Structure and projected decline of a Karoo dwarf tortoise population

Inconspicuous, secretive, or sparsely distributed species receive relatively little research attention, potentially leading to uncertainty about their status and lack of efforts to conserve them. Karoo dwarf tortoises (Chersobius boulengeri) are endemic to South Africa, spend most of the time in ret...

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Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 2022-02, Vol.86 (2), p.n/a
Main Authors: Loehr, Victor J. T., Keswick, Toby
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aridity
Chersobius boulengeri
citizen science
Confidence limits
corvids
demography
Drought
Females
Local population
Males
mortality
Population
Population decline
population dynamics
Predation
recruitment
Reptiles & amphibians
Survival
Testudines
Tortoises
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cited_by cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c3379-e1930f6b9f091b69aac488414314e23339c237696849e67480251b4e378b79483
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container_title The Journal of wildlife management
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creator Loehr, Victor J. T.
Keswick, Toby
description Inconspicuous, secretive, or sparsely distributed species receive relatively little research attention, potentially leading to uncertainty about their status and lack of efforts to conserve them. Karoo dwarf tortoises (Chersobius boulengeri) are endemic to South Africa, spend most of the time in retreats at remote arid locations, and are seldom seen. We conducted a 3‐year (2018–2020) mark‐recapture study to investigate the size and structure of the only Karoo dwarf tortoise population currently known to exist. The population in the 16‐ha core of our study site consisted primarily of adult males and females, at a density of 3.3 individuals/ha. Many individuals had severely worn shells and appeared old. Small individuals (straight carapace length
doi_str_mv 10.1002/jwmg.22159
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source Wiley-Blackwell Read & Publish Collection
subjects Aridity
Chersobius boulengeri
citizen science
Confidence limits
corvids
demography
Drought
Females
Local population
Males
mortality
Population
Population decline
population dynamics
Predation
recruitment
Reptiles & amphibians
Survival
Testudines
Tortoises
title Structure and projected decline of a Karoo dwarf tortoise population
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