29th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, February 20-23, 2004
Abstracts

The Role of USGS in the Recovery of the Desert Tortoise

Todd C. Esque
USGS - Western Ecological Research Center, 160 North Stephanie St., Henderson, NV 89074

The goal of the United States Department of Interior - Geological Survey (USGS) scientists is to provide reliable, high quality scientific information to resource managers to support sound management decisions. The merger of the biological resources discipline into the USGS provided opportunities for scientific collaborations among four major disciplines including biology, geology, hydrology and geography. USGS contributes to the recovery of tortoises by conducting agency consultations, literature reviews and syntheses, hosting workshops, and conducting research aimed at describing ecological pattern, process and mechanism. Establishment and maintenance of permanent study plots provides data for the analysis of population trends and general ecology. Application of information stemming from research on raven ecology is used to increase juvenile tortoise survival and recruitment. USGS provides syntheses on the influence of roads on tortoises provides guidance on how to reduce road impacts. Research on desert tortoise health, upper respiratory tract disease, shell disease and environmental toxicants, as well as, analysis of shell remains has been a major topic of research and information dissemination. Several studies focused on the effects of fire and invasive species on desert tortoises and their habitat, arid land restoration, assessment techniques, livestock grazing, off-highway vehicle recreation, and invasive plants on desert tortoise habitat. Ecological studies include desert tortoise reproduction, diet and nutrition, and carrying capacity. Joint meetings between scientists from diverse disciplines and many institutions improved communications thus focusing research efforts to the benefit of desert tortoises and their recovery.