Censusing desert tortoise populations using a quadrat and grid location system
Bury RB and Luckenbach RA. Censusing desert tortoise populations using a quadrat and grid location system. Pages 169-179. In Unknown: Proceedings of the Second Annual Symposium 1977. Las Vegas, NV. 1977. The Desert Tortoise Council
In this paper, the authors propose a standardized system for censusing tortoise populations. The authors believe that quadrat sampling is preferable to line transect sampling and believe the quadrat plot method provides accurate estimates of many population attributes. Quadrats can also serve as sampling stations for long-term monitoring of population characteristics. The authors offer this system as a means by which to characterize and follow population trends in G. agassizii. The paper describes data collection methods for establishing quadrats and the type of data to be collected. Data collected includes information on individual tortoises (e.g. weight, size); habitat (e.g. vegetation, topography); populations (e.g. spatial distribution, age-sex composition). The paper also includes a map showing locations of study areas, illustrations of a representative quadrat, sample data sheets, and a table defining shell and body measurements.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Bury, R.; Luckenbach, Roger
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Distribution (Biodiversity), Gopherus agassizii (Desert Tortoise), line transect sampling, Mojave Desert, Presence (Biodiversity), Quadrat sampling, Reptilia (Reptiles), Taxa Links To References, Testudines, Testudinidae (Tortoises)