Habitat Selection by the Texas Tortoise in a Managed Thornscrub Ecosystem

Abstract

Brush encroachment on semiarid shrublands resulting from livestock grazing has created global concern. Southern Texas is dominated by Prosopis-Acacia mixed brush communities typical of the Tamaulipan Biotic Province, and the geographic range of the state-threatened Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri) is nearly identical to the boundaries of this biotic province in Texas. In light of the perceived threat to Texas tortoises because of habitat change caused by brush encroachment, we monitored 36 Texas tortoises by radiotelemetry during 1994-1996 to assess habitat selection on a site containing grazed and ungrazed pastures. Tortoises did not exhibit habitat selection at the level of locations within home ranges. Differential habitat selection at the level of home ranges within study areas was not apparent for sex, but was evident for treatment (grazed or ungrazed). Analysis of pooled data indicated that tortoises exhibited broad-scale selection for home ranges within study areas. Selection was expressed as preferential avoidance of old-field and riparian habitats, which represented vegetational extremes of canopy cover. However, tortoises tolerated the broad continuum of other brush communities on the study site. Apparent treatment differences may be an artifact of our inability to adequately pair study areas given the scale of tortoise movement. Our data indicate that increases in the extent of woody canopy cover resulting from grazing-induced brush encroachment will not be detrimental to Texas tortoises. Furthermore, large-scale range improvement practices, such as root-plowing, create unsuitable habitats for this species.