SREL Reprint #3350

Habitat selection by juvenile Mojave desert tortoises

Brian D. Todd1, Brian J. Halstead2, Lindsay P. Chiquoine1, J. Mark Peaden1, Kurt A. Buhlmann3,
Tracey D. Tuberville3, and Melia G. Nafus4

1Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis,
One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
2U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station,
800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, USA
3University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
4San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Rd,
Escondido, CA 92027, USA

Abstract: Growing pressure to develop public lands for renewable energy production places several protected species at increased risk of habitat loss. One example is the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a species often at the center of conflicts over public land development. For this species and others on public lands, a better understanding of their habitat needs can help minimize negative impacts and facilitate protection or restoration of habitat. We used radio-telemetry to track 46 neonate and juvenile tortoises in the Eastern Mojave Desert, California, USA, to quantify habitat at tortoise locations and paired random points to assess habitat selection. Tortoise locations near burrows weremore likely to be under canopy cover and had greater coverage of perennial plants (especially creosote [Larrea tridentata]), more coverage by washes, a greater number of small-mammal burrows, and fewer white bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) than random points. Active tortoise locations away from burrows were closer to washes and perennial plants than were random points. Our results can help planners locate juvenile tortoises and avoid impacts to habitat critical for this life stage. Additionally, our results provide targets for habitat protection and restoration and suggest that diverse and abundant small-mammal populations and the availability of creosote bush are vital for juvenile desert tortoises in the Eastern Mojave Desert.

Keywords: California, development, Gopherus agassizii, habitat selection, Mojave Desert, renewable energy, restoration, solar energy

SREL Reprint #3350

Todd, B. D., B. J. Halstead, L. P. Chiquoine, J. M. Peaden, K. A. Buhlmann, T. D. Tuberville, and M. G. Nafus. 2016. Habitat selection by juvenile Mojave desert tortoises. The Journal of Wildlife Management 80(4): 720-728.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).