Green Horizons
Gopher Tortoise Conservation & Forest Management Renee Raney, Georgia-Alabama Land Trust/Conservation Education Institute, shares information about gopher tortoises with natural resource professionals at a recent education program at the Wehle Land Conservation Center in Bullock County, Alabama.
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a land turtle found in the Southeastern United States, descended from tortoises originating in western North America nearly 60 million years ago. Historically at least 23 tortoise species existed in North America, but currently only five species remain. In Alabama, the gopher tortoise is found in the lower third of the state, where these docile reptiles play a major role in their ecosystem. Understanding this species, its habitat needs and applying special conservation practices may increase survivability for this species of concern. Keystone Species
Habitat
Keystone species are thought to be vitally important to the health of an ecosystem. Removal of a keystone species can lead to reduced survival rates for many other species. Gopher tortoises serve as a keystone species of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Gopher tortoise burrows provide critical habitat for approximately 360 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates that spend all or a portion of their lives in active or abandoned gopher tortoise burrows.
Covering approximately 60% of Alabama, the Coastal Plains physiographic region is the state’s largest. In well-drained, deep sandy soils, gopher tortoises make their homes. With stubby, strong elephantine back legs and front claw like feet adapted for digging, hard-shelled gopher tortoises burrow into the ground seeking shelter from extreme temperature fluctuations, fire, and protection from potential predators. Gopher tortoises easily excavate burrows (approximately 6 feet deep and 18
26
feet long) in sandy soil. Ideal gopher tortoise habitat includes sandhills, flatwoods, dry prairies, xeric hammocks, longleaf pine forests, pine-mixed hardwoods, and coastal dunes. These terrestrial turtles live their entire lives (approximately 40-80 years) on land, foraging predominately on grasses, forbes, fruits, and other non-woody plant material growing close to the ground. Dew and moisture content in forage plants provide most of the water tortoises needs for survival. Because the plant material on which they feed grows best in ample sunlight beneath an open tree canopy, gopher tortoises tend to live in fairly open pine or mixed pine-hardwood stands. A gopher tortoise can use multiple burrows within a single season, and will remain in the same general area for decades if habitat conditions remain suitable.
Best Management Practices Sustainable forest management considers future generations in current decision-making. Forest landowners can positively contribute to the conservation of gopher tortoises through best management practices. The most beneficial and cost-effective habitat maintenance activities include prescribed burning and timber thinning. These management tools increase the amount and diversity of ground cover used for gopher tortoise forage and provides open, sunlit sites for tortoise basking and nesting. Thinning, a planned silvicultural management tool, reduces the number of trees ALABAMA FORESTS | Fall 2016