Habitat (Ecology)--Florida

Gopher tortoise ecology is poorly understood in the rapidly developing, urbanized southeastern end of its range. This study reports on a population at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Burrow surveys were conducted from May to July 2003 and May to August 2004. Burrows were marked and mapped as was vegetative cover. Burrow locations were tested against vegetative cover height and soil types. Burrow locations did not differ among soil types. The densest concentrations of burrows were located in areas of low, patchy vegetative cover. This is consistent with known gopher tortoise habitat preferences elsewhere in their range. Gopher tortoises on this site appeared to be acclimated to anthropogenic disturbance.

Three plots were chosen on the Florida Atlantic University Nature Preserve (FAUNP) to study the effect of the exotic Brazilian pepper trees, on the burrow site selection and foraging range of the native gopher tortoise. The home range of tortoises was not statistically different among plots. Proximity of burrows to tree, size of tree and nearest neighbor distance exhibited no effect on burrow site selection or foraging range. Tortoise burrows in all plots exhibited a random dispersion. Current coverage by Brazilian pepper trees and the size of the trees present on the FAUNP has no significant effect on the burrow site selection, or burrow status of the gopher tortoises.