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
Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) are selective herbivores that track the flowering phenology of their preferred food plants
Testing taxon tenacity of tortoises: evidence for a geographical selection gradient at a secondary contact zone
Distance to human populations influences epidemiology of respiratory disease in desert tortoises
Mycoplasma agassizii in Morafka's desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) in Mexico
Mycoplasmosis and upper respiratory tract disease of tortoises: a review and update
Models of invasion and establishment of African Mustard (Brassica tournefortii)
Protection benefits desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) abundance: the influence of three management strategies on a threatened species
Threats and conservation needs for North American tortoises
Multiple factors affect a population of Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Northwestern Mojave Desert
Are captive tortoises a reservoir for conservation? An assessment of genealogical affiliation of captive Gopherus agassizii to local, wild populations
Biogeographic perspective of speciation among desert tortoises in the genus Gopherus: a preliminary evaluation
Serologic and molecular evidence for testudinid herpesvirus 2 infection in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
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Filter Total Items: 94
Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) are selective herbivores that track the flowering phenology of their preferred food plants
Previous studies of desert tortoise foraging ecology in the western Mojave Desert suggest that these animals are selective herbivores, which alter their diet according to the temporal availability of preferred food plants. These studies, however, did not estimate availability of potential food plants by taking into account the spatial and temporal variability in ephemeral plant abundance that occuAuthorsBryan W. Jennings, Kristin H. BerryTesting taxon tenacity of tortoises: evidence for a geographical selection gradient at a secondary contact zone
We examined a secondary contact zone between two species of desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii and G. morafkai. The taxa were isolated from a common ancestor during the formation of the Colorado River (4-8 mya) and are a classic example of allopatric speciation. However, an anomalous population of G. agassizii comes into secondary contact with G. morafkai east of the Colorado River in the Black MAuthorsTaylor Edwards, Kristin H. Berry, Richard D. Inman, Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Cristina A. Jones, Melanie CulverDistance to human populations influences epidemiology of respiratory disease in desert tortoises
We explored variables likely to affect health of Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in a 1,183-km2 study area in the central Mojave Desert of California between 2005 and 2008. We evaluated 1,004 tortoises for prevalence and spatial distribution of 2 pathogens, Mycoplasma agassizii and M. testudineum, that cause upper respiratory tract disease. We defined tortoises as test-positive ifAuthorsKristin H. Berry, no longer USGS Ashley A. Coble (formerly Emerson), Julie L. Yee, Jeremy S. Mack, William M. Perry, Kemp M. Anderson, Mary B. BrownMycoplasma agassizii in Morafka's desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) in Mexico
We conducted health evaluations of 69 wild and 22 captive Morafka's desert tortoises (Gopherus morafkai) in Mexico between 2005 and 2008. The wild tortoises were from 11 sites in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa, and the captive tortoises were from the state-managed Centro Ecológico de Sonora Zoo in Hermosillo and a private residence in the town of Alamos. We tested 88 tortoises for mycoplasmal upAuthorsKristin H. Berry, Mary B. Brown, Mercy Vaughn, Timothy A. Gowan, Mary Ann Hasskamp, Ma. Cristina Melendez TorresMycoplasmosis and upper respiratory tract disease of tortoises: a review and update
Tortoise mycoplasmosis is one of the most extensively characterized infectious diseases of chelonians. A 1989 outbreak of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in free-ranging Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) brought together an investigative team of researchers, diagnosticians, pathologists, immunologists and clinicians from multiple institutions and agencies. Electron microscopicAuthorsElliott R. Jacobson, Mary B. Brown, Lori Wendland, Daniel R. Brown, Paul A. Klein, Mary M. Christopher, Kristin H. BerryModels of invasion and establishment of African Mustard (Brassica tournefortii)
Introduced exotic plants can drive ecosystem change. We studied invasion and establishment ofBrassica tournefortii (African mustard), a noxious weed, in the Chemehuevi Valley, western Sonoran Desert, California. We used long-term data sets of photographs, transects for biomass of annual plants, and densities of African mustard collected at irregular intervals between 1979 and 2009. We suggest thatAuthorsKristin H. Berry, Timothy A. Gowan, David M. Miller, Matthew L. BrooksProtection benefits desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) abundance: the influence of three management strategies on a threatened species
We surveyed an area of ∼260 km2 in the western Mojave Desert to evaluate relationships between condition of Agassiz's Desert Tortoise populations (Gopherus agassizii) and habitat on lands that have experienced three different levels of management and protection. We established 240 1-ha plots using random sampling, with 80 plots on each of the three types of managed lands. We conducted surveys in sAuthorsKristin H. Berry, Lisa M. Lyren, Julie L. Yee, Tracy Y. BaileyThreats and conservation needs for North American tortoises
No abstract availableAuthorsKristin H. Berry, M.J. ArescoMultiple factors affect a population of Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Northwestern Mojave Desert
Numerous factors have contributed to declines in populations of the federally threatened Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and continue to limit recovery. In 2010, we surveyed a low-density population on a military test facility in the northwestern Mojave Desert of California, USA, to evaluate population status and identify potential factors contributing to distribution and low densitAuthorsKristin H. Berry, Julie L. Yee, Ashley A. Coble, William M. Perry, Timothy A. ShieldsAre 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 affinity to locAuthorsKristin H. Berry, Taylor EdwardsBiogeographic perspective of speciation among desert tortoises in the genus Gopherus: a preliminary evaluation
The enduring processes of time, climate, and adaptation have sculpted the distribution of organisms we observe in the Sonoran Desert. One such organism is Morafka’s desert tortoise, Gopherus morafkai. We apply a genomic approach to identify the evolutionary processes driving diversity in this species and present preliminary findings and emerging hypotheses. The Sonoran Desert form of the tortoiseAuthorsTaylor Edwards, Mercy Vaughn, Cristina Meléndez Torres, Alice E. Karl, Philip C. Rosen, Kristin H. Berry, Robert W. MurphSerologic 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 desert torAuthorsElliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry, James F. X. Wellehan, Francesco Origgi, April L. Childress, Josephine Braun, Mark Schrenzel, Julie Yee, Bruce Rideout - News
*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