith, Gopher Tortoise Council Photo credits: Camp Blanding