Current Search: Honors Student Theses (x) » Wildlife conservation (x) » Wildlife management (x)
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Title
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Breeding season and fecundity of Gopherus polyphemus in South Florida.
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Creator
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Strattan, Melody., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
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Abstract/Description
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The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is a threatened species native to the southeastern United States. The breeding season of G. polyphemus is reportedly from April to June. However, out of season hatchlings in Jupiter, Florida, suggest that in South Florida, the very southernmost part of the gopher tortoise's range, the warmer climate allows a longer period of reproduction or a year-round breeding season. My research sought to find evidence for an extended breeding season and to collect...
Show moreThe gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is a threatened species native to the southeastern United States. The breeding season of G. polyphemus is reportedly from April to June. However, out of season hatchlings in Jupiter, Florida, suggest that in South Florida, the very southernmost part of the gopher tortoise's range, the warmer climate allows a longer period of reproduction or a year-round breeding season. My research sought to find evidence for an extended breeding season and to collect fecundity data on the South Florida tortoises by capturing female tortoises and X-raying them at different times of the year to check for the presence of eggs. Although I found no conclusive proof of an extended breeding season, I present additional circumstantial evidence for it, as well as information regarding the fecundity of tortoises in the spring.
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Date Issued
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2007
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11604
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Subject Headings
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Gopher tortoise, Reproduction, Gopher tortoise, Breeding, Wildlife conservation, Wildlife management
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Occurrence and demographics of upper respiratory tract disease in the Abacoa Greenway gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).
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Creator
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Mendoza, Tatiana Alexandra., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
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Abstract/Description
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Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is a highly contagious illness, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma agassazii. URTD has affected the gopher tortoise population in the Abacoa Greenway, and is believed to have a high mortality rate. In this study, 18 samples of tortoise blood were collected from this location. Fifteen of the 18 samples were collected from previously tested individuals. Comparisons between the previously tested tortoises were made. According to this study there is no...
Show moreUpper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is a highly contagious illness, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma agassazii. URTD has affected the gopher tortoise population in the Abacoa Greenway, and is believed to have a high mortality rate. In this study, 18 samples of tortoise blood were collected from this location. Fifteen of the 18 samples were collected from previously tested individuals. Comparisons between the previously tested tortoises were made. According to this study there is no documented mortality rate with URTD in Abacoa. Results show that four tortoises have continued to test positive for the antibodies for several years, suggesting a chronic state of the disease. Four other tortoises have gone from positive results to negative results indicating that their immune systems' production of antibodies has tapered off, suggesting the ability to recover from the disease.
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Date Issued
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2008
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77679
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Subject Headings
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Greenways, Gopher tortoise, Diseases, Mycoplasm diseases in animals, Wildlife management, Wildlife conservation
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Format
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Document (PDF)