Home Range and Social Interactions of a South Florida Gopherus Polyphemus Population

Gopherus polyphemus is a threatened reptile native to the southeastern USA. Previous research suggests the South Florida (SF) climate may allow tortoises to reproduce year-round. Our goal was to evaluate the social interactions and home range of the Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP) tortoise population, with an emphasis on reproductive behavior since minimal information is available. In this study, 12 FAUP tortoises had radio-transmitters attached and game cameras placed at their burrows. We hypothesized, 1) Gopher tortoise home ranges would differ between males and females, and between vegetation types and 2) Intraspecific gopher tortoise interaction frequencies would differ between vegetation types. Movement data has been mapped for 10 tortoises to reveal home ranges differ between sex and vegetation type. Camera data illustrates mounting as the most frequent interaction in the scrub vegetation. This research can be used to improve conservation efforts for the FAUP population.