Comparison of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Habitats in Young Slash Pine and Old Longleaf Pine Areas of Southern Mississippi

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.

Download Full-text

A Comparison of the Attributes of Pine Straw from Southern Pine Species

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-39.3.115 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 115-122

Author(s):

Zachary Singh ◽

Adam Maggard ◽

Rebecca Barlow ◽

John Kush

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Nutrients ◽

Longleaf Pine ◽

Pinus Palustris ◽

Pinus Elliottii ◽

Slash Pine ◽

Weed Growth ◽

Pine Straw

Abstract Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) are two southern pine species that are popular for producing pine straw for landscaping. The objective of this research was to determine the response of soil properties and weed growth to the application of pine straw. Longleaf pine, slash pine, and two non-mulched controls (with and without chemical weed control) were tested. Volumetric soil water content, soil nutrients, soil temperature, weed biomass, and seedling growth were measured. Compared to non-mulched controls, both longleaf and slash pine plots had a greater soil moisture during extended periods without rainfall in the full sun environment. When soil temperatures increased, mulched plots had lower soil temperature relative to non-mulched plots. Soil pH and soil nutrients were generally similar between pine straw types with few significant differences in measured variables. Both pine straw treatments reduced weed growth and longleaf pine maintained a greater straw depth over the study period compared to slash pine, but no differences were observed for decomposition. These results indicate that longleaf pine straw and slash pine straw perform equally as well in terms of increasing soil moisture, moderating soil temperature, and reducing weed growth compared to not using mulch. Index words: Pinus elliottii, Pinus palustris, organic mulch, soil properties, landscaping. Species used in this study: Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii Buckl., Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis L.

Download Full-text

Application method and timing of gibberellin A4/7 treatments for increasing pollen conebud production in southern pines

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x84-024 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 128-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Robert C. Hare

Keyword(s):

Cationic Surfactant ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Longleaf Pine ◽

Slash Pine ◽

Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽

Foliar Sprays ◽

Application Method ◽

Southern Pines

In 4 different years' experiments with loblolly (Pinustaeda L.), slash (Pinuselliottiielliottii Engelm.), and longleaf (Pinuspalustris Mill.) pine, timing of gibberellin A4/7 (GA4/7) treatments was critical for optimal promotion of pollen conebuds. Two or three biweekly treatments given at strategic times were equivalent to six given from May to August. July to August applications best promoted pollen conebuds. Using the cationic surfactant Aromox C/12, aqueous foliar sprays of 200 mg/L of GA4/7 were more effective than ethanolic topical bud treatments for pollen conebud induction in slash pine. Addition of naphthaleneacetic acid enhanced the GA4/7 effect in loblolly pine but diminished it in slash and longleaf pine.

Download Full-text

Stopped Dead in Their Tracks: The Impact of Railways on Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Movement and Behavior

Copeia ◽

10.1643/ce-17-635 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 106 (1) ◽

pp. 135-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rhett M. Rautsaw ◽

Scott A. Martin ◽

Bridget A. Vincent ◽

Katelyn Lanctot ◽

M. Rebecca Bolt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gopher Tortoise ◽

Gopherus Polyphemus ◽

And Behavior ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Abundance and Distribution after Prescribed Fire Reintroduction to Florida Scrub and Sandhill at Archbold Biological Station

Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.1670/06-246.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 523-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Kyle G. Ashton ◽

Blake M. Engelhardt ◽

Brian S. Branciforte

Keyword(s):

Prescribed Fire ◽

Gopher Tortoise ◽

Florida Scrub ◽

Gopherus Polyphemus ◽

Biological Station ◽

Abundance And Distribution

Download Full-text

Endozoochory of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum) by Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitates rapid germination and colonization in a suburban nature preserve

AoB Plants ◽

10.1093/aobpla/plaa024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Carolyn J Hanish ◽

Sebastian Velez ◽

Jon A Moore ◽

Corey Devin Anderson

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Treatment Time ◽

Spatial Density ◽

Event Analysis ◽

Gopher Tortoise ◽

Gopherus Polyphemus ◽

Nature Preserve ◽

Short Period ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Dispersal Agents

Abstract Some large-seeded plants lack effective seed dispersal agents when they are introduced as ornamental plants to new areas, but can rapidly colonize a landscape if seed dispersal functions are restored. We examined whether Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitated the spread of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum; Chrysobalanaceae) over a 14-year period in a suburban nature preserve (in Jupiter, FL, USA) by: (i) comparing germination patterns among gut-passed, hand-depulped and whole fruit treatments, and (ii) testing hypotheses about environmental predictors of the spatial distribution of C. icaco, including information about G. polyphemus movement pathways and burrow locations. While we did not find a significant difference in the total proportion of C. icaco seeds that germinated in each treatment, time to event analysis revealed that seeds that were found in faeces germinated significantly earlier than seeds that were hand-depulped or that were planted as whole fruits, supporting a lone scarification effect. Point process modeling revealed that the density of C. icaco bushes was higher near G. polyphemus movement pathways and was lower inside Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto) patches, supporting a positive effect of tortoise movement patterns on plant distributions. The density of C. icaco increased from west to east, consistent with westward dispersal from the four founder bushes on the east side of the study area. After removal of outliers, we also detected a negative association between C. icaco spatial density and G. polyphemus burrow density that was presumably explained by the fact that seeds defecated deep within burrows were unlikely to germinate and establish without secondary movement. The results suggest that G. polyphemus contributed to the rapid dispersal of C. icaco by scatter dispersal of seeds (via faeces) in areas where tortoises were active and that movement pathways provided suitable conditions for colonization. The spread of C. icaco by G. polyphemus over a relatively short period of time provides a valuable window into the earliest stages of the colonization process and further supports the role of Chelonians as effective seed dispersal agents for large-seeded plants.

Download Full-text