| In spring of 2012, we evaluated 126 adult desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) for health at 3 sites in the Mojave Desert, California (Edwards Air Force Base, western Mojave Desert, N = 51; northwest of Barstow, central Mojave Desert, N = 33; and south of Daggett, southern Mojave Desert, N = 42). We tested for two known pathogens (Mycoplasma agassizii, M. testudineum), for levels of elemental toxicants in fresh whole blood (selenium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, thallium, antimony, beryllium, chromium, and vanadium) and evaluated the tortoises for clinical signs of upper respiratory disease, shell disease, and trauma. Tortoises with infectious disease, shell disease, trauma, and elevated levels of selenium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and thallium occurred at one or more sites. Test results and clinical signs varied by area, possibly as a result of land use histories. |