Evaluation of evidence supporting the effectiveness of desert tortoise recovery actions
Scientific Investigations Report
2006-5143
By: William I. Boarman and William B. Kristan
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Abstract
As a federally threatened species, the desert tortoise's (Gopherus agassizii) recovery is required under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to the criteria established by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994) for delisting the tortoise from ESA protection, the species
as a whole will be considered recovered when tortoises have exhibited a statistically significant upward trend for at least one tortoise generation (25 years), enough habitat is protected to allow persistence, provisions are in place to maintain discrete population growth rates at or above 1.0, regulatory measures are in place to ensure continued management of tortoise habitat, and there is no longer reason to believe that the species will require ESA protection in the future. Just as species extinction can be thought of as the cumulative extinction of all populations, species recovery can be thought of as recovery of constituent populations; management efforts for recovery generally are implemented and assessed at the population level. A recent review of the Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan, including an exhaustive literature search, has been compiled by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan Assessment Committee (Tracy et al. 2004).
Suggested Citation
Boarman, W.I., and Kristan, W.B., 2006, Evaluation of evidence supporting the effectiveness of desert tortoise recovery actions: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5143, vii, 27 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20065143.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Evaluation of evidence supporting the effectiveness of desert tortoise recovery actions |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2006-5143 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20065143 |
| Year Published | 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | vii, 27 p. |
| First page | 0 |
| Last page | 0 |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |