Home Range, Reproduction, and Habitat Characteristics of the Female Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) in Southeast Georgia

The relationship among female gopher tortoise home range, size, reproduction, habitat characteristics and season were studied for a two-year period (May 2002-May 2004) on Fort Stewart Army Reserve (FSAR) in southeast Georgia. Tortoises were studied in four sectors or regions on Ft. Stewart that contain the longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem. Vegetation characteristics were consistent between the different areas that tortoises inhabited. Soil types were similar between areas and consisted of Blanton, Bonifay, Fuquay, Albany Sand, Chipley, Echaw, Centenary, Stilson and Tifton soil types. Vegetation, temperature, and rainfall data were collected and compared with female home range. Reproductive data were collected for the same females for three consecutive reproductive seasons (n=35). Yearly variation in reproductive output was observed within females but was not correlated with habitat characteristics or home range. Rainfall and temperature were monitored with a negative relationship observed between rainfall and reproduction. Female size was not correlated with home range. Home range was also not correlated with clutch size or habitat characteristics measured. Cumulative home range did tend to increase with study duration (one year vs. two-year).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Biology

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Maggie Jo

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ray Chandler
• Susan Langley

• ETD
• Gopher tortoise
• Gopherus polyphemus
• Home range
• Reproduction
• Habitat characteristics
• Ft Stewart Army Reserve

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/724

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1724