Title

Effects Of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus-Polyphemus) Body-Size On Burrow Structure

Authors

Authors

T. J. Doonan;I. J. Stout

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Am. Midl. Nat.

Keywords

FLORIDA; Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology

Abstract

We measured gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) and their burrows from a population in central Florida. Burrows of most juveniles were excavated. Newly emerged hatchlings constructed burrows that had the same structure as the burrows of older juveniles. The cross-sectional shape of juvenile burrows was similar to that of adult burrows, although the latter tended to be proportionally wider. Differences in burrow shape between juveniles and adults were consistent with allometric changes in tortoise shape. juvenile burrows had a significantly greater angle of declination than adult burrows. Regression analysis showed that relationship between carapace length and burrow width differed significantly between juveniles and adults.

Journal Title

American Midland Naturalist

Volume

131

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-1994

Document Type

Article

DOI Link

http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2426253

Language

English

First Page

273

Last Page

280

WOS Identifier

WOS:A1994NK48300006

ISSN

0003-0031

Recommended Citation

"Effects Of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus-Polyphemus) Body-Size On Burrow Structure" (1994). Faculty Bibliography 1990s. 1030.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib1990/1030