Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Bolt, R. M. , Gopher tortoises: searching for solutions to difficult problems. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 22:23:36 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Bolt2007 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Gopherus, Gopherus polyphemus, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae Creators: Bolt Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2007 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is a moderate-sized (25 cm, 4 kg) tortoise that occurs from southeastern Louisiana to southeastern South Carolina and in all 67 counties in Florida. It is legally protected throughout its range, either federally (west of the Tombigbee River drainage) or by state regulations. The gopher tortoise inhabits dry, sandy upland habitats, as well as disturbed areas such as pastures, old fields, fencerows, golf course roughs, and vegetated road shoulders. Although considered upland creatures, gopher tortoises also use some wetland habitats, particularly drier portions of shallow freshwater marshes and swales, for feeding. The gopher tortoise is deemed a “keystone species” in its community, primarily because of its burrows; a single tortoise will dig and maintain several burrows within its home range. Burrows serve as protection from temperature extremes, fire, predators, inclement weather, and other threats. The burrow is not only an essential component of the gopher tortoise’s life history, but also 350-400 other species of invertebrates and vertebrates have been documented utilizing gopher tortoise burrows. The extirpation of gopher tortoises from an area often causes the entire community to change drastically or collapse. The characteristics of gopher tortoise habitat render it a prime target for land development. Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida. Rampant population growth and all of its associated dilemmas continue to impact gopher tortoises and many other wildlife species through habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. Most of the myriad threats to gopher tortoise populations (e.g., road mortality, isolation and extinction of small populations, lack of habitat management in urbanizing areas) can be traced back to the disappearance of suitable habitat. In Florida, gopher tortoises are under the legal jurisdiction of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and are protected as a Species of Special Concern. However, this protection is limited to the tortoise and not its habitat. In order to use a piece of land, developers are required to estimate the tortoise population, and then choose one of three options: 1) relocate five or fewer tortoises to an undeveloped area on-site (minimal review), 2) relocate more than five tortoises on-site or off-site (more stringent review), or 3) pay for an “incidental take” permit that allows the land to be developed without removing the tortoises. The money from an incidental take permit is put into a fund to purchase and manage habitat, generally in gopher tortoise mitigation parks within the state. Each of the three options has its own pitfalls, particularly when done without proper knowledge, planning, or oversight. For more than 20 years, many thousands of tortoises have been either crowded into green space set aside within developments, moved off-site to areas that were not protected or thoroughly evaluated for habitat quality, or displaced or killed outright by the development process. Little monitoring of the success of relocation projects has been required, so minimal data have been gathered to improve techniques or methods. It was not until after 2000, as a result of increased scientific research, public outcry, and changes in the state’s listing process that policy changes were initiated. In 2005-2006, a biological review panel of scientists examined the existing knowledge base and recommended to the FWC that the gopher tortoise’s legal status be upgraded from Species of Special Concern to Threatened. Concurrently, the FWC assembled an issue team to assess the validity and effectiveness of the regulations governing gopher tortoise conservation in Florida, and the team was tasked with writing a new management plan. Additionally, a stakeholders group consisting of diverse interested parties (developers, environmental consultants, conservation organizations, mining and forestry companies, local governments, humane interests, etc.) was formed and met regularly to provide input to the management plan creation process. The management plan addresses every conceivable aspect of gopher tortoise conservation, including permitting and law enforcement, habitat preservation and management, population and disease management, research and monitoring, and education and outreach. As of the writing of this abstract (May 2007), the draft plan is undergoing its second review by the public. The plan and upgraded status recommendation will be presented to the FWC commissioners in June 2007 for preliminary approval. The plan will then be revised again this summer and presented to the FWC commissioners in September 2007 for final approval. At that time, the species’ status will be officially reclassified to Threatened. Few wildlife issues in Florida have generated the controversy and emotion as that of the plight of the gopher tortoise. The lure of a “feel-good”, simplistic solution (relocation) has been embraced by many people, particularly those without a good understanding of the complex biological issues that accompany such manipulations of nature. It is hoped that the combination of scientists, stakeholders, and regulators can formulate a management plan that will not only conserve the species, but also the entire natural community on which it depends. If the final adopted Florida plan proves to be worthwhile, it will likely become the template for other state management plans throughout the tortoise’s range as these states face his or her own encroaching development and wildlife conservation dilemmas.
Added by: Admin |