Effects of desert wildfires on desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other small vertebrates
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Abstract
We report the results of standardized surveys to determine the effects of wildfires on desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and their habitats in the northeastern Mojave Desert and northeastern Sonoran Desert. Portions of 6 burned areas (118 to 1,750 ha) were examined for signs of mortality of vertebrates. Direct effects of fire in desert habitats included animal mortality and loss of vegetation cover. A range of 0 to 7 tortoises was encountered during surveys, and live tortoises were found on all transects. In addition to desert tortoises, only small (<1 kg) mammals and reptiles (11 taxa) were found dead on the study areas. We hypothesize that indirect effects of fire on desert habitats might result in changes in the composition of diets and loss of vegetation cover, resulting in an increase in predation and loss of protection from temperature extremes. These changes in habitat also might cause changes in vertebrate communities in burned areas.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Effects of desert wildfires on desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other small vertebrates |
| Series title | Southwestern Naturalist |
| DOI | 10.1894/0038-4909(2003)048<0103:EODWOD>2.0.CO;2 |
| Volume | 48 |
| Year Published | 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Southwestern Association of Naturalists |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| First page | 103 |
| Last page | 110 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona, Utah |
| County | Pima County, Pinal County, Washington County |
| Other Geospatial | Beaver Dam Mountains, Mojave Desert, Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park, Santa Catalina Mountains, Santan Mountains, Sonoran Desert |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |