Journal article
Sex Determination in the Desert Tortoise: A Conservative Management Strategy Is Needed
Herpetologica, Vol.42(1), pp.67-72
01 Mar 1986
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Most chelonians undergo temperature dependent sex determination (TSD). Only four species are known to undergo genetic sex determination. We expect that the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, undergoes TSD since the European tortoise, Testudo graeca, has been shown to have a threshold temperature of 30-31 C. Both upper and lower threshold temperatures exist for freshwater turtles. Variation also occurs due to geographic differences, daily and spatial changes in nest temperatures, osmotic stress, and other factors. Nest site selection and seasonal changes in soil temperatures affect TSD in both freshwater and sea turtles. Laboratory experiments to clarify the mechanism of sex determination for G. agassizii should have the highest research priority. Until that is accomplished, managers should prohibit, or at least greatly restrict, uses of desert habitat that change the temperatures of desert tortoise nests and/or reduce the area of viable nesting habitat for this species. If TSD occurs, field studies should then be conducted to address sources of natural variation.
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Details
- Title
- Sex Determination in the Desert Tortoise: A Conservative Management Strategy Is Needed
- Creators
- James R. SpotilaEdward A. Standora
- Publication Details
- Herpetologica, Vol.42(1), pp.67-72
- Publisher
- Herpetologists' League
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); [Retired Faculty]
- Identifiers
- 991021013073704721
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- Zoology