Faithin Omaha eBook Collection

Download or read book Gopher Tortoises: Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers! written by Dr. Richard A. NeSmith and published by Applied Principles of Education & Learning. This book was released on 2021-07-28 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most people have never seen an endemic North American gopher tortoise. They have limited habits but can be found west and east of the Mississippi River. There are small regions in the American southwest, but the largest population is found in the "Deep South," particularly southeast Texas, southeast Lousiana, southern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, southeastern South Carolina, and most of Florida. These land tortoises are threatened and federally protected. Their importance in the ecosystem is vital. They have been identified as keystone species as many plants and more than 350 other animals, rely upon the gopher tortoises for survival. Ensuring that gopher tortoises do not lose their habitats ensures that the ecosystem is healthy and vibrant. At the current rate of change, gopher tortoises will lose 20 percent of their habitat in the next 40 years.