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Habitat structure and the dispersion of gopher tortoises on a nature preserve

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Date Issued:
1991
Summary:
Environmental parameters were quantified to develop a physiognomically-based system for describing and predicting gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) habitat on the Florida Atlantic University Nature Preserve. There were significant correlations among gopher tortoise densities and all physiognomic features except saw palmettos. The only feature with predictive usefulness was bare ground as indicated by a multiple regression. Burrows were regularly dispersed and the highest densities occurred in wet prairie associations. Tortoises located burrows in areas with less canopy and shrub cover but greater herbaceous cover and more extensive bare ground. This physiognomically-based system for predicting location of gopher tortoise habitats should prove useful in the relocation of displaced tortoises as required by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Title: Habitat structure and the dispersion of gopher tortoises on a nature preserve.
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Name(s): Stewart, Mary Catherine.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Austin, Daniel F., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1991
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 47 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Environmental parameters were quantified to develop a physiognomically-based system for describing and predicting gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) habitat on the Florida Atlantic University Nature Preserve. There were significant correlations among gopher tortoise densities and all physiognomic features except saw palmettos. The only feature with predictive usefulness was bare ground as indicated by a multiple regression. Burrows were regularly dispersed and the highest densities occurred in wet prairie associations. Tortoises located burrows in areas with less canopy and shrub cover but greater herbaceous cover and more extensive bare ground. This physiognomically-based system for predicting location of gopher tortoise habitats should prove useful in the relocation of displaced tortoises as required by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Identifier: 14720 (digitool), FADT14720 (IID), fau:11511 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1991.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Gopher tortoise
Reptiles--Florida
Wildlife conservation--Florida
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14720
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.