Governmental, educational, environmental and other nonprofit organizations have placed efforts on conservation action for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). While federal and state institution...Governmental, educational, environmental and other nonprofit organizations have placed efforts on conservation action for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). While federal and state institutions have focused on the desert tortoise in its native habitat of the southwestern United States, there are other conservation groups whose work has been dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, rescue, placement and adoption of the desert tortoise in civilian homes and neighborhoods as well as sanctuaries, reserves and exhibits. AWAKE Community (AWAKE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to natural wildlife habitats and endangered species, has focused its research on desert tortoises in captivity. The California Turtle and Tortoise Club (CTTC), the official adoption arm of California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), has provided instruction on methods of care for desert tortoises raised in captivity including housing, feeding, sexing, health and hibernation for both adults and hatchlings. AWAKE’s research has been aimed at benefiting and supplementing the guidelines provided by CTTC, specifically for coastal climates. AWAKE’s research has also aimed to provide insight to be considered for expanding adoption possibilities to other locations, specifically tropical climates, as adoption needs for desert tortoises have increased. This manuscript presents an analysis of one coastal and one tropical climate that can serve as a basis for: 1) understanding and evaluating climate in both existing and potential habitats for desert tortoise adoptions, rescues and exhibits, 2) providing insight and special instruction for desert tortoise adoptions in coastal communities, and 3) expanding awareness around desert tortoise needs in captivity.展开更多
Aims Wildfire and ungulate herbivore pressure are increasing globally due to human activities,including arid ecosystems that are sensitive to disturbance,and are highly dependent on pollinator mutualisms.We evaluated ...Aims Wildfire and ungulate herbivore pressure are increasing globally due to human activities,including arid ecosystems that are sensitive to disturbance,and are highly dependent on pollinator mutualisms.We evaluated how wildfire and ungulate herbivore pressure influ-ence plant reproductive success and pollinator mutualisms.Methods We evaluated flower production,floral herbivory,pollinator visita-tion and fruit set of two Yucca species with highly specialized polli-nator mutualisms(Yucca baccata and Yucca brevifolia)in unburned and burned landscapes created by fires that occurred in the Mojave Desert in 2005.Important Findings Yucca baccata plants in burned landscapes had a greater propor-tion of flowering individuals than plants in unburned areas(23 versus 12%).All Y.brevifolia individuals in burned and unburned landscapes produced flowers.Sixty-four percent of Y.baccata inflorescences were removed due to herbivory by cattle in burned areas,compared to 51%in unburned locations.Forty-two percent of Y.brevifolia inflorescences on branches≤2 m in height were removed in burned areas due to cattle herbivory compared to 39%in unburned locations.However,we did not observe any inflores-cence removal on Y.brevifolia branches>2 m where the major-ity of Y.brevifolia inflorescences are produced.Yucca moths,the only known pollinators of these two species,visited Y.brevifolia uniformly in burned and unburned areas but failed to visit Y.bac-cata altogether.Yucca brevifolia had strong fruit production,but not a single fruit was produced among the thousands of flowering Y.baccata plants surveyed.Floral herbivory and the loss of obligate pollinator mutualisms appear to be critical threats to the long-term viability of Y.baccata populations in this landscape.the reproduc-tive resilience of Y.brevifolia and the maintenance of its pollinator populations appear to be due to its taller stature,which allows verti-cal escape of flowers from ungulate herbivores.Removal of live-stock during the flowering period appears to be a critical first step to restoring Y.baccata’s pollinator mutualisms and capacity for sexual reproduction.展开更多
文摘Governmental, educational, environmental and other nonprofit organizations have placed efforts on conservation action for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). While federal and state institutions have focused on the desert tortoise in its native habitat of the southwestern United States, there are other conservation groups whose work has been dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, rescue, placement and adoption of the desert tortoise in civilian homes and neighborhoods as well as sanctuaries, reserves and exhibits. AWAKE Community (AWAKE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to natural wildlife habitats and endangered species, has focused its research on desert tortoises in captivity. The California Turtle and Tortoise Club (CTTC), the official adoption arm of California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), has provided instruction on methods of care for desert tortoises raised in captivity including housing, feeding, sexing, health and hibernation for both adults and hatchlings. AWAKE’s research has been aimed at benefiting and supplementing the guidelines provided by CTTC, specifically for coastal climates. AWAKE’s research has also aimed to provide insight to be considered for expanding adoption possibilities to other locations, specifically tropical climates, as adoption needs for desert tortoises have increased. This manuscript presents an analysis of one coastal and one tropical climate that can serve as a basis for: 1) understanding and evaluating climate in both existing and potential habitats for desert tortoise adoptions, rescues and exhibits, 2) providing insight and special instruction for desert tortoise adoptions in coastal communities, and 3) expanding awareness around desert tortoise needs in captivity.
基金We thank Alyssa DeFranco,Rachel Nettles,Justin Taylor,Anson Call,Amy Clark and Tara Bishop for field assistance and Loreen Allphin for providing guidance.We express gratitude to the Lytle Preserve and the Bureau of Land Management for logistical support.This project was supported by the Redd Center for Western Studies fellowship.This project was funded by USDA NIFA grant:2010-38415-21908.Conflict of interest statement.None declared.
文摘Aims Wildfire and ungulate herbivore pressure are increasing globally due to human activities,including arid ecosystems that are sensitive to disturbance,and are highly dependent on pollinator mutualisms.We evaluated how wildfire and ungulate herbivore pressure influ-ence plant reproductive success and pollinator mutualisms.Methods We evaluated flower production,floral herbivory,pollinator visita-tion and fruit set of two Yucca species with highly specialized polli-nator mutualisms(Yucca baccata and Yucca brevifolia)in unburned and burned landscapes created by fires that occurred in the Mojave Desert in 2005.Important Findings Yucca baccata plants in burned landscapes had a greater propor-tion of flowering individuals than plants in unburned areas(23 versus 12%).All Y.brevifolia individuals in burned and unburned landscapes produced flowers.Sixty-four percent of Y.baccata inflorescences were removed due to herbivory by cattle in burned areas,compared to 51%in unburned locations.Forty-two percent of Y.brevifolia inflorescences on branches≤2 m in height were removed in burned areas due to cattle herbivory compared to 39%in unburned locations.However,we did not observe any inflores-cence removal on Y.brevifolia branches>2 m where the major-ity of Y.brevifolia inflorescences are produced.Yucca moths,the only known pollinators of these two species,visited Y.brevifolia uniformly in burned and unburned areas but failed to visit Y.bac-cata altogether.Yucca brevifolia had strong fruit production,but not a single fruit was produced among the thousands of flowering Y.baccata plants surveyed.Floral herbivory and the loss of obligate pollinator mutualisms appear to be critical threats to the long-term viability of Y.baccata populations in this landscape.the reproduc-tive resilience of Y.brevifolia and the maintenance of its pollinator populations appear to be due to its taller stature,which allows verti-cal escape of flowers from ungulate herbivores.Removal of live-stock during the flowering period appears to be a critical first step to restoring Y.baccata’s pollinator mutualisms and capacity for sexual reproduction.
