Habitat Association Patterns of an Endangered Lizard Species with a Foundation Plant Species in the San Joaquin Desert of California: Radio Telemetry as an Ecological Tool

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorLortie, Christopher J.
dc.creatorNoble, Taylor James
dc.date.accessioned2018-03-01T13:52:33Z
dc.date.available2018-03-01T13:52:33Z
dc.date.copyright2017-06-21
dc.date.issued2018-03-01
dc.date.updated2018-03-01T13:52:32Z
dc.degree.disciplineBiology
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractPositive facilitation of plant and animal species by dominant vegetation is common in harsh environments such as deserts. Here we tested the hypothesis that desert shrubs facilitate the blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila), an endangered species found in the San Joaquin desert of California using radio telemetry. We predicted that lizards are more frequently observed near shrubs due to the positive facilitative benefits shrubs provide. After systematically reviewing the literature on the use of telemetry in deserts, we conducted telemetry habitat surveys of G. sila in Carrizo Plain. Thermoregulation and predator avoidance behaviors were performed more frequently at shrubs, indicating that lizards are likely using shrubs as a source of shelter and refuge. Shelter and refuge are two facilitative benefits that shrubs commonly provided to animals, suggesting that shrubs are facilitating lizards in this environment. As a result, shrub restoration would likely have a positive effect on lizard recovery efforts.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/34297
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectWildlife conservation
dc.subject.keywordsTelemetry
dc.subject.keywordsRadio tracking
dc.subject.keywordsSan Joaquin Desert
dc.subject.keywordsBlunt-nosed leopard lizard
dc.subject.keywordsLizard
dc.subject.keywordsHome range
dc.subject.keywordsEcology
dc.subject.keywordsEndangered species
dc.subject.keywordsFoundation species
dc.subject.keywordsWildlife conservation
dc.titleHabitat Association Patterns of an Endangered Lizard Species with a Foundation Plant Species in the San Joaquin Desert of California: Radio Telemetry as an Ecological Tool
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Noble_Taylor_J_2017_Masters.pdf
Size:
1.48 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.83 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
YorkU_ETDlicense.txt
Size:
3.38 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Biology

All items in the YorkSpace institutional repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved except where explicitly noted.