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Ocañas AR, Danoff-Burg JA, Mulroe K, Walton SR. Addressing the raven food subsidy challenge by engaging restaurants to close their dumpsters. Zoo Biol 2022; 41:491-500. [PMID: 35476231 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Ravens have benefitted from resource subsidies provided by humans so much that their population has increased by over 800% in the western Mojave desert over the last 50 years. Our food waste is an especially large subsidy. Raven predation is one of the greatest threats to desert tortoise survival in the California desert. We sought to create and evaluate a behavioral change program among restaurants in Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms, California in the western Mojave with elevated raven populations. Half of the 60 restaurants in these two communities received an intervention encouraging them to close their dumpsters while the other half served as controls with no intervention. Treatment restaurants received two in-person visits to discuss the manifold importance of dumpster closure and laminated information signs to display and extend communication to staff. We surveyed all dumpsters for open/closed status five times before the intervention and five times again 3 months after the intervention. We found a significant increase in closure rates among treatment restaurants due to the interventions, with an average of 9.5% increase toward maximum possible lid closure. Restaurants achieving 80%+ closure received "Gold Star Awards" to further stimulate community-wide behavior change by publicly recognizing and encouraging desired behaviors. We summarize dumpster closure rates from similar interventions in nearby Joshua Tree and across the Coachella Valley to illustrate how local social norms may influence behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kyle Mulroe
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert, California, USA
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Bechtel MJ, Drake KK, Esque TC, Nieto NC, Foster JT, Teglas MB. Borreliosis Transmission from Ticks Associated with Desert Tortoise Burrows: Examples of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in the Mojave Desert. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:635-637. [PMID: 34143676 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit pathogens and parasitize wildlife in turn causing zoonotic diseases in many ecosystems. Argasid ticks, such as Ornithodoros spp., harbor and transmit Borrelia spp., resulting in tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in people. In the western United States, TBRF is typically associated with the bite of an infected Ornithodoros hermsi tick found in habitats at high elevations (>1500 ft). This report describes the first TBRF cases in people in the Mojave Desert (Clark County, NV). Individuals documented in these case studies were exposed to Ornithodoros ticks during excavation of soil burrows associated with Mojave Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii), with bacteria from one of the human case's blood sample genetically matching to Borrelia turicatae as determined by quantitative PCR and sequencing. Our findings should serve as a precaution to individuals working with tortoises or animal burrows, or those in contact with Ornithodoros ticks in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly J Bechtel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.,Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Karla Kristina Drake
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Henderson, Nevada, USA
| | - Todd C Esque
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Henderson, Nevada, USA
| | - Nathan C Nieto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.,Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Mike B Teglas
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA
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Drake KK, Aiello CM, Bowen L, Lewison RL, Esque TC, Nussear KE, Waters SC, Hudson PJ. Complex immune responses and molecular reactions to pathogens and disease in a desert reptile ( Gopherus agassizii). Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2516-2534. [PMID: 30891197 PMCID: PMC6405529 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune function plays an important role in an animal's defense against infectious disease. In reptiles, immune responses may be complex and counterintuitive, and diagnostic tools used to identify infection, such as induced antibody responses are limited. Recent studies using gene transcription profiling in tortoises have proven useful in identifying immune responses to various intrinsic and extrinsic stressors. As part of a larger experiment with Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii), we facilitated the transmission of the pathogenic bacteria, Mycoplasma agassizii (Myag), to naïve adults and measured innate and induced immune reactions over time. Specifically, we evaluated clinical condition, presence of Myag in the nasal/oral cavity, induced antibody responses specific to Myag, and measured molecular reactions (gene transcript profiles) in 15 captive tortoises classified as naïve, exposed, or infected and 14 wild tortoises for comparison. Myag was confirmed inside the nasal/oral cavity in exposed tortoises within 30-60 days of introduction to infected animals, yet we did not detect Myag specific induced antibody responses in these individuals until 420-595 days post exposure. Surprisingly, we found no overall differences in the gene transcript profiles between our experimental treatment groups throughout this study. This work highlights the complexities in assessing immune function and diagnosing pathogen related infections in tortoises and other reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Kristina Drake
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHendersonNevada
- Department of BiologySan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCalifornia
- Graduate Group in EcologyUniversity of California‐DavisDavisCalifornia
| | - Christina M. Aiello
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHendersonNevada
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
| | - Lizabeth Bowen
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDavisCalifornia
| | | | - Todd C. Esque
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHendersonNevada
| | | | - Shannon C. Waters
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDavisCalifornia
| | - Peter J. Hudson
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
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Drake KK, Bowen L, Lewison RL, Esque TC, Nussear KE, Braun J, Waters SC, Miles AK. Coupling gene-based and classic veterinary diagnostics improves interpretation of health and immune function in the Agassiz's desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii). Conserv Physiol 2017; 5:cox037. [PMID: 28835840 PMCID: PMC5550616 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of blood constituents is a widely used tool to aid in monitoring of animal health and disease. However, classic blood diagnostics (i.e. hematologic and plasma biochemical values) often do not provide sufficient information to determine the state of an animal's health. Field studies on wild tortoises and other reptiles have had limited success in drawing significant inferences between blood diagnostics and physiological and immunological condition. However, recent research using gene transcription profiling in the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) has proved useful in identifying immune or physiologic responses and overall health. To improve our understanding of health and immune function in tortoises, we evaluated both standard blood diagnostic (body condition, hematologic, plasma biochemistry values, trace elements, plasma proteins, vitamin A levels) and gene transcription profiles in 21 adult tortoises (11 clinically abnormal; 10 clinically normal) from Clark County, NV, USA. Necropsy and histology evaluations from clinically abnormal tortoises revealed multiple physiological complications, with moderate to severe rhinitis or pneumonia being the primary cause of morbidity in all but one of the examined animals. Clinically abnormal tortoises had increased transcription for four genes (SOD, MyD88, CL and Lep), increased lymphocyte production, biochemical enzymes and organics, trace elements of copper, and decreased numbers of leukocytes. We found significant positive correlations between increased transcription for SOD and increased trace elements for copper, as well as genes MyD88 and Lep with increased inflammation and microbial insults. Improved methods for health assessments are an important element of monitoring tortoise population recovery and can support the development of more robust diagnostic measures for ill animals, or individuals directly impacted by disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Kristina Drake
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, 160 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89074, USA
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Lizabeth Bowen
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis Field Station, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lewison
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Todd C. Esque
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, 160 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89074, USA
| | - Kenneth E. Nussear
- Department of Geography, University of Nevada-Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Josephine Braun
- Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, PO Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA
| | - Shannon C. Waters
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Davis Field Station, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - A. Keith Miles
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, 160 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson, NV 89074, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95618, USA
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Murphy RW, Berry KH, Edwards T, Leviton AE, Lathrop A, Riedle JD. The dazed and confused identity of Agassiz's land tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Testudines, Testudinidae) with the description of a new species, and its consequences for conservation. Zookeys 2011; 113:39-71. [PMID: 21976992 PMCID: PMC3187627 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.113.1353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigate a cornucopia of problems associated with the identity of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Cooper). The date of publication is found to be 1861, rather than 1863. Only one of the three original cotypes exists, and it is designated as the lectotype of the species. Another cotype is found to have been destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire. The third is lost. The lectotype is genetically confirmed to be from California, and not Arizona, USA as sometimes reported. Maternally, the holotype of Gopherus lepidocephalus (Ottley & Velázques Solis. 1989) from the Cape Region of Baja California Sur, Mexico is also from the Mojavian population of the desert tortoise, and not from Tiburon Island, Sonora, Mexico as previously proposed. A suite of characters serve to diagnose tortoises west and north of the Colorado River, the Mojavian population, from those east and south of the river in Arizona, USA, and Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico, the Sonoran population. Species recognition is warranted and because Gopherus lepidocephalus is from the Mojavian population, no names are available for the Sonoran species. Thus, a new species, Gopherus morafkaisp. n., is named and this action reduces the distribution of Gopherus agassizii to only 30% of its former range. This reduction has important implications for the conservation and protection of Gopherus agassizii, which may deserve a higher level of protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W. Murphy
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON Canada M5S 2C6
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223
| | - Kristin H. Berry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, 21803 Cactus Avenue, Suite F, Riverside, CA 92518 USA
| | - Taylor Edwards
- Arizona Research Laboratories, University of Arizona Genetics Core, 1657 E. Helen Street, 6 Room 111, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
| | - Alan E. Leviton
- Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118 USA
| | - Amy Lathrop
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON Canada M5S 2C6
| | - J. Daren Riedle
- Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Lincoln University, 904 Chestnut St., Jefferson City, MO 65101 USA
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Cablk ME, Sagebiel JC, Heaton JS, Valentin C. Olfaction-based Detection Distance: A Quantitative Analysis of How Far Away Dogs Recognize Tortoise Odor and Follow It to Source. Sensors (Basel) 2008; 8:2208-22. [PMID: 27879818 DOI: 10.3390/s8042208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2008] [Accepted: 03/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of detector dogs has been demonstrated to be effective and safe for finding Mojave desert tortoises and provides certain advantages over humans in field surveys. Unlike humans who rely on visual cues for target identification, dogs use primarily olfactory cues and can therefore locate targets that are not visually obvious. One of the key benefits of surveying with dogs is their efficiency at covering ground and their ability to detect targets from long distances. Dogs may investigate potential targets using visual cues but confirm the presence of a target based on scent. Everything that emits odor does so via vapor-phase molecules and the components comprising a particular scent are carried primarily though bulk movement of the atmosphere. It is the ability to search for target odor and then go to its source that makes dogs ideal for rapid target recognition in the field setting. Using tortoises as targets, we quantified distances that dogs detected tortoise scent, followed it to source, and correctly identified tortoises as targets. Detection distance data were collected during experimental trials with advanced global positioning system (GPS) technology and then analyzed using geographic information system (GIS) modeling techniques. Detection distances ranged from 0.5 m to 62.8 m for tortoises on the surface. We did not observe bias with tortoise size, age class, sex or the degree to which tortoises were handled prior to being found by the dogs. The methodology we developed to quantify olfaction-based detection distance using dogs can be applied to other targets that dogs are trained to find.
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