Mortality over Time Population Density Declines through Mortality.
Department of the Interior Mail - Ss1069 Mortality Report
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Cota, Melanie <[email protected]> SS1069 Mortality Report 3 messages Chris Bedwell <[email protected]> Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 8:19 AM To: Melanie Cota <[email protected]>, Mark Slaughter <[email protected]> Cc: Kurt Sanderson <[email protected]>, Rachel Woodard <[email protected]>, Chris Blandford <[email protected]>, Kathy Simon <[email protected]>, Greg Berthelot <[email protected]> Hi Melanie, SS1069 Mortality Report, time since death 6-12 months. SS1069 was a 238mm male, first transmittered on Sep 12, 2012. It was health assessed Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 and was Mycoplasma negative. It was recorded as normal and non-symptomatic in all categories, with no coelomic mass, a body condition score of 5 (normal, average), and a shell wear class of 6 (which is indicative of an older tortoise). During regular tracking, SS1069 was last observed above ground on 07 Sept, 2013, under cover of a shrub. After that observation, it remained in his cave throughout fall 2013. Despite multiple attempts; we couldn’t get him out of the burrow to perform a health assessment in Sept and Oct of 2013. The tortoise remained in the cave throughout the winter. Biologists revisited at least twice each week from March through May 2014, always unable to get a visual on the tortoise. Attempts were made using probes, water, scopes and other methods to lure the animal out or to see what was happening inside the cave. A “burrow alarm” was installed, utilizing a transmitter, a magnet and a dowel rod so that trackers could listen from a distance and know if the burrow had been exited or entered by a tortoise. Searches were made of 1069’s previous locations away from its last known caliche cave. A large magnet was also probed into the cave to see if the transmitter could be retrieved if it had fallen off. None of these methods resulted in finding 1069. In late May, 2014, the transmitter battery died. Ironwood biologists recorded 16.5 hours spent trying to see this tortoise with some methods listed above. Though it was clear the transmitter had died in the cave, two alternatives remained: A.) the transmitter was not affixed to the tortoise at the time the battery failed, and the tortoise was at large or B) the transmitter was still attached, and the tortoise was also dead.
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Transcript of Department of the Interior Mail - Ss1069 Mortality Report
Cota, Melanie <[email protected]>
SS1069 Mortality Report3 messages
Chris Bedwell <[email protected]> Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 8:19 AMTo: Melanie Cota <[email protected]>, Mark Slaughter <[email protected]>Cc: Kurt Sanderson <[email protected]>, Rachel Woodard <[email protected]>, Chris Blandford <[email protected]>, Kathy Simon<[email protected]>, Greg Berthelot <[email protected]>
Hi Melanie,
SS1069 Mortality Report, time since death 6-12 months.
SS1069 was a 238mm male, first transmittered on Sep 12, 2012. It was health assessed Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 and wasMycoplasma negative. It was recorded as normal and non-symptomatic in all categories, with no coelomic mass, a body conditionscore of 5 (normal, average), and a shell wear class of 6 (which is indicative of an older tortoise).
During regular tracking, SS1069 was last observed above ground on 07 Sept, 2013, under cover of a shrub. After that observation, itremained in his cave throughout fall 2013. Despite multiple attempts; we couldn’t get him out of the burrow to perform a healthassessment in Sept and Oct of 2013. The tortoise remained in the cave throughout the winter.
Biologists revisited at least twice each week from March through May 2014, always unable to get a visual on the tortoise. Attemptswere made using probes, water, scopes and other methods to lure the animal out or to see what was happening inside the cave. A“burrow alarm” was installed, utilizing a transmitter, a magnet and a dowel rod so that trackers could listen from a distance and knowif the burrow had been exited or entered by a tortoise. Searches were made of 1069’s previous locations away from its last knowncaliche cave. A large magnet was also probed into the cave to see if the transmitter could be retrieved if it had fallen off. None ofthese methods resulted in finding 1069.
In late May, 2014, the transmitter battery died. Ironwood biologists recorded 16.5 hours spent trying to see this tortoise with somemethods listed above. Though it was clear the transmitter had died in the cave, two alternatives remained: A.) the transmitter was notaffixed to the tortoise at the time the battery failed, and the tortoise was at large or B) the transmitter was still attached, and thetortoise was also dead.
After a pre-clearance survey failed to find SS1069 alive in phase II, it seemed most probable the animal was dead in the cave. OnAugust 29, a team of Ironwood biologists excavated the caliche cave in which 1069 lived, and where the transmitter died. There weretwo main tunnels to this cave; one had partially filled in from flood events over time. Both of these were enlarged to the point wherethey were “daylighted” and were clearly empty. There was, however, a small chamber above and sharply curved to the left off themain tunnel- this was where SS1069 had expired. The carcass was tightly wedged into this space, but whether this occurred before,during or post death is unknown.
The tortoise’s estimated time since death is 6-12 months. It is mummified and has not been scavenged. The carcass was largelycovered with white mold, and scutes disarticulated quickly when the carcass was removed from the cave. The transmitter was stillaffixed to the scutes.
SS1069 was the only tortoise on either the Silver State or Stateline projects that has been listed as “missing” for more than a couple ofdays. Though the outcome for the tortoise is unfortunate, it appears to have died of unknown natural causes. Photos are attached ofthe cave excavation and carcass.
Chris Bedwell
Designated Biologist,Silver State SouthSubcontractor forIronwood Consulting, Inc.c. 702.683.5266e. [email protected]
3 attachments
20140829_085426.jpg3549K
20140829_100704.jpg3776K
20140829_100721.jpg2897K
Cota, Melanie <[email protected]> Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 11:06 AMTo: Michael Burroughs <[email protected]>, Roy Averill-Murray <[email protected]>, Kimberleigh Field <[email protected]>Cc: Mark Slaughter <[email protected]>
All,
Please see below SS1069 mortality for Silver State South.[Quoted text hidden]
-- Melanie CotaWildlife Biologist
BLM Southern Nevada DistrictPahrump Field Office4701 North Torrey Pines DriveLas Vegas, NV 89130Office: 702-515-5233Fax: [email protected]
It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment ofpresent and future generations.
3 attachments
20140829_085426.jpg3549K
20140829_100704.jpg3776K
20140829_100721.jpg2897K
Cota, Melanie <[email protected]> Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 11:06 AMTo: Chris Bedwell <[email protected]>
Thanks, Chris.[Quoted text hidden]
-- Melanie CotaWildlife Biologist
BLM Southern Nevada DistrictPahrump Field Office4701 North Torrey Pines DriveLas Vegas, NV 89130
Office: 702-515-5233Fax: [email protected]
It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment ofpresent and future generations.
