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Type: Book
Author(s): Timothy E. O'Meara; Michael J. Abbott
Publication Date: December 1987

Gopher tortoise burrows were surveyed between May and August 1987 in longleaf pine/turkey oak (Pinus palustris/Quercus laevis) sandhills in Ocala National Forest, Florida. Burrow numbers and widths were compared among 3 plots burned in July 1986 and 3 winter-burned plots. Additional surveys were conducted in 4 plots, 2 of which were scheduled for burning in summer of 1987, to obtain base-line data for subsequent comparison of burning season effects. Greater numbers (P = 0.001) of burrows were recorded on the 3 summer-burned plots than on the 3 winter-burned plots suggesting that tortoises immigrated to the summer-burned plots. Baseline data from the remaining 4 plots indicated greater numbers of burrows on the control plots than on those scheduled for summer burning. Histograms of burrow-width size classes indicated relatively few tortoises £ 20.5 cm carapace length. Modal size classes were 28-32.9 cm. These results indicate responses in gopher tortoise densities 1 and 2 years after summer burning in sandhills, changes in gopher tortoise population demographics, and vegetation changes that may contribute to gopher tortoise responses.

Citation: O'Meara, T. E., and M. J. Abbott. 1987. Gopher tortoise response to summer burning in longleaf pine/turkey oak sandhills : annual performance report. Tallahassee, FL, Nongame Wildlife Section, Division of Wildlife, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • fire dependent species
  • fire management
  • Florida
  • forbs
  • forest management
  • gopher tortoise
  • Gopherus polyphemus
  • grasses
  • longleaf pine
  • Ocala National Forest
  • Pinus palustris
  • Quercus laevis
  • reptiles
  • season of fire
  • threatened and endangered species (animals)
  • turkey oak
  • wildlife food habits
  • wildlife habitat management
  • wildlife management
Tall Timbers Record Number: 30398Location Status: In-fileCall Number: FLdoc GFW3 O43 1987Abstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 53096

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.