Gopher Tortoise Demographic Responses to a Novel Disturbance Regime

2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter J. Howell ◽  
Betsie B. Rothermel ◽  
K. Nicole White ◽  
Christopher A. Searcy
Keyword(s):  
Disturbance Regime ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Demographic Responses

scholarly journals Comprehensive health assessment and blood analyte reference intervals of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in southeastern FL, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Page-Karjian ◽  
Kathleen Rafferty ◽  
Clerson Xavier ◽  
Nicole I Stacy ◽  
Jon A Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Protein ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Gopherus Polyphemus ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Mycoplasma Spp

Abstract The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a keystone species, is declining throughout its geographic range. Lack of knowledge with respect to the potential infectious diseases present within wild populations creates a dilemma for wildlife biologists, conservationists and public policy makers. The objective of this study was to conduct a health assessment of two previously unstudied gopher tortoise aggregations located at two sites in southeastern FL. Samples were collected from 91 tortoises (48 adults, 35 juveniles, 8 hatchlings) captured at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, in Fort Pierce, FL, USA in 2019, and Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach, FL, USA, during 2018–2019. Samples of blood, nasal swabs and oral/cloacal swabs were analyzed for hematology, plasma protein electrophoretic profiles and infectious disease testing including Mycoplasma spp. serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for Ranavirus, Herpesvirus and Anaplasma spp. Hematological and plasma protein electrophoresis reference intervals are presented for adult and juvenile tortoises from both sites combined. Clinical signs consistent with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) were observed in 18/91 (20%) tortoises, and antibodies to Mycoplasma agassizii were detected in 33/77 (42.9%) tortoises. Adult tortoises were significantly more likely than juveniles to have URTD clinical signs, and statistically significant, positive relationships were observed between the presence of antibodies to Mycoplasma spp. and carapace length, packed cell volume and plasma globulin concentrations. Anaplasma spp. inclusions were observed in 8/82 (10%) tortoises, but PCR detected Anaplasma sp. in 21/83 (25%) tortoises. Herpesvirus and Ranavirus were not detected in any blood or swab samples. This work contributes important baseline information on the health of gopher tortoises toward the southern end of the species’ range.

scholarly journals Demographic responses underlying eco‐evolutionary dynamics as revealed with inverse modelling

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 768-779
Author(s):  
Marjolein Bruijning ◽  
Eelke Jongejans ◽  
Martin M. Turcotte
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Inverse Modelling ◽  
Demographic Responses

Plasticity in Abundance and Demographic Responses of Walleye to Elevated Exploitation in a North‐Temperate Lake

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg G. Sass ◽  
Stephanie L. Shaw ◽  
Logan W. Sikora ◽  
Matthew Lorenzoni ◽  
Mark Luehring
Keyword(s):  
Temperate Lake ◽  
Demographic Responses
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