The Desert Council

Volume 39, Issue 1 June 25, 2014 Newsletter

The BLM-Bundy Debacle by Michael Tuma and Wendy Turner

Over the past several weeks ing to irrational claims such as cattle roundup in early April, the American people have wit- the lands are owned by the Bundy’s supporters, which nessed the rise to infamy of the State of Nevada and the federal included a contingent of gun- Bunkerville, Nevada cattle government does not exist. toting militiamen, flocked to rancher Cliven Bundy, who After obtaining two federal Bunkerville to join his cause. Inside this issue: challenged the legitimacy of the court orders to evict Bundy’s After a group of pro-Bundy federal government and orga- cattle from the Gold Butte protestors blocked a BLM con- Featured Stories nized an armed militia to intim- Area of Critical Environmental voy on April 10, several physi- The BLM-Bundy Debacle 1 idate federal agents in a recent Concern, an area that includes cal confrontations broke out stand-off. For more than 20 more than 185,000 acres of between BLM agents and the 39th Annual 1 years, Bundy has illegally Critical Habitat for the federal- protestors. The so-called Council Symposium Recap grazed his estimated herd of ly-listed (Threatened) Agassiz’s ‘Battle of Bunkerville’ culmi- Comments Sought on USFWS 5 500 – 900 cattle on public desert tortoise, the BLM initi- nated in a confrontation on Recovery Action Plans lands managed by the Bureau ated the roundup on April 5, Saturday, April 12, when armed of Land Management (BLM). 2014. In the weeks leading up protestors rallied a stand Study Finds are Closer 6 He has refused to pay the re- to the roundup, Bundy prom- against the roundup operation Kin to Birds, Crocodiles than quired grazing fees and penalty ised a “range war” with the as BLM crews and contractors to Lizards, Snakes fines over the past 20 years, BLM and its contracted cow- were transporting cattle from Struggle for Survival: Some 7 and now owes the American boys, and issued rally cries federal lands to a holding cor- Moving, Vanishing taxpayers approximately $1 requesting the assistance of like ral. Pro-Bundy protestors sur- as Deserts Grow Hotter million. He has ignored the -minded folks to come to his rounded the area, some aiming BLM’s eviction orders, resort- aid. As the BLM initiated the continued on Page 3 Columns Event Announcements 4 39th Annual DTC Symposium Recap Recent Publications 5 The DTC’s 39th Annual Sym- “Prospects for : De- Conservation Plan in Califor- Member Spotlight 9 posium at the DoubleTree by mographic and Physiological nia, recovery actions and plan- Hilton Hotel in Ontario, Cali- Models of Climate Change ning for G. agassizii, and re- Letter from the Editor 9 fornia, reached a new peak in from 65 Million Years Ago to search. The government papers The DTC Board In Action 10 attendance with 275 registered the Future” and based on were countered and balanced participants and 53 presenta- modeling, offered a bleak fu- by presentations on legal and Special Announcements 11 tions and posters. There were ture for Gopherus agassizii and other conservation efforts by Photo Gallery 11 many highlights throughout G. morafkai in the American the Center for Biological Di- the Symposium, starting with Southwest. His address was versity, Desert Tortoise Coun- the Keynote Address by Dr. followed by a series of govern- cil, Desert Tortoise Preserve Barry Sinervo from the Univer- ment presentations on energy Committee, and Mojave Land sity of California, Santa Cruz. development and the status of Trust. Dr. Sinervo’s address, titled the Desert Renewable Energy continued on Page 2 Page 2 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 39th Annual DTC Symposium Recap (continued)

Laura Cunningham gave a golden eagles (a tortoise preda- outstanding service as Treasur- tat in California. David Lam- moving presentation about her tor), chaired by Todd Katzner er and a member of the Board from was honored with the Pat book, “Forgotten Landscapes of West Virginia University. of Directors. Philip Medica Von Helf Recognition Award of California: Historical Ecolo- Dr. Katzner put together a was honored with the Robert for his “ Through the gy, Changing Deserts, and the sterling team of scientists who C. Stebbins Research Award Lens” project, which has en- Adventures of Publishing a spoke on topics ranging from for his 50 years as a profession- riched the lives of Mojave De- Book.” Copies of her book migration and movements of al herpetologist in the South- sert students and provided available at the meeting sold golden eagles and other raptors western U.S., where much of outreach to millions of south- out quickly, leaving some peo- to distribution and densities of his research was devoted to ern Californians through a ple wishing that the Council nesting eagles in the California long-term studies of desert media campaign and his book had acquired more. Phil Medi- and Nevada deserts. The ef- tortoises and lizards on the of the same title. Finally, Sara ca, the winner of the Robert C. fects of wind farms on golden Nevada Nuclear Test Site. Valenzuela from the Laborato- Stebbins Research Award, re- eagles and other raptors (by There were several recipients ry of Herpetology at the State viewed his life in herpetology Douglas Bell and others) pro- of the Glenn R. Stewart Ser- University of Juarez, Mexico, vice Award, including the Mo- with her proposal entitled jave Desert Land Trust, hon- “ Burrows and ored for its acquisition of more their Role as Refuges for the than 45,000 acres of land in the Vertebrate Community at the Mojave Desert since 2006, Biosphere Reserve of Mapimi,” much of which contains habi- was awarded the David J. tat for desert tortoises; Shelton Morafka Memorial Research Douthit was honored for his Award. 28 years as a consultant assist- On Sunday, the sessions were ing public agencies and non- packed with interesting papers profit land trusts, including the on a wide variety of subjects Mojave Desert Land Trust, in useful to recovery and manage- acquiring and protecting lands ment. There were several ro- with conservation value; Nancy bust and interesting papers on Karl was honored for her work Panel discussion following Saturday afternoon’s Session 6: Mycoplasmosis, Herpes- G. morafkai in the Sonoran with the Mojave Desert Land virus, and Other Diseases and their Potential Impacts on Tortoise Populations. Desert of Arizona and in the Trust; Sean Daily was honored Photo by Chris Noddings. different vegetation types in for his more than five years as Mexico. The session on trans- vided critical information for the creative editor of the De- and the arid Southwest—a location and release of head- managers and wildlife biolo- sert Tortoise Council Newslet- significant summary of accom- started tortoises summarized gists alike. ter; and Dan Pearson was hon- plishments and team efforts. both long-term and short-term ored for his more than 20 years Roger Repp, the Saturday Scientists and veterinarians studies. Kathy Simon chaired a of outstanding service as a evening dinner speaker, was a from the University of Florida session on Connectivity of member of the Council’s source of enjoyment with his and San Zoo gave pa- Desert Tortoise Populations Board of Directors, including a “Burrow Buddies—Or Not?” pers on new diseases (a new and Michael Tuma chaired the record four terms as Co-Chair. His photographs of rattle- Mycoplasma and new herpesvi- closing session on manage- The Desert Tortoise Preserve snakes and gila monsters with rus), comparison of sampling ment, restoration efforts, and Committee was honored with tortoises could only have been techniques, and evaluation of potential impacts to tortoises the James A. St. Amant Special acquired by a superb naturalist histologic findings. of invasive plant and Award for its 40 years of as with thousands of hours in the . field. Roger signed copies of Following the banquet on Sat- manager of the Desert Tortoise the children’s book that fea- urday night, the annual awards Research Natural Area Abstracts of papers from the tured him as one of the book’s were presented. Mike Bailey (DTRNA), its research and Symposium are available at the characters (Katie the Rattle- was honored with the Kristin educational outreach associated Desert Tortoise Council’s web- snake). H. Berry Annual Award for his with the DTRNA, and for its site, www.deserttortoise.org/ nearly 14 years of work for the acquisitions of important areas symposia.html. Another highlight of the meet- Council, and seven years of of known desert tortoise habi- ing was the special session on Page 3 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1

The BLM-Bundy Debacle (continued) AK-47s and sniper rifles at the Jewell promised to bring Mr. by the BLM with the release of most ranchers have complied federal agents, while other Bundy to justice for organizing the 1998 Las Vegas Field Of- with the BLM’s orders to re- armed protestors approached the militia and putting DOI fice Resource Management move their cattle from these the corral containing nearly employees in “grave danger,” Plan. Closure of the allotments retired allotments, Mr. Bundy 400 head of gathered cattle. and the FBI is currently inves- was facilitated by the Southern remains committed to defiance, Nevada Public Land Manage- and his cattle continue to graze ment Act (SNPLMA) and the within Critical Habitat. Clark County Multiple Species Until Mr. Bundy’s cattle are Habitat Conservation Plan removed from Gold Butte and (MSHCP). The SNPLMA al- adjacent lands containing de- lowed the BLM to sell public sert tortoise Critical Habitat, land within a specific boundary his livestock will continue to around Las Vegas, and pur- destroy cryptogamic crusts and chase land inholdings and graz- compact desert soils, causing ing leases within management erosion and reducing water areas. The MSHCP was de- infiltration. His livestock will signed to allow developers to continue to introduce and take tortoises and their habitat spread non-native, invasive Eric Parker, who lives in central Idaho, aims his weapon from a bridge as protestors in the Las Vegas Valley, with plant species, altering forage gather by the BLM’s base camp in Bunkerville. the condition that fees collect- availability to desert tortoises in ed from project proponents Photo by Jim Urquhart, Reuters unfavorable ways, contributing would be directed to the BLM to fuel accumulation and fire The BLM feared the worst and tigating the case to determine for implementation of numer- risk, and potentially fragment- backed away from the situation whether charges will be ous desert tortoise recovery ing desert tortoise habitat. to prevent the conflict from brought against pro-Bundy actions and mitigation They will continue to trample escalating into violence and protestors who pointed weap- measures. One of those perennial shrubs and graze on bloodshed. This allowed the ons at federal officers, taunted measures included purchasing native annual plants, causing protestors to release the cows, them, and told them they and closing grazing leases in considerable and important drive them back onto the fed- should be ready to die. desert tortoise Critical Habitat; changes in the character of eral lands, and claim victory. Though most of the attention more than $375,000 of Mojave Desert vegetation com- Immediately after the incident, surrounding the case has fo- MSHCP funds were used to munities in the Gold Butte BLM Director Neil Kornze cused on the human drama, at terminate leases in the Gold region. stated that “the BLM will con- the core of the issue is protec- Butte ACEC in 1998. While tion of the desert tortoise and its habitat. When BLM officials asked Cliven Bundy to remove “While most ranchers his cattle from grazing in the have complied with the Gold Butte ACEC, they were BLM’s orders to remove implementing land use policies their cattle from these retired allotments, Mr. designed around the protection Bundy remains of tortoises and other special- committed to defiance, status species. Over decades of and his cattle continue to monitoring and research, BLM graze within Critical biologists and non-affiliated Habitat.” scientists have determined that livestock grazing is detrimental to desert tortoise habitat, tinue to work to resolve the which spurred the drive for A group of Cliven Bundy’s cattle in the Gold Butte Area of Critical Environmental matter administratively and changing land use policies per- Concern that has been designated Critical Habitat for Agassiz’s desert tortoise. judicially.” Department of the taining to grazing. Removal of Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally livestock grazing was promised Photo by John Locher, AP/Las Vegas Review-Journal. Page 4 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 Event Announcements 2014 Desert Tortoise Council Workshop: Introduction to Desert Tortoises and Field Techniques

The 24th Annual DTC Work- workshop will open in early  hands-on exercises in This DTC Workshop is recog- shop, Introduction to Desert July, and specific information monitoring and surveying nized as valuable training Tortoises and Field Tech- (workshop venue, registration techniques for desert tor- course by the U.S. Fish and niques, will be held in Ridge- fees, etc.) will be available on toises; Wildlife Service, but a letter crest, California with two iden- the DTC website (http:// certifying course completion  tical sessions to choose from— www.deserttortoise.org/ authorized demonstrations (including attendance and com- the first on November 1 and 2 workshop.html). of egg handling and bur- pleting the on line test), does (Sat-Sun) and the second on row construction; and The workshop is designed es- not guarantee that the Service November 3 and 4 (Mon-Tue), pecially for beginners with a  classroom overviews of or any other agency will permit 2014. Enrollment for the solid understanding of verte- the desert tortoise and or authorize you to handle brate biology and ecology, and threats to its survival. tortoises, move eggs, construct burrows, collect survey data, is structured to provide infor- The workshop consists of etc. However, completion of mation on the biology of de- morning lectures by experi- the workshop may be an im- sert tortoises and the field enced desert tortoise biologists portant aspect in gaining agen- techniques of monitoring and and field workers and after- cy permission/authorization. surveying, including: noons of field experience lo- cating tortoises. Photo by Matt McMillan 2014 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists The 2014 Joint Meeting of annual meeting of the Ameri- annual meeting of the Ameri- Ichthyologists and Herpetolo- can Elasmobranch Society, the can Society of Ichthyologists gists (JMIH) will be held in in 57th annual meeting of the and Herpetologists. For more Chattanooga, Tennessee at the Society for the Study of Am- information, go to http:// Chattanooga Convention Cen- phibians and , the 72nd www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/ ter, July 30 – August 3. The annual meeting of the Herpe- jointmeeting/welcome. 2014 JMIH includes the 30th tologists' League, and the 94th 12th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles

The 12th Annual Symposium sents the largest gathering of ing China, Madagascar, India, on the Conservation and Biol- non-marine biologists in Australia, and South America, ogy of Tortoises and Freshwa- the world. Long-term Chelonian Studies, Ranavirus in Turtles, and Nest- ter Turtles will be hosted Au- The symposium will include a ing Ecology, to name a few. gust 4-7, 2014 in Orlando, wide variety of presentations Past workshops have dealt with Florida. The Symposium , from around the world, rang- egg incubation, filtration, and sponsored by Zoo Med Labor- ing in topic from captive hus- translocation. atories, Inc., is co-hosted by bandry to field techniques to the Turtle Survival Alliance conservation. During its ten- For more information, go to and the IUCN Tortoise and year history, symposia have http://www.turtlesurvival.org/ Freshwater Turtle Specialist included special sessions cover- get-involved/conference. Group (TFTSG), and repre- Page 5 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 Event Announcements California Turtle & Tortoise Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

The California Turtle & Tor- CTTC has planned an amazing very exciting prizes, and a great Sound Science and Serendipity toise Club (CTTC) is celebrat- agenda for their celebration. opportunity to meet members May Spell Recovery for These ing its golden anniversary on The event will include a ca- from the 14 chapters around Gentle Giants!” Saturday, July 12, 2014, be- tered luncheon buffet, and the state and to make some Michael Tuma, PhD Candidate tween 10:00 am and 4:00 pm at multiple speakers on a selec- new friends and contacts. - “Tortoises Through the Eyes tion of turtle/tortoise topics, the Los Angeles County Arbo- The event will feature three of a Biologist: What can Wild including a presentation on the retum in Arcadia, California. It noted speakers: Tortoises Tell Us About Our is rare that a non-profit organi- history and the activities of the Pets?” zation such as the CTTC club by Jim Misiak, Chino Michael Connor, PhD - “A reaches the 50-year milestone, Chapter President. The cele- Brief History of the California and it’s one definitely worth bration will also feature a spe- Turtle and Tortoise Club” celebrating. CTTC was found- cial CTTC 50th Anniversary Fred Caporaso, PhD - ed in 1964 and has over 1,500 Song, awards, a silent auction “Galapagos Tortoise Update: members worldwide. The and raffle drawing with some Lonesome George is Gone but Recovery Action Plans Released; Comments Sought

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife approved by the Desert particularly from non-agency consider ways to broaden Service’s Desert Tortoise Tortoise Management stakeholders. Comments stakeholder involvement. Recovery Office has recently Oversight Group prior to their submitted prior to October 31, Comments to Version 1 of the released draft Recovery Action public release, contain 2014 will be considered by the plans should be emailed to Cat Plans produced by each of recommendations for Recovery Implementation Darst at [email protected] three regional Recovery prioritized recovery actions for Teams, and addressed and with the subject line “Recovery Implementation Teams. The Agassiz’s desert tortoise included in Version 2 of each Action Plan Comments for draft plans, which are intended populations both within and plan. The teams will also (specify which plan).” to be living documents, are outside of conservation areas, consider project proposals that available online at and guidelines for monitoring address high-priority actions http://www.fws.gov/nevada/ their implementation. The identified in the plans, address desert_tortoise/dtro/dtro_rits. Service is seeking comments formal dissentions contained in html. The plans, which were for these Version 1 documents, the Version 1 documents, and Recent Publications Peer-reviewed articles: Biological Conservation Zylstra, Erin R., Robert J. Tortoise: A Natural History. Lovich, Jeffrey E., Charles B. 169:214–224. Steidl, Cristina A. Jones, and Uni-versity of Oklahoma Yackulic, Jerry Freilich, Mickey Berry, Kristin H., Julie L. Yee, Roy C. Averill-Murray. 2013. Press, Norman, Oklahoma. Spatial and temporal variation Agha, Meaghan Austin, Kathe- Ashley A. Coble, William M. Rostal, David C., Earl D. in survival of a rare : a rine P. Meyer, Terence R. Ar- Perry, and A. Shields. McCoy, and Henry R. 22-year study of Sonoran de- undel, Jered Hansen, Michael 2013. Multiple Factors Affect a Mushin-sky (eds.) 2014. sert tortoises. Oecologia S. Vamstad, and Stephanie A. Population of Agassiz’s Desert Biology and Conservation of 173:107–116. Root. 2013. Climatic variation Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in North American Tortoises. and tortoise survival: Has a the Northwestern Mojave De- Books: Johns-Hopkins University desert species met its match? sert. Herpetological Mono- Rose, Francis L. and Frank Press, Baltimore, Maryland. graphs 27(1):87–109. W. Judd. 2014. The Texas Page 6 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1

Study Finds Turtles are Closer Kin to Birds, Crocodiles than to Lizards, Snakes by Eric Gershon, Yale University

anatomical studies and other ence in reptile phylogeny: mi- research involving small bio- croRNAs support an archo- molecules called microRNAs saur, not lepidosaur, affinity for that indicate a closer relation- turtles.” ship between turtles and lizards Other authors on the paper are and snakes. Jacques Gauthier, also of Yale, MicroRNAs are viewed by Ben King of the Mount Desert some scientists as especially Island Biological Laboratory, good evolutionary markers. Davide Pisani of the University of Bristol, Tyler Lyson of the Field and collaborators revisit- Smithsonian Institution, and ed a foundational microRNA Kevin Peterson of Dartmouth study, applied updated criteria College. for microRNA identification, and came to a different conclu- Chelonians like Agassiz’s desert tortoise are more closely related to birds and crocodilians than to lizards and snakes. sion. Photo by Tim Smith. “Several studies purporting to “For the first time, we investigate microRNAs misi- obtain a consistent dentified other small RNA evolutionary signal from What are turtles, and where did a group known as archosaurs different sources of molecules as microRNAs,” they come from? — than with lizards and molecular data regarding said Field. “In our study, we Precise answers to these ques- snakes.” the evolutionary position collected new microRNA data tions have long eluded scien- Field and collaborators report- of turtles.” from a variety of vertebrate tists. But new research led by ed their findings May 5 in the animals and adhered to strict Daniel Field of Yale University journal Evolution and Devel- new guidelines for microRNA and the Smithsonian Institu- opment. Support for the research came identification. When the exper- tion recasts the turtle’s disput- from the Yale Peabody Muse- Reptiles comprise a vast animal iment was redone, support for ed evolutionary history, um, the Government of Alber- group of more than 20,000 turtles as closer relatives of providing fresh evidence that ta, the Canadian Natural Sci- species. The interrelationships lizards and snakes turned out the familiar reptiles are more ences and Engineering Re- of some subgroups are well to be spurious, while support closely related to birds and understood, the scientists said. for turtles as closer relatives of search Council, and NASA. crocodiles than to lizards and Birds are most closely related birds and crocodilians was very snakes. to crocodilians among living strong.” “These observations address reptiles, for example, while In short, he said, microRNAs one of the defining biological snakes, lizards, and New Zea- and DNA sequences now yield questions of the past decade, land’s tuatara form a natural a common signal uniting turtles helping us illuminate the murk- group. But turtles’ precise place and archosaurs (birds and croc- ier reaches of reptile evolu- has been unclear, in part due to odilians). tion,” said Field, a doctoral conflicting research results. Lotosaurus adentus, a middle Trias- “These results are exciting sic archosaur from China. Drawing by candidate in geology and geo- For example, although a grow- because, for the first time, we Nobu Tamura. physics at Yale and a pre- ing number of DNA sequence obtain a consistent evolution- doctoral fellow at the Smith- studies show a close evolution- ary signal from different This article was reprinted with the sonian Institution’s National ary kinship between turtles and sources of molecular data re- author’s permission. The original Museum of Natural History. archosaurs (birds, crocodili- story may be found at http:// garding the evolutionary posi- “We show that turtles share a ans), these studies have some- news.yale.edu/2014/05/05/study- more recent common ancestor tion of turtles,” Field said. finds-turtles-are-closer-kin-birds- times been contradicted by crocodiles-lizards-snakes with birds and crocodilians — The paper is “Toward consili- Page 7 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 Struggle for Survival: Some Animals Moving, Vanishing as Deserts Grow Hotter

by Ian James, The Desert Sun

Scientists recently surveyed reminded Agha of the surface one patch of U.S. desert and of Mars. Hiking through that found more desert tortoises plot, he and other researchers dead than alive. Some types of found only 14 living tortoises, lizards and insects have been down from an average of 43 vanishing from areas where animals found in previous sur- they once thrived. And on veys since 1978. What was mountainsides that have grown particularly astonishing was the hotter and drier, birds have number of tortoises they found been shifting to higher eleva- dead: 64. Their lifeless shells tions. Years of drought and turned up beneath creosote rising temperatures influenced bushes or baking in the sun. Agassiz’s desert tortoise, just one of many desert organisms facing the threat of anthro- by climate change are posing Some bore scars from being pogenic climate change. Photo by Omar Ornelas and Richard Lui, The Desert Sun. new threats for desert animals gnawed by predators such as in the Southwest, compound- coyotes. Many appeared to ing the pressures on species have died from dehydration or some animals to their limits. already decimated by decades starvation. Researchers con- Tortoises have survived natural of expanding development and cluded that the die-off was shifts in climate over the ages, and theoretically could relocate “Predicting how animals destruction of habitat. linked to successive years of will fare in hotter deserts again — if they are able to drought, and said the findings is difficult, and For desert tortoises, the pro- point to potential trouble for respond quickly enough and if researchers say longed drought has withered the Agassiz’s desert tortoise, they aren’t stopped by roads distinguishing the effects much of the vegetation on which is listed as a threatened and other human-built barriers. of global warming from other influences can be which they depend. But on one species. “The question is: Is Tortoises also face other threats such as diseases and off particularly challenging cool morning this spring, tor- the tortoise going to be able to given the complexity of toises emerged from their bur- survive under a warming cli- -road vehicles. “They’re an- ecosystems.” rows on rocky hillsides beneath mate in those low California cient, and they were able to an array of windmills to feed desert habitats?” said Jeff survive whatever devastation on clumps of grass and rare Lovich, a research ecologist wiped out the dinosaurs, but it tems. What scientists have desert dandelions. “Despite the with the U.S. Geological Sur- remains to be seen if they’ll been able to document, drought, desert tortoises that vey (USGS) who led the study. survive us,” Lovich said. “This though, is that some desert did survive are taking ad- is a species that’s probably animals are vulnerable to shifts vantage of this bloom,” said That same question is increas- already on the physiological in climate and have suffered Mickey Agha, a researcher ingly being asked by scientists edge of survival.” declines as the Southwest has studying tortoises at the Mesa about a wide variety of animals become hotter and drier. Scien- Wind Farm in the hills along across the desert Southwest. For many desert creatures, tists predict those trends will the San Gorgonio Pass. The Many desert creatures have biologists don’t know exactly intensify as average global tem- views of tortoises foraging survived for millennia by with- where that edge of survival lies. peratures climb in response to among wildflowers were a standing long periods without Predicting how animals will rising levels of greenhouse stark contrast to what Agha water, and some have adapted fare in hotter deserts is diffi- gases in the atmosphere. Some saw two years ago in Joshua to extreme heat by spending cult, and researchers say distin- animals could become extinct, Tree National Park, where a much of their lives under- guishing the effects of global while others are likely to be square-mile research plot was ground in burrows. Hotter warming from other influences driven into smaller pockets. largely stripped of vegetation temperatures and multiyear can be particularly challenging by drought. The landscape droughts, though, could push given the complexity of ecosys- Continued on next page Page 8 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1

Struggle for Survival (continued)

In the newly released National the bigger takeaway, that if it’s that desert tortoises were that based on current trends, 6 Climate Assessment report, already extreme there, it’s likely among the few species likely to percent of the world’s lizard scientists estimate that annual to be one of the first areas to expand their range. “It’s one of species could become extinct average temperatures in the be concerned about.” the few that looks like it’s go- by 2050, and 20 percent of the Southwest could rise by 5.5-9.5 ing to have a positive re- world’s lizard species could degrees Fahrenheit by the end In April, the USGS released a sponse,” van Riper said. Some disappear by 2080. Those van- of the century if carbon emis- study that assessed where sev- scientists disagree and say they ishing reptiles are part of what sions continue to grow. Winter en species of birds and five expect populations of desert biologist predict will be the and spring rains are predicted species of reptiles are likely to tortoises to continue to de- world’s sixth mass extinction, to diminish in the southern be able to live in the future. cline. How the tortoises fare, the biggest and most rapid loss portion of the Southwest, with Using multiple climate models, said Cameron Barrows, an of animal and plant species smaller changes in the northern the researchers found that associate research ecologist at since the dinosaurs disap- part of the region. Those shifts some species could gain suita- UC Riverside’s Center for peared. Conservation Biology, will likely depend to a large degree on rainfall. Based on current trends and a predicted rise of “The desert Southwest is more than 5 degrees in sum- really an area of great, mertime temperatures, Bar- great, rapid change. It’s rows has projected that desert driving extinctions tortoises could lose 72 percent rapidly. We expect that of their suitable habitat in in the next decade, we’ll actually see the very first Joshua Tree National Park and vertebrate extinctions surrounding areas by the end from climate change, and of the century. these will be in many things, but mainly Other species of reptiles also lizards, amphibians.” appear to be particularly vul- nerable. “The desert Southwest Cameron Barrows, a UC Riverside ecologist, takes notes while surveying Joshua trees is really an area of great, great, This article was reprinted with the and other plants at Joshua Tree National Park on April 13, 2014. The national author’s permission. The full, rapid change,” said Barry Si- original story may be found at park and UC Riverside's Center for Conservation Biology recently began a long-term nervo, a professor of ecology http://www.desertsun.com/ effort to monitor changes in plants and animals in order to track the effects of climate and evolutionary biology at UC longform/news/ change. Photo by Ian James, The Desert Sun. environment/2014/06/07/climate Santa Cruz who is studying -change-california-desert- will affect different animals in ble habitat based on predicted extinctions of lizards and frogs animals/10035779/ different ways. “The South- climate changes, while others linked to climate change. “It’s western deserts are going to be will likely see their ranges driving extinctions rapidly. We hotter and drier, with more shrink. “Certain species benefit expect that in the next decade, episodic and unreliable cli- from changes, some do not we’ll actually see the very first mate,” said Ken Nussear, a benefit, and a few of them vertebrate extinctions from research wildlife biologist with basically will probably stay the climate change, and these will the U.S. Geological Survey. same,” said Charles van Riper be in many things, but mainly “The most extreme areas that III, USGS emeritus scientist lizards, amphibians.” In a 2010 we can think of as far as high and a professor at the Univer- study, Sinervo and other re- temperatures and low precipi- sity of Arizona in Tucson. The searchers assessed 48 species tation are likely to be the first research, which also involved of Mexican lizards and found areas where we expect things scientists from the University that 12 percent of local popula- to change the most. So that’s of New Mexico and Northern tions had gone extinct since Photo by Ken Nagy Arizona University, concluded 1975. The scientists estimated Page 9 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 Member Spotlight Three DTC Board Members Step Down in 2014

After many of service to the Board for 17 years, and served Desert Tortoise Council, three twice as DTC Chairperson, and of our long-standing board many years as Corresponding members—Dan Pearson, Tra- Secretary and coordinator of cy Bailey, and Mike Bailey— the DTC Workshops. Mr. Bai- stepped down from their posi- ley served on the Board for 14 tions recently. Mr. Pearson years, including 7 years as served on the DTC Board for Treasurer, and assisted in run- 21 years in total, and served as ning the DTC Workshops. Board Chairperson four times. We thank them for their many He was instrumental in devel- Dan Pearson Tracy Bailey Mike Bailey contributions to the DTC over oping the first DTC Workshop the years, and wish them the Photos by Bruce Palmer. in 1990. best in their future endeavors! Ms. Bailey served on the DTC Symposium Auction Winner Enjoys Wintery Retreat DTC member Danna Hinderle ing and boarding conditions. recently returned from her trip The view from the top of the to Big Sky Mountain Resort, in mountain was stunning, with Big Sky, Montana, a travel snow capped mountains in package she won at the 39th every direction. The condo- Annual DTC Symposium in minium was beautiful and cozy February. She thanked the - we enjoyed wine by the fire- DTC for an excellent time: place after skiing right to our door, and soaked in the hot tub “Thank you to the Desert Tor- every day. The desert and its toise Council and our Montana tortoises seemed very far hosts for an amazing spring- time getaway at Big Sky Moun- away! We really appreciate the opportunity to explore Mon- tain Resort’s slope-side condo- tana, and look forward to a minium. We had fantastic return visit soon. In short, it weather, and great spring ski- was awesome, and thank you!” Photo by Danna Hinderle Letter from the Editor Welcome to my inaugural issue I could not have produced this tortoise photos published. I’m of the Desert Tortoise Council newsletter without help, and I looking forward to future is- Newsletter! I’m proud to have will most certainly need help sues of the Desert Tortoise accepted the role as Newsletter from our membership for pro- Council Newsletter and I hope Editor, and I look forward to ducing future newsletters. If you are, too! providing our DTC member- you’re interested in contrib- - Michael Tuma ship with timely, interesting, uting in any way, please contact [email protected] and inspiring stories about me! I’m especially looking for desert tortoises and our efforts help from authors who want to to protect their populations contribute stories, and photog- and habitats. raphers who want to see their Photo by Heather Parks Page 10 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 The DTC Board in Action DTC Ecosystems Advisory Committee Actions

The Desert Tortoise Council’s to Kern County, regulato- state 11 and Intermoun-  Provided comment letter Ecosystems Advisory Commit- ry agencies, and pertinent tain West Corridor Study to the BLM on the pro- tee, chaired by Ed LaRue, en- environmental groups on  Provided comment letter posed Silurian Valley Solar sures that the DTC participates the Springbok & Oryx to the Bureau of Indian Variance Consideration as an active stakeholder for Solar Power Projects, Affairs on the Moapa So- planned projects and actions which are proposed ex- lar Energy Final EIS throughout the Mojave Desert. pansions of the Beacon  In 2014, the DTC participated Solar Project Provided position paper to in public meetings, submitted Department of Interior  Provided comment letter comment letters, and provided agencies on the proposed to the BLM on the presentations for numerous Desert Tortoise Conserva- planned release of Desert actions, including the follow- tion Center Tortoise Conservation ing:  Center tortoises into the Provided endorsement  Provided comment letter Eldorado Valley by the letter to BLM in support to the BLM on the Soda BLM of the proposed designa- Mountain Solar Draft EIS tion of National Conser-  Provided comment letter vation Lands  Notified San Bernardino to Kern County on the  County of desert tortoise Fremont Valley Preserva- Provided comment letter fence damage along Har- tion Project Draft EIR to the BLM on the pro- posed release of desert per Lake Road Photo by Michael Tuma  Joined stakeholder’s list tortoises into Hidden Val-  Provided comment letter for the proposed Inter- ley DTC Board Retreat On June 7-8, 2014, the Board the Board developed a vision ensuring the long-term viability bers left the retreat feeling of Directors participated in a for the future of the DTC, of desert tortoise populations. energized and ready to take on retreat to discuss plans for the discussed roles and responsibil- Additionally, the Board induct- their responsibilities with re- future of the DTC. The meet- ities of the various Board posi- ed two new members to the newed vigor and purpose. ing was facilitated by Linda tions and ways that work could Board—Cristina Jones of the Many thanks to Ms. Mitrovich Mitrovitch and Heidi Brannon be more efficiently distributed, Arizona Game & Fish Depart- and Ms. Brannon for facilitat- of Solutions Strategies Interna- considered novel fundraising ment and Jason Jones of the ing an excellent meeting! tional, Inc., who provided their opportunities, and strategized Nevada Department of Wild- services pro bono. Over the ways that the DTC could more life. The meeting was a huge course of the two-day event, effectively achieve its goals of success, and all Board mem- Upgrade Planned for DTC Membership Database The DTC is currently in the portant announcements, re- this transition with the data- Also, if your membership has process of revamping the minders, or happenings. We base so we can make it as accu- lapsed, now is the time to re- membership database in order have approximately 470 current rate and as useful as possible. new! You can renew by going to make it more user-friendly members, and recently discov- If you have changed emails to the following link on the and up-to-date. This will allow ered that email addresses on and/or your contact infor- DTC website: us to contact our members file for 220 of our members mation has changed, please www.deserttortoise.org/ more quickly and efficiently (both current and lapsed) are send an email with the correct app_form.php when newsletters are published incorrect. We are requesting information to Mari Quillman or when we want to let our assistance from all of our at mquillman members know about im- members as we move through @ecorpconsulting.com. Page 11 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1 Special Announcements Sponsors Sought for DTC Newsletter

Interested in getting more ex- bers, and available for free Gold: Your organization’s logo posure for your organization download from our website presented in the sponsorship by sponsoring a non-profit? (www.deserttortoise.org/newsl section of the Newsletter for 4 Consider advertising in the etter.html). issues ($250). next issue of the Desert Tor- We are offering the following For more information on be- toise Council Newsletter! The sponsorship levels: coming a sponsor of the De- Council is currently seeking sert Tortoise Council Newslet- sponsors for upcoming issues Silver: Your organization’s ter, please contact Michael of the Newsletter, which is name mentioned in the spon- Tuma at mtuma published quarterly, distributed sorship section of the Newslet- @ecorpconsulting.com. via email to more than 500 of ter for 4 issues ($100). our members and past mem- Photo Gallery

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise Morafka’s Desert Tortoise Bolson Tortoise Photo by Stacy Manson Photo by USFWS Photo by Myles B. Traphagen

Texas Tortoise Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise Photo by Clinton and Charles Robertson Photo by Beth Jackson Photo by Gary Foster Page 12 The Desert Tortoise Council Newsletter Volume 39, Issue 1

DTC Board of Directors Officers Bruce Palmer, Chairperson Ed LaRue, Recording Secretary Joe Probst, Treasurer Mari Quillman, Membership Coordinator Board Members at Large Kristin Berry Margaret Fusari Becky Jones Photo: Shelley Ellis Chris Noddings The Desert Tortoise Council was established in 1976 to promote Ken MacDonald conservation of the desert tortoise in the deserts of the southwestern Glenn Stewart United States and Mexico. The Council is a private, non-profit Peter Woodman organization comprised of hundreds of professionals and laypersons Michael Tuma who share a common concern for desert tortoises in the wild and a Scott Abella commitment to advancing the public’s understanding of the species. Cristina Jones For the purposes of the Council, desert tortoise includes the species Jason Jones complex in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, currently referred to as Gopherus agassizii and Gopherus morafkai.

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