Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Bury, R. B., & Luckenbach, R. A. (2002). Comparison of desert tortoise (gopherus agassizii) populations in an unused and off-road vehicle are in the mojave desert. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 4(2), 457–463.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:35:25 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Bury2002 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Gopherus, Gopherus agassizii, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae Creators: Bury, Luckenbach Collection: Chelonian Conservation and Biology |
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| Abstract |
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Gopherus agassizii Testudinidae We examined habitat, abundance, and life history features of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) on two nearby 25-ha plots in the western Mojave Desert. An unused, natural plot had 1.7 times the number of live plants, 3.9 times the plant cover, 3.9 times the number of desert tortoises, and 4 times the active tortoise burrows than a nearby area used heavily by off-road vehicles (ORVs); these differences between the plots were all statistically significant. Further, the few large-sized tortoises in the ORV plot had less mass than those in the unused area. Although the scope of this study was limited to one paired-plot comparison, current data suggest that the operation of ORVs in the western Mojave Desert results in major reductions in habitat and tortoise numbers, and possibly the body mass of surviving tortoises. Recent ORV activities in the unused area negated our original design for a long-term comparison of tortoises in two relatively large, nearby control vs. treatment plots. Operation of ORVs is now a major recreation in the southwestern USA and its effect on wildlife merits increased research studies and management attention to better protect remaining natural resources.
Added by: Admin |