THE BOLSON TORTOISE
Construction workers of the desert:
The Bolson Tortoise is relied on by many other animals in the desert as the maker of their homes. After a burrow is abandoned, a small desert animal, such as mammals, birds, reptiles and insects in search of protection from predators or harsh weather will use the burrow as a shelter to live in (“Gopherus flavomarginatus”, n.d.).
Kali, a Bolson Tortoise, makes her way into a burrow as she returns to the wild after rehabilitation from an injury in a car crash. Courtesy of Misty Hailstone (Hailstone, 2021).
Food for the desert:
The circle of life aka the food web, is essential for nutrient cycling and the survival of all animals in the desert. The Bolson Tortoise is a food source for many predators including jaguars, cougars, hawks, coyotes, and much more. As the tortoises decline, the food for these predators decreases and they will be less likely to maintain their population (“Gopherus flavomarginatus”, n.d.).
A coyote (canis latrans), a predator of the bolson tortoise. Courtesy of Neil Nurmi (Nurmi, 2021).
The cougar (Puma concolor), a predator of the bolson tortoise. Courtesy of Kylar Wiki (“Cougar”, n.d.).
The Ferruginous Hawk, a predator of the bolson tortoise. Courtesy of Ned Harris (Harris, 2022).
The Bolson tortoise is a very sensitive creature. The effects of temperature change, caused by global warming, has profound effects on the survival of this species. The temperature of a Bolson Tortoise’s egg determines the sex of the tortoise. With increasing temperatures caused by the destruction of our planet, the tortoises are producing less males which form in colder temperatures. Because they are cold blooded, the temperature of its habitat can cause the bolson tortoise to die (“Turtles and global climate change”, n.d.). By observing the population of Bolson Tortoises, we as humans can determine what changes may be occuring in their ecosystem, which will inform our conservation efforts for them, and for the entire desert.
The Chihuahuan desert in Mexico, looking up at the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. Courtesy of Scott Collins (Collins, n.d.).