Surveys for desert tortoise on the proposed site of a high-level nuclear waste repository at the Nevada Test Site Page: 3 of 12
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For purposes of analysis, multiple sign found within a 1 square yard area
were tallied as a single adjusted sign. Fragments of skeletal remains were
counted ac one sign if the pieces were in close proximity, i.e. 1-3 yards.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Between 29 March and 28 May 1982, a total of 129 transects covering 195.7
linear miles in a 27 square mile area were surveyed for the presence of desert
tortoise. Surveys were conducted at elevations ranging from 3200 to 4900 in
each of the five major vegetation associations present (Figure 2). The dominant
vegetation associations included, Larrea/Ambrosia, Larrea/Lycium/Crayia.
Lycium/Grayia, Coleogyne, and Coleogyne/Larrea.
A total of 212 adjusted sign (Table 1) were observed during systematic
surveys at an average of 1.1 sign per mile, or 1.6 signper 1.5 miles. Sign
recorded included a live, adult, female tortoise, seen basking on a burrow
apron; burrows; scat which ranged in condition from old and decomposing to
recent, and in size from small to large; skeletal remains of various ages of
both adult and juvenile tortoises; and egg shell fragments.
When compared with results of surveys conducted by the BLM in other parts
of Nevada, and in Arizona and California, our average figure of 1.6 sign per 1.5
miles indicates a very low population density (Karl 1981, Burge 1980, Berry and
Nicholson 1979). Transects conducted by BLM in areas with known tortoise
densities of over 200 per square mile, yielded at least 10 adjusted sign per 1.5
mile standard length BLM transect. If plugged into indices developed by DLM for3
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Collins, Elizabeth; Sauls, Mary L. & O`Farrell, Thomas P. Surveys for desert tortoise on the proposed site of a high-level nuclear waste repository at the Nevada Test Site, article, December 31, 1983; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc695275/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.