SMITH: GOPHERS POLYPHEMUS ON THE ORDWAY PRESERVE


hatchlings. The eggs at these nests were opened in late October and were found to
have decayed; they appeared to be infertile. In 1991, all 16 nests had at least
partial hatching success. In a southwest Georgia field study, 86% of protected eggs
(n = 179) hatched successfully (Landers et al. 1980). Arata (1959) reported a
hatching success of 92% for 13 eggs incubated in the laboratory.
 Despite protective enclosures in 1990, one nest was raided by a mammalian
predator. An unidentified predator dislodged a nest cage and destroyed all six eggs
at a shallow nest (< 0.5 cm to the top egg). Raccoon tracks were observed on the
burrow apron. In 1990 and 1991, 16 hatchlings at five different nests (12% of all
hatchlings) were destroyed by ants. Solenopsis geminata, a species of fire ant
native to Florida, was collected at four of the nests, and Conomyrma bossuta and
Solenopsis pergandei were collected at one nest. Hatchling gopher tortoises were
killed by non-native fire ants (Solenopsis salvissima) at two nests in southwest
Georgia. Fire ants thrive in disturbed habitats (M. Deyrup, Archbold Biological
Station, pers. comm.) and probably are important predators on hatchlings,
particularly in ruderal habitats.

 Hatchling size.- Straight-line carapace length of hatchlings ranged from
32.0-51.8 mm (Table 8). There was a significant difference between mean carapace
length of hatchlings in 1990 and 1991 (t = 10.30, df = 108, p < 0.001), probably
because some 1991 hatchlings were measured before they had emerged from the
nest chamber. Hatchling gopher tortoises do not completely unfold until 3-5 days
after they hatch (Arata 1959), and seven day old hatchlings average 48.2 mm
carapace length (n = 11, range = 45.0-50.9) (Iverson 1980).
 Wet body mass of hatchlings in 1991 was greater than in 1990 (t = 3.88, df=
 80, p < 0.001). Linley (1987) found significant differences in the wet mass of
 offspring of different females. Genetic and nutritional constraints of the female are
 reflected in hatchling body mass (Linley 1987). The five-year drought may have
 imposed nutritional constraints on female gopher tortoises, thus affecting hatchling
 body mass. This could be important because in some tortoises, large hatchlings
 have higher survivorship than small hatchlings (Swingland 1977). Long-term data
 are needed to detect and interpret yearly variation in life history parameters.


 CONCLUSIONS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS


 Several findings from this study have important implications for gopher
 tortoise management. Variation in home range size among individual females
 should be considered in determining the minimum size of tortoise preserves.
 Maximum home range values may provide the best estimate of long-term habitat
 requirements of gopher tortoises because of the considerable variation among
 individuals (Cox et al. 1987). Sufficient area for nest forays and seasonal