Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) are selective herbivores that track the flowering phenology of their preferred food plants. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2015 Previous studies of desert tortoise foraging ecology in the western Mojave Desert suggest that these animals are selective herbivores, which alter their diet according to the temporal availability of preferred food plants. These studies, however, did not
W Bryan Jennings, Kristin H Berry
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Strong Signatures of Selection on Candidate Genes Underlying Core Speciation Mechanisms in Desert Tortoises. [PDF]
Mol Ecol ResourABSTRACT Genomic incompatibilities and differential ecological adaptation are thought to be fundamental mechanisms of speciation. In this study, we generated a chromosome‐scale reference genome and annotation for Gopherus morafkai , the Sonoran Desert tortoise, and conducted a detailed analysis of genes under positive selection with its sister species,
Baty SM +6 more
europepmc +2 more sources
Mapping species of greatest conservation need and solar energy potential in the arid Southwest for future sustainable development [PDF]
PeerJThe need for renewable energy has become increasingly evident in response to the climate change crisis, presenting a paradoxical challenge to biodiversity conservation.
Kylee Fleckenstein +3 more
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Remote Sensing, 2017 The Southwestern United States desert serves as the host for several threatened and endangered species, one of which is the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).
Michael Young +2 more
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Potentially toxic elements in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoises: tissue concentrations and association with disease [PDF]
Frontiers in Veterinary ScienceBackgroundDesert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations have continued to decline due to infectious and other diseases, predation, and habitat alteration. The potential contribution of minerals and heavy metals to tortoise health and susceptibility to
Kristin H. Berry +2 more
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Upper respiratory tract disease and associated diagnostic tests of mycoplasmosis in Alabama populations of Gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2019 Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in North American tortoises (Gopherus) has been the focus of numerous laboratory and field investigations, yet the prevalence and importance of this disease remains unclear across many tortoise populations ...
Jeffrey M Goessling +6 more
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Scat as a source of DNA for population monitoring [PDF]
Ecology and Evolution, 2022 Sampling fecal droppings (scat) to genetically identify individual animals is an established method for monitoring mammal populations and could be highly useful for monitoring reptile populations. Whereas existing protocols for obtaining DNA from reptile
Jeffrey A. Manning +5 more
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Ephemeral vegetation drivers of occupancy dynamics of Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii)
EcosphereUnderstanding the factors associated with the probability of a species occurring across the landscape has become a foundational component of wildlife management and monitoring.
Seth M. Harju +2 more
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Remote Sensing in Ecology and ConservationDriving off‐highway vehicles (OHVs), which contributes to habitat degradation and fragmentation, is a common recreational activity in the United States and other parts of the world, particularly in desert environments with fragile ecosystems.
Alexander J. Robillard +8 more
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Conservation Science and PracticeConsiderable progress has been made in understanding the effects of stressors on Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations, yet information about how stressors may vary across jurisdictions, space, and time is lacking.
Kerry E. Grimm +6 more
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