Nest guarding by female Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) at a wind-energy facility near Palm Springs, California
We observed behavior consistent with nest-guarding in Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) at two nests in a large wind-energy-generation facility near Palm Springs, California, locally known as the Mesa Wind Farm. As researchers approached the nests, female desert tortoises moved to the entrance of their burrows and positioned themselves sideways, directly over their nests. One female stretched her limbs outward and wedged herself into the burrow (her plastron directly above the nest). Guarding of nests is rarely observed in Agassiz's desert tortoise but can occur as a result of attempted predation on eggs by Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) or in direct response to the perceived threat posed by researchers. This is the first report of nest-guarding for G. agassizii in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem of California.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2013 |
---|---|
Title | Nest guarding by female Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) at a wind-energy facility near Palm Springs, California |
DOI | 10.1894/0038-4909-58.2.254 |
Authors | Mickey Agha, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Joshua R. Ennen, Ethan Wilcox |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Southwestern Naturalist |
Index ID | 70047618 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Southwest Biological Science Center |
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Jeffrey E Lovich, Ph.D.
Research Ecologist, Co-Deputy Branch Chief, Terrestrial Drylands Ecology Branch
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Jeffrey E Lovich, Ph.D.
Research Ecologist, Co-Deputy Branch Chief, Terrestrial Drylands Ecology BranchEmailPhone