Effects of Military Activity on Gopher Tortoise Movement Using Radio Frequency Identification
Location
Atrium
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Research Area Topic:
Natural & Physical Sciences - Biology
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
J. M. Lockhart 1, C. M. McDonough 1, C. D. Anderson 1, P. C. Vincent 2 and G. W. Lee 3, 1Department of Biology, 1500 North Patterson Street, Bailey Science Center, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia 31698, USA 2 Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences, 1500 North Patterson Street, Bailey Science Center, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia 31698, USA 3 23 CES/CEIE, 3485 Georgia Street, Moody AFB, Georgia 31699, USA.
Abstract
Gopher tortoise movement is being monitored at Moody Air Force Base (MAFB), Lowndes/Lanier Counties, GA. One research site is located approximately 345 meters from a heavily used airstrip on MAFB, while a second site is in a restricted access gunnery range that is part of Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area. Objectives for this study include 1) determining if gopher tortoise movement is affected by military training activity within the weapons range 2) compare seasonal inter-burrow movement 3) to assess whether male tortoises exhibit more inter-burrow movement than females, 4) to determine any nocturnal movement exhibited by gopher tortoises. Tortoises captured at MAFB have been sexed and tagged internally with 125 kHz RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and 134 kHz RFID tags which are attached to the carapace of the tortoises with epoxy. 10-20 RFID readers have been utilized to monitor the entrance of individual burrows. Results suggest nocturnal activity by tortoises, as well as male tortoises exhibiting more inter-burrow movement than females. Research is continuing to further test our hypotheses.
Keywords
Gopher tortoise, Radio frequency identification, Burrow, Movement
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Start Date
4-24-2015 2:45 PM
End Date
4-24-2015 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Mixon, Brittany A., "Effects of Military Activity on Gopher Tortoise Movement Using Radio Frequency Identification" (2015). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 92.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2015/2015/92
Effects of Military Activity on Gopher Tortoise Movement Using Radio Frequency Identification
Atrium
Gopher tortoise movement is being monitored at Moody Air Force Base (MAFB), Lowndes/Lanier Counties, GA. One research site is located approximately 345 meters from a heavily used airstrip on MAFB, while a second site is in a restricted access gunnery range that is part of Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area. Objectives for this study include 1) determining if gopher tortoise movement is affected by military training activity within the weapons range 2) compare seasonal inter-burrow movement 3) to assess whether male tortoises exhibit more inter-burrow movement than females, 4) to determine any nocturnal movement exhibited by gopher tortoises. Tortoises captured at MAFB have been sexed and tagged internally with 125 kHz RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and 134 kHz RFID tags which are attached to the carapace of the tortoises with epoxy. 10-20 RFID readers have been utilized to monitor the entrance of individual burrows. Results suggest nocturnal activity by tortoises, as well as male tortoises exhibiting more inter-burrow movement than females. Research is continuing to further test our hypotheses.
