Defining desert tortoise(s): Our first priority for a coherent conservation strategy
Berry KH, Morafka DJ, Murphy RW. 2002. Defining desert tortoise(s): Our first priority for a coherent conservation strategy. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 4(2):249-262
Many populations of tortoises within the Gopherus agassizii - Gopherus berlandieri complex could be designated as species, subspecies, Distinct Population Segments (DPSs), Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs), or Management Units (MUs). However, the appropriate designations for populations remain incompletely resolved. Populations in potential contact zones should be sampled more extensively to determine the absence or extent of gene flow among different ESUs to resolve the identity of species. Morphological, ecological, behavioral, and physiological distinctions among populations would establish a complete and broadly based array of DPSs.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Berry, Kristin; Morafka, David; Murphy, Robert
- Units
- DEVA , JOTR , MOJA
- Keywords
- (USA) United States of America, Absence (Biodiversity), Abundance (Biodiversity), Arizona, California, Conservation, distinct population segments, Distribution (Biodiversity), Evolutionarily Significant Units, Genetics, Gopherus agassizii (Desert Tortoise), Gopherus berlandieri, Haplotypes, Management Units, Mexico, Morphology, Nevada, phylogenetic systematics, Presence (Biodiversity), Reptilia (Reptiles), Taxa Links To Datasets, Taxa Links To References, Testudines, Testudinidae (Tortoises), Utah