Herbivore-exclusion Experiment
In January 2019, 10 active adult burrows were randomly selected as center points for paired access and tortoise-exclusion plots (1 m × 1 m). These vegetation plots were established during the extended period of dormancy for both tortoises and plants. Access and exclosure plot locations were randomly selected by angle degree (0-180) and distance (3-5 meters) from the mouth of each focal burrow. Each exclosure plot consisted of a 20-gauge, 1” mesh chicken wire that was 75 cm high and secured flush with the ground by 1-m long metal stakes. Each access plot was delineated with four 1-meter metal stakes, but no fencing (Figure S1). The short height and intermediate mesh size of exclosure plot fencing allowed other herbivores, both large (e.g. white-tail deer) and small (e.g. rodents, rabbits), to enter the exclusion plots while excluding gopher tortoises, which was confirmed with motion/heat-activated camera traps (Bushnell model 119874C, Overland Park, KS, USA). We documented gopher tortoises foraging in 9 of the 10 access plots and gopher tortoises represented 85% of all herbivores observed in access plots. No gopher tortoises were observed inside the exclosure plots; however, we did observe white-tailed deer and eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus ) in exclosure plots.