HOME RANGE AND MOVEMENTS OF THE TORTOISE GOPHERUS-POLYPHEMUS IN NORTHERN FLORIDA

Twenty-two gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) were fitted with radio transmitters and tracked for up to two years. Considerable individual variation was observed in home range size, distances moved, duration of winter inactivity, and number of burrows used. Mean home ranges were 0.88 ha for adult males and 0.31 ha for adult females. Mean home ranges for subadults (0.05 ha) and juveniles (0.01 ha) were smaller, but three immature tortoises had ranges comparable to or larger than those of some adults. The longest recorded movement (0.74 km) was made by a dispersing subadult. Burrow defense, burrow usurpation, overnight co-occupation, and use of clearcuts, windrows, and flooded burrows were observed.