The Effect Of Urbanization on Gopherus Polyphemus Suitable Habitat in Flagler County, Florida

Abstract

Globally habitats are being degraded, fragmented, and lost due to anthropogenic activities, such as land-use change. Land-use change is also one of the key drivers, and in some cases the chief driver, of biodiversity loss. Urbanization, a form of land-use change, results in the degradation, fragmentation, and loss of suitable habitat, which effects the plant communities, wildlife inhabitants, and the humans that rely on provided environmental services. While natural disturbances are needed for quality suitable habitat, it is the anthropogenic disturbance of urbanization in response to population growth that has primarily reduced Gopherus polyphemussuitable habitat and populations throughout its entire southeastern range. Gopherus polyphemusis the only North American tortoise found in the southeast and is considered a keystone species due to about 350 species relying on its burrows. The current population and urbanization in Flagler County, Florida and one of the county’s municipalities, the City of Palm Coast, both of which have G. polyphemus suitable habitat areas, have increased and are projected to increase. Therefore, the aim of my study is to determine if the increase in urbanization in both Flagler County and Palm Coast has and/or will result in the fragmentation and/or loss of suitable habitat. Also, I aim to determine if the resultant change in habitat will be able to support a viable tortoise population. I used a 2018 index map for G. polyphemus suitable habitat and a projected Florida development map for 2020, 2040, and 2060 to evaluate G. polyphemus suitable habitat fragmentation and/or loss in Flagler County and Palm Coast. Additionally, using building permits for Palm Coast, the actual fragmentation and/or loss was evaluated from 2018 to 2022. Results of the evaluation indicated that there will be an initial increase in fragmentation and then a decrease for Flagler County (projected) and Palm Cost (actual only). Additionally, projected and actual loss of suitable habitat for both Flagler County and Palm Coast are likely. These findings support that urbanization in response to population growth will result in suitable habitat fragmentation and loss for G. polyphemus and possibly a reduction in viable populations.