The heat is on: Desert tortoises and survival

Abstract

"At, I think, eight or nine study sites we say declines between 30 and 50 percent." [KN, 9:45] : (voiceover) 8. CU of scientist rummaging around in the dirt. She or he finds an egg, moves dirt from around it and very gently lifts it up. [B-roll X-rays, 27:37] Larry LaPre "The tortoise has started having severe population declines in about 1989...." [LL1, 1:12] : (voiceover) 9. Tilt down from electrical tower to see three small tortoise carcasses with shells with holes pecked in. [DVD3, :05+] Becky Jones: "... very few of the small tortoises survive. There's about a 95% mortality rate within the first five years." [BJ1, 15:04] (voiceover) 10. Closeup of drawing blood from a tortoise. [Ft. Irwin blood draw, 11:31] Ken Nussear "We're seeing declining populations due to a variety of factors. Not just disease : (voiceover) not just predation, not just habitat loss but I think a mix of all those things 11. Closeup of vials going into holes in a centrifuge. [Ft. Irwin blood draw, 16:33]