Study Site
Our study was conducted at Splinter Hill Bog (N 31.02189897, W 87.69123339), a property managed by The Nature Conservancy and located in northern Baldwin County, Alabama, USA. Splinter Hill Bog covers 2,100 acres of wet and dry (sandhill) pine forest communities with sandy-loamy soils. The climate is classified as humid subtropical with hot-humid summers, cold to mild winters and a growing season of 260 days from March 5th to November 20th (Gallup, 1980). In preliminary surveys, active gopher tortoise burrows were observed in a large portion of the dry sandhill habitats. These habitats are characterized by a semi-open canopy (Pinus palustris andPinus taeda ) with an understory dominated by grasses (Andropogon sp., Sorghastrum sp., and Bulbostylissp.), herbaceous vines (Smilax sp., Gelsemium sp., andIpomoea sp.), ferns (Pteridium sp.), and tree seedlings (Pinus sp. and Quercus sp.).
Our study focused on a small gopher tortoise population at Splinter Hill Bog. During a survey from April to October 2019, the population had 27 burrows, including 17 adult burrows (>18 cm burrow width) and 10 juvenile burrows (<18 cm burrow width) based on Landers et al., 1982 classification. Twenty-three of the 27 burrows were active and exhibited signs of recent tortoise activity (e.g. fresh tracks in the burrow entrance, devoid of leaf litter, spider webs, etc.).