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Infection Dynamics Of Herpesvirus In Gopher Tortoises, Joanne Saldanha
Infection Dynamics Of Herpesvirus In Gopher Tortoises, Joanne Saldanha
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Gopherus polyphemus, commonly known as the Gopher Tortoise, is a dryland reptile native to the southeastern United States. It is commonly a resident of longleaf pine and dry oak sand hill habitats. It is considered a keystone species because they dig deep burrows that provide shelter to them as well as many other animals. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and disease are major threats and have caused this species to be federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Disease is a major threat to the gopher tortoise’s survival, and with declining populations, the need to investigate …