Literaturdatenbank
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Hermann, S. M., Guyer, C., Waddle, J. H., & Nelms, G. M. (2002). Sampling on private property to evaluate population status and effects of land use practices on the gopher tortoise, gopherus polyphemus. Biological Conservation, 108(3), 289–298.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:37:16 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Hermann2002 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Gopherus, Gopherus polyphemus, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae Creators: Guyer, Hermann, Nelms, Waddle Collection: Biological Conservation |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Although private properties are predicted to play an increasingly significant role in conservation, surveys of species of special concern are rare on these lands. We created a template for a multi-county survey of randomly selected sites and sampled for burrows of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in south-central Georgia, USA. Current land use was strongly correlated with tortoise population condition. The highest densities of tortoise burrows were found on lands with open-canopied pine stands that were managed with prescribed fire, a practice associated with types of selection forestry and/or wildlife management. Agricultural sites and unburned areas provided poor habitat and pine plantations were only slightly better. Our estimates of tortoise population densities indicated that the current landscape supports less than 20% of the animals present before implementation of modern land use practices. In addition, our estimate for density of active burrows was approximately one third of that projected for the entire state range 20 years ago by Auffenberg and Franz . However, some good sites for gopher tortoises remain in south Georgia and our data also suggested that extraordinary conservation actions may not be required if ways can be developed to retain traditional land management practices on private property.
Added by: Admin |