The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a keystone species, for its burrows provide shelter to 300+ species of animals. Habitat destruction and its consequent fragmentation have led to a decline in gopher tortoise populations within southeastern ranges of the United States. Hemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Adeleiori) are intracellular protozoan parasites that have previously been identified in the blood of gopher tortoises. A potential vector of these hemoparasites are ticks. High levels of blood parasitaemia may potentially indicate stress resulting from overcrowding. Goals of this study are: (1) to survey four South Florida habitats for prevalence of hemoparasites within gopher tortoises and conduct PCR for confirmation (2) to measure parasitaemia levels and (3) to collect ticks attached to the gopher tortoises and conduct PCR analysis to determine hemoparasite presence. We hypothesized that both prevalence and parasitaemia will be higher in gopher tortoise populations at sites not utilizing fire management. Research goals were examined at four sites: Blazing Star Preserve (BSP), Pine Jog Preserve (PJP), Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP), and Johnathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP), with each location differing in size, habitat management practices, and abundance of gopher tortoises.
Results/Conclusions
A total of 67 tortoises were sampled at JDSP, PJP, FAUP, and BSP from December 2013 to November 2015. Parasitaemia levels were found to be highest in both JDSP and FAUP. Two tortoises from JDSP and one tortoise from FAUP were classified as “very strongly parasitized”. Two tortoises from JDSP, FAUP, and BSP, were classified as “very rarely parasitized”. The rest were classified as “no parasites found”. The number of ticks sampled from gopher tortoises amounted to a total of 25 individuals. The sites not implementing prescribed fires as part of their management practices, FAUP and BSP, displayed highest tick loads with a total of 22 ticks attached. During the sampling period at PJP, no ticks were found attached to gopher tortoises. Lastly, a total of 3 ticks were found attached to tortoises at JDSP during that time of sampling. All species of ticks sampled are believed to be A. tuberculatum (awaiting identification). Our preliminary prevalence results indicate that 24% tortoises at JDSP, 0% tortoises at PJP, 16% tortoises at FAUP, and 13% tortoises at BSP were infected. This study benefits current conservation and management practices for gopher tortoises in South Florida and provides a baseline study for reptilian hemoparasites.