Kristy L Cummings
Kristy Cummings has been working as a Biologist for the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona since 2017.
Kristy's interests include, but are not limited to, conservation and ecology of Agassiz's Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of California and the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) in the Mojave Desert of California. She is also a Certified Veterinary Technician in the State of Arizona working in the veterinary field for 17 years prior to coming to USGS. She graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a certificate in Wildlife Management.
Science and Products
Injury and abnormality data for southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) from 3 sites along the Mojave River, California from separate surveys in 1998-1999 and 2017-2019 Injury and abnormality data for southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) from 3 sites along the Mojave River, California from separate surveys in 1998-1999 and 2017-2019
These data were compiled to assess the size, structure, and health of various populations of Actinemys pallida along the length of the Mojave River. Objective(s) of our study were to determine the extent of injuries and abnormalities within our Actinemys pallida populations (including statistical analyses comparing injuries with turtle sex and size) and estimate the cause(s) of the...
Agassiz's desert tortoise and egg data from the Sonoran Desert of California (1997-2000, 2015-2018) Agassiz's desert tortoise and egg data from the Sonoran Desert of California (1997-2000, 2015-2018)
These data were compiled to evaluate reproductive output of Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizzi) in relation to environmental and individual-level variables. We collected data from four study sites in the Sonoran Desert of California, including two separate populations within Joshua Tree National Park, one population located on the northern versant of the Orocopia Mountains...
Filter Total Items: 14
Do bighorn sheep use desert tortoise burrow spoil piles as mineral licks in southern California? Do bighorn sheep use desert tortoise burrow spoil piles as mineral licks in southern California?
In a previous study, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were periodically photographed by trail cameras when they visited desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) burrows in the San Bernardino Mountains near Palm Springs, California, USA. The authors suggested that bighorn sheep may utilize the excavated spoil material from burrows as a mineral lick. To test that supposition, we collected soil...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Danielle M. Cleveland, Charles Yackulic, Kristy L. Cummings, Michele R. Puffer, Molly J. Bechtel, Christopher R. Tracy, William J. Hoese, Gerardo Avila, Megan Peukert, Samantha Hubbard
Aspects of the demography of a relict population of southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) in a West Mojave Desert stream in California Aspects of the demography of a relict population of southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) in a West Mojave Desert stream in California
We studied Actinemys pallida (Southwestern Pond Turtle) in Amargosa Creek, near Palmdale, CA, from 1997 to 2023. The population in the upper creek was the focus of a mark–recapture study from 1997 to 2003 during monitoring required by a road-construction project. An estimated 193 (95% CI = 142–256) turtles were present in 1997 or recruited to the upper creek population between 1997 and...
Authors
David Muth, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Rodrigo Macip-Rios, Doug Gomez, Kristy L. Cummings, Michele R. Puffer, Charles Yackulic
Determining the distribution, status, and linkages of Agassiz's desert tortoise populations in the uplands surrounding the Coachella Valley Determining the distribution, status, and linkages of Agassiz's desert tortoise populations in the uplands surrounding the Coachella Valley
In support of the goals of the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission and the Bureau of Land Management, we performed surveys to determine the status, distribution, demographics, and possible genetic linkages of Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations within the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) area during a multi-decadal...
Authors
Michele R. Puffer, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Kristy L. Cummings
Gopherus Agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise). nest depredation Gopherus Agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise). nest depredation
Nest site selection is an important determinant of clutch success and hatchling sex ratios in Gopherus agassizii, Mojave Desert tortoises (Spotila et al. 1994. Herpetol. Monogr. 8:103-116). G. agassizii lay eggs in or near the entrance of their burrows (Ennen et al. 2012. Copeia 2012:222-228) and females of both G. agassizii and G. morafkai, may reduce egg predation risk by remaining at...
Authors
Megan Peukert, Gerardo Avila, William J. Hoese, Christopher R. Tracy, Philip L. Boyd, Kristy L. Cummings, Shellie R. Puffer, Jeffrey E. Lovich
High female desert tortoise mortality in the western Sonoran Desert during California’s epic 2012–2016 drought High female desert tortoise mortality in the western Sonoran Desert during California’s epic 2012–2016 drought
We conducted population surveys for desert tortoises Gopherus agassizii at 2 nearby sites in the western Sonoran Desert of California, USA, from 2015-2018, during the driest ongoing 22 yr period (2000-2021) in the southwestern USA in over 1200 yr. We hypothesized that drought-induced mortality would be female-biased due to water and energy losses attributable to egg production during...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Michele R. Puffer, Kristy L. Cummings, Terence R. Arundel, Michael S. Vamstad, Kathleen D. Brundige
Injuries and abnormalities of the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) in the Mojave River of California Injuries and abnormalities of the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) in the Mojave River of California
The southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) is a semiaquatic turtle that occasionally spends time on land to bask, oviposit, make intermittent overland movements, and overwinter in terrestrial locations. Use of both aquatic and terrestrial environments exposes semiaquatic turtles to increased risk of injury or mortality from floods, predation attempts, and other environmental...
Authors
Kristy L. Cummings, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Michele R. Puffer, Sarah Greely, Christopher D Otahal, James Gannon
Science and Products
Injury and abnormality data for southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) from 3 sites along the Mojave River, California from separate surveys in 1998-1999 and 2017-2019 Injury and abnormality data for southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) from 3 sites along the Mojave River, California from separate surveys in 1998-1999 and 2017-2019
These data were compiled to assess the size, structure, and health of various populations of Actinemys pallida along the length of the Mojave River. Objective(s) of our study were to determine the extent of injuries and abnormalities within our Actinemys pallida populations (including statistical analyses comparing injuries with turtle sex and size) and estimate the cause(s) of the...
Agassiz's desert tortoise and egg data from the Sonoran Desert of California (1997-2000, 2015-2018) Agassiz's desert tortoise and egg data from the Sonoran Desert of California (1997-2000, 2015-2018)
These data were compiled to evaluate reproductive output of Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizzi) in relation to environmental and individual-level variables. We collected data from four study sites in the Sonoran Desert of California, including two separate populations within Joshua Tree National Park, one population located on the northern versant of the Orocopia Mountains...
Filter Total Items: 14
Do bighorn sheep use desert tortoise burrow spoil piles as mineral licks in southern California? Do bighorn sheep use desert tortoise burrow spoil piles as mineral licks in southern California?
In a previous study, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were periodically photographed by trail cameras when they visited desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) burrows in the San Bernardino Mountains near Palm Springs, California, USA. The authors suggested that bighorn sheep may utilize the excavated spoil material from burrows as a mineral lick. To test that supposition, we collected soil...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Danielle M. Cleveland, Charles Yackulic, Kristy L. Cummings, Michele R. Puffer, Molly J. Bechtel, Christopher R. Tracy, William J. Hoese, Gerardo Avila, Megan Peukert, Samantha Hubbard
Aspects of the demography of a relict population of southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) in a West Mojave Desert stream in California Aspects of the demography of a relict population of southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) in a West Mojave Desert stream in California
We studied Actinemys pallida (Southwestern Pond Turtle) in Amargosa Creek, near Palmdale, CA, from 1997 to 2023. The population in the upper creek was the focus of a mark–recapture study from 1997 to 2003 during monitoring required by a road-construction project. An estimated 193 (95% CI = 142–256) turtles were present in 1997 or recruited to the upper creek population between 1997 and...
Authors
David Muth, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Rodrigo Macip-Rios, Doug Gomez, Kristy L. Cummings, Michele R. Puffer, Charles Yackulic
Determining the distribution, status, and linkages of Agassiz's desert tortoise populations in the uplands surrounding the Coachella Valley Determining the distribution, status, and linkages of Agassiz's desert tortoise populations in the uplands surrounding the Coachella Valley
In support of the goals of the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission and the Bureau of Land Management, we performed surveys to determine the status, distribution, demographics, and possible genetic linkages of Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations within the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) area during a multi-decadal...
Authors
Michele R. Puffer, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Kristy L. Cummings
Gopherus Agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise). nest depredation Gopherus Agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise). nest depredation
Nest site selection is an important determinant of clutch success and hatchling sex ratios in Gopherus agassizii, Mojave Desert tortoises (Spotila et al. 1994. Herpetol. Monogr. 8:103-116). G. agassizii lay eggs in or near the entrance of their burrows (Ennen et al. 2012. Copeia 2012:222-228) and females of both G. agassizii and G. morafkai, may reduce egg predation risk by remaining at...
Authors
Megan Peukert, Gerardo Avila, William J. Hoese, Christopher R. Tracy, Philip L. Boyd, Kristy L. Cummings, Shellie R. Puffer, Jeffrey E. Lovich
High female desert tortoise mortality in the western Sonoran Desert during California’s epic 2012–2016 drought High female desert tortoise mortality in the western Sonoran Desert during California’s epic 2012–2016 drought
We conducted population surveys for desert tortoises Gopherus agassizii at 2 nearby sites in the western Sonoran Desert of California, USA, from 2015-2018, during the driest ongoing 22 yr period (2000-2021) in the southwestern USA in over 1200 yr. We hypothesized that drought-induced mortality would be female-biased due to water and energy losses attributable to egg production during...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Michele R. Puffer, Kristy L. Cummings, Terence R. Arundel, Michael S. Vamstad, Kathleen D. Brundige
Injuries and abnormalities of the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) in the Mojave River of California Injuries and abnormalities of the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) in the Mojave River of California
The southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) is a semiaquatic turtle that occasionally spends time on land to bask, oviposit, make intermittent overland movements, and overwinter in terrestrial locations. Use of both aquatic and terrestrial environments exposes semiaquatic turtles to increased risk of injury or mortality from floods, predation attempts, and other environmental...
Authors
Kristy L. Cummings, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Michele R. Puffer, Sarah Greely, Christopher D Otahal, James Gannon