Kristin Berry
Dr. Kristin Berry has been working as a Wildlife Biologist for the Western Ecological Research Center since 1993.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Behavioral ecology of vertebrates
- Conservation biology
- Cumulative effects
- Desert Ecology
- Ecotoxicology
- Environmental impacts
- Invasive species ecology
- Monitoring methodology
- Natural areas and preserves
- Population biology
- Species/Population management
- Threatened and endangered species
Professional Experience
Research Wildlife Biologist, Station Mgr., USGS, Western Ecological Science Center, Box Springs Field Station, Riverside, CA, Feb 1997-Present
Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Western Ecological Science Center, Riverside Field Station, Riverside, CA, Nov 1993-Feb 1997
Staff Supervisor and Research Scientist, Research Branch, Desert Biology US Bureau of Land Management, Riverside, CA, 1988-1993
Leader: Desert Tortoise Res. & Monitoring Prog., US Bureau of Land Mgt., Riverside, CA, 1983-1988
Coordinator: Research, Studies, and Monitoring, US Bureau of Land Management, Riverside, CA, 1980-1983
Staff Leader for Wildlife, CA Desert Plan Prog., US Bureau of Land Management, Riverside, CA, 1974-1980
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 1972
M.A., Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 1968
B.A., Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 1964
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Ecological Society of America
Herpetologists' League
Research Society of America, Sigma Xi
Society for Conservation Biology
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Southern California Academy of Sciences
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 95
Are captive tortoises a reservoir for conservation? An assessment of genealogical affiliation of captive Gopherus agassizii to local, wild populations Are captive tortoises a reservoir for conservation? An assessment of genealogical affiliation of captive Gopherus agassizii to local, wild populations
The conservation of tortoises poses a unique situation because several threatened species are commonly kept as pets within their native ranges. Thus, there is potential for captive populations to be a reservoir for repatriation efforts. We assess the utility of captive populations of the threatened Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) for recovery efforts based on genetic...
Authors
Kristin H. Berry, Taylor Edwards
Serologic and molecular evidence for testudinid herpesvirus 2 infection in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii Serologic and molecular evidence for testudinid herpesvirus 2 infection in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii
Following field observations of wild Agassiz’s desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) with oral lesions similar to those seen in captive tortoises with herpesvirus infection, we measured the prevalence of antibodies to Testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV) 3 in wild populations of desert tortoises in California. The survey revealed 30.9% antibody prevalence. In 2009 and 2010, two wild adult male...
Authors
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry, James F. X. Wellehan, Francesco Origgi, April L. Childress, Josephine Braun, Mark Schrenzel, Julie Yee, Bruce Rideout
Mycoplasma testudineum in free-ranging desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii Mycoplasma testudineum in free-ranging desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii
We performed clinico-pathological evaluations of 11 wild Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) from a translocation project in the central Mojave Desert, California, USA. Group 1 consisted of nine tortoises that were selected primarily due to serologic status, indicating exposure to Mycoplasma testudineum (seven) or both M. agassizii and M. testudineum (two), and secondarily...
Authors
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry
The dazed and confused identity of Agassiz's land tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Testudines, Testudinidae) with the description of a new species, and its consequences for conservation The dazed and confused identity of Agassiz's land tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Testudines, Testudinidae) with the description of a new species, and its consequences for conservation
We investigate a cornucopia of problems associated with the identity of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii Cooper. The date of publication is found to be 1861, rather than 1863. Only one of the three original cotypes exists, and it is designated as the lectotype of the species. Another cotype is found to have been destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire...
Authors
Robert K. Murphy, Kristin Berry, Taylor Edwards, Alan E. Leviton, Amy Lathrop, J. Daren Riedle
Effects of subsidized predators, resource variability, and human population density on desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, USA Effects of subsidized predators, resource variability, and human population density on desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, USA
Understanding predator–prey relationships can be pivotal in the conservation of species. For 2 decades, desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii populations have declined, yet quantitative evidence regarding the causes of declines is scarce. In 2005, Ft. Irwin National Training Center, California, USA, implemented a translocation project including 2 yr of baseline monitoring of desert...
Authors
Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, K. Kristina Drake, Andrew D. Walde, Kristin H. Berry, Roy C. Averill-Murray, A. Peter Woodman, William I. Boarman, Phil A. Medica, Jeremy S. Mack, Jill S. Heaton
Oxalosis in wild desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii Oxalosis in wild desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii
We necropsied a moribund, wild adult male desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) with clinical signs of respiratory disease and elevated plasma biochemical analytes indicative of renal disease (blood urea nitrogen [415 mg/dl], uric acid [11.8 mg/dl], sodium >180 mmol/l] and chloride [139 mmol/l]). Moderate numbers of birefringent oxalate crystals, based on infrared and electron microscopy...
Authors
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry, Brian Stacy, Louis M. Huzella, Victor F. Kalasinsky, Michelle L. Fleetwood, Mark G. Mense
Status of the desert tortoise in Red Rock Canyon State Park Status of the desert tortoise in Red Rock Canyon State Park
We surveyed for desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii, in the western part of Red Rock Canyon State Park and watershed in eastern Kern County, California, between 2002 and 2004. We used two techniques: a single demographic plot (~4 km2 ) and 37 landscape plots (1-ha each). We estimated population densities of tortoises to be between 2.7 and 3.57/km2 and the population in the Park to be...
Authors
Kristin H. Berry, Kevin Keith, Tracy Y. Bailey
When desert tortoises are rare: Testing a new protocol for assessing status When desert tortoises are rare: Testing a new protocol for assessing status
We developed and tested a new protocol for sampling populations of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, a state- and federally listed species, in areas where population densities are very low, historical data are sparse, and anthropogenic uses may threaten the well-being of tortoise populations and habitat. We conducted a 3-year (2002–2004) survey in Jawbone-Butterbredt Area of...
Authors
Kevin Keith, Kristin H. Berry, James F. Weigand
Using an ecological ethics framework to make decisions about the relocation of wildlife Using an ecological ethics framework to make decisions about the relocation of wildlife
Relocation is an increasingly prominent conservation tool for a variety of wildlife, but the technique also is controversial, even among conservation practitioners. An organized framework for addressing the moral dilemmas often accompanying conservation actions such as relocation has been lacking. Ecological ethics may provide such a framework and appears to be an important step forward...
Authors
E.D. McCoy, K. Berry
A genetic assessment of the recovery units for the mojave population of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii A genetic assessment of the recovery units for the mojave population of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii
In the 1994 Recovery Plan for the Mojave population of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established 6 recovery units by using the best available data on habitat use, behavior, morphology, and genetics. To further assess the validity of the recovery units, we analyzed genetic data by using mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) sequences and...
Authors
R. W. Murphy, K.H. Berry, T. Edwards, A.M. McLuckie
Dedication: David Joseph Morafka Dedication: David Joseph Morafka
No abstract available.
Authors
R. W. Murphy, Kristin H. Berry
Dominance and environmental correlates of alien annual plants in the Mojave Desert, USA Dominance and environmental correlates of alien annual plants in the Mojave Desert, USA
Land managers are concerned about the negative effects of alien annual plants on native plants, threatened and endangered species such as the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), and ecosystem integrity in the Mojave Desert. Management of alien plants is hampered by a lack of information regarding the dominance and environmental correlates of these species. The results of this study...
Authors
M.L. Brooks, K.H. Berry
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 95
Are captive tortoises a reservoir for conservation? An assessment of genealogical affiliation of captive Gopherus agassizii to local, wild populations Are captive tortoises a reservoir for conservation? An assessment of genealogical affiliation of captive Gopherus agassizii to local, wild populations
The conservation of tortoises poses a unique situation because several threatened species are commonly kept as pets within their native ranges. Thus, there is potential for captive populations to be a reservoir for repatriation efforts. We assess the utility of captive populations of the threatened Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) for recovery efforts based on genetic...
Authors
Kristin H. Berry, Taylor Edwards
Serologic and molecular evidence for testudinid herpesvirus 2 infection in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii Serologic and molecular evidence for testudinid herpesvirus 2 infection in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii
Following field observations of wild Agassiz’s desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) with oral lesions similar to those seen in captive tortoises with herpesvirus infection, we measured the prevalence of antibodies to Testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV) 3 in wild populations of desert tortoises in California. The survey revealed 30.9% antibody prevalence. In 2009 and 2010, two wild adult male...
Authors
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry, James F. X. Wellehan, Francesco Origgi, April L. Childress, Josephine Braun, Mark Schrenzel, Julie Yee, Bruce Rideout
Mycoplasma testudineum in free-ranging desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii Mycoplasma testudineum in free-ranging desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii
We performed clinico-pathological evaluations of 11 wild Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) from a translocation project in the central Mojave Desert, California, USA. Group 1 consisted of nine tortoises that were selected primarily due to serologic status, indicating exposure to Mycoplasma testudineum (seven) or both M. agassizii and M. testudineum (two), and secondarily...
Authors
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry
The dazed and confused identity of Agassiz's land tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Testudines, Testudinidae) with the description of a new species, and its consequences for conservation The dazed and confused identity of Agassiz's land tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Testudines, Testudinidae) with the description of a new species, and its consequences for conservation
We investigate a cornucopia of problems associated with the identity of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii Cooper. The date of publication is found to be 1861, rather than 1863. Only one of the three original cotypes exists, and it is designated as the lectotype of the species. Another cotype is found to have been destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire...
Authors
Robert K. Murphy, Kristin Berry, Taylor Edwards, Alan E. Leviton, Amy Lathrop, J. Daren Riedle
Effects of subsidized predators, resource variability, and human population density on desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, USA Effects of subsidized predators, resource variability, and human population density on desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, USA
Understanding predator–prey relationships can be pivotal in the conservation of species. For 2 decades, desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii populations have declined, yet quantitative evidence regarding the causes of declines is scarce. In 2005, Ft. Irwin National Training Center, California, USA, implemented a translocation project including 2 yr of baseline monitoring of desert...
Authors
Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, K. Kristina Drake, Andrew D. Walde, Kristin H. Berry, Roy C. Averill-Murray, A. Peter Woodman, William I. Boarman, Phil A. Medica, Jeremy S. Mack, Jill S. Heaton
Oxalosis in wild desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii Oxalosis in wild desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii
We necropsied a moribund, wild adult male desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) with clinical signs of respiratory disease and elevated plasma biochemical analytes indicative of renal disease (blood urea nitrogen [415 mg/dl], uric acid [11.8 mg/dl], sodium >180 mmol/l] and chloride [139 mmol/l]). Moderate numbers of birefringent oxalate crystals, based on infrared and electron microscopy...
Authors
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry, Brian Stacy, Louis M. Huzella, Victor F. Kalasinsky, Michelle L. Fleetwood, Mark G. Mense
Status of the desert tortoise in Red Rock Canyon State Park Status of the desert tortoise in Red Rock Canyon State Park
We surveyed for desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii, in the western part of Red Rock Canyon State Park and watershed in eastern Kern County, California, between 2002 and 2004. We used two techniques: a single demographic plot (~4 km2 ) and 37 landscape plots (1-ha each). We estimated population densities of tortoises to be between 2.7 and 3.57/km2 and the population in the Park to be...
Authors
Kristin H. Berry, Kevin Keith, Tracy Y. Bailey
When desert tortoises are rare: Testing a new protocol for assessing status When desert tortoises are rare: Testing a new protocol for assessing status
We developed and tested a new protocol for sampling populations of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, a state- and federally listed species, in areas where population densities are very low, historical data are sparse, and anthropogenic uses may threaten the well-being of tortoise populations and habitat. We conducted a 3-year (2002–2004) survey in Jawbone-Butterbredt Area of...
Authors
Kevin Keith, Kristin H. Berry, James F. Weigand
Using an ecological ethics framework to make decisions about the relocation of wildlife Using an ecological ethics framework to make decisions about the relocation of wildlife
Relocation is an increasingly prominent conservation tool for a variety of wildlife, but the technique also is controversial, even among conservation practitioners. An organized framework for addressing the moral dilemmas often accompanying conservation actions such as relocation has been lacking. Ecological ethics may provide such a framework and appears to be an important step forward...
Authors
E.D. McCoy, K. Berry
A genetic assessment of the recovery units for the mojave population of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii A genetic assessment of the recovery units for the mojave population of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii
In the 1994 Recovery Plan for the Mojave population of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established 6 recovery units by using the best available data on habitat use, behavior, morphology, and genetics. To further assess the validity of the recovery units, we analyzed genetic data by using mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) sequences and...
Authors
R. W. Murphy, K.H. Berry, T. Edwards, A.M. McLuckie
Dedication: David Joseph Morafka Dedication: David Joseph Morafka
No abstract available.
Authors
R. W. Murphy, Kristin H. Berry
Dominance and environmental correlates of alien annual plants in the Mojave Desert, USA Dominance and environmental correlates of alien annual plants in the Mojave Desert, USA
Land managers are concerned about the negative effects of alien annual plants on native plants, threatened and endangered species such as the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), and ecosystem integrity in the Mojave Desert. Management of alien plants is hampered by a lack of information regarding the dominance and environmental correlates of these species. The results of this study...
Authors
M.L. Brooks, K.H. Berry
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government