Gopherus agassizii (desert tortoise). Burrow collapse
Herpetological Review
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Abstract
In the deserts of the southwestern U.S., burrows are utilized by the Desert Tortoise to escape environmental extremes (reviewed by Ernst and Lovich 2009. Turtles of the United States and Canada. 2nd ed. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 827 pp.). However, the potential for mortality through burrow collapse and entrapment is poorly documented. Nicholson and Humphreys (1981. Proceedings of the Desert Tortoise Council, pp. 163−194) suggested that collapse due to livestock trampling may cause mortality. In addition, Lovich et al. (2011. Chelon. Cons. Biol. 10[1]:124–129) documented a Desert Tortoise that used a steel culvert as a burrow surrogate. The culvert filled completely with sediment following a significant rain event, entombing the animal and ultimately resulting in its death. We note that this mortality was associated with an anthropogenic structure; because tortoises are prodigious diggers, one might hypothesize that they have the ability to dig out of collapsed natural burrows in most situations. Circumstances described here presented us with an opportunity to test this hypothesis.
Suggested Citation
Loughran, C.L., Ennen, J., Lovich, J.E., 2011, Gopherus agassizii (desert tortoise). Burrow collapse: Herpetological Review, v. 42, no. 4, p. 593-593.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Gopherus agassizii (desert tortoise). Burrow collapse |
| Series title | Herpetological Review |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles |
| Contributing office(s) | Southwest Biological Science Center |
| Description | 1 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Herpetological Review |
| First page | 593 |
| Last page | 593 |