Doyle, S.M. Murphy, S.M. Esque, T.C. 2025 tabular digital data n/a Dryad https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k98sf7mk4 Sarah M. Doyle Sean M. Murphy Karla K. Drake Julie M. Hendrix Todd C. Esque 2025 publication Herpetologica online These data are comprised of input files formatted for fitting spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models to estimate Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) density and sex by size class compositions on a previously unsampled demography plot in the Mojave Desert in California, USA. Data were collected during capture-mark-recapture surveys to detect tortoises on a 1-km2 plot within the South Range of U.S. Department of Navy - Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWSCL). Surveys were conducted over four days during September 2022. Data were collected as part of a study to estimate tortoise population demographics over time on NAWSCL. USGS WERC (Western Ecological Research Center, Boulder City, NV) conducted Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) demography surveys to estimate tortoise population demographics on NAWSCL (U.S. Department of Navy - Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake). Detection data for fitting spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models to estimate spatially-explicit demographics of Mojave desert tortoises on a demography plot in California, USA. 20220926 20220929 ground condition Complete None planned -117.7844 -116.7133 35.9602 35.1558 Surveys within Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake South Range USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:b66671aa-ef5f-4075-9849-3ea4fcf5585c ISO 19115 Topic Category biota USGS Thesaurus Data analysis Modeling Geospatial analysis Common geographic areas China Lake South Range None Naval Air Weapons Station No access constraints. Please see 'Distribution Information' for details. No use constraints. Questions pertaining to appropriate use or assistance with understanding limitations or interpretation of the data are to be directed to the individuals/organization listed in the Point of Contact section. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center Data Manager mailing

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Sacramento California 95819 United States 279-782-0904 gs-b-werc_data_management@usgs.gov Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake; U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center; Ironwood Consulting These data are formatted for fitting spatial capture-recapture models using the secr package in basic R, version 4.5.8. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Gopherus agassizii U.S. Geological Survey 2013 Online Database https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK www.itis.gov expert identifier Kingdom Animalia Subkingdom Bilateria Infrakingdom Deuterostomia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Infraphylum Gnathostomata Superclass Tetrapoda Class Reptilia Order Testudines Suborder Cryptodira Superfamily Testudinoidea Family Testudinidae Subfamily Xerobatinae Genus Gopherus Species Gopherus agassizii TSN: 173856 Functions to estimate the density and size of a spatially distributed animal population sampled with an array of passive detectors, such as traps, or by searching polygons or transects. Models incorporating distance-dependent detection are fitted by maximizing the likelihood. Tools are included for data manipulation and model selection. https://cran.r-project.org/package=secr https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/secr/secr.pdf Murray Efford 20250318 v.5.2.1 Tools Software n/a The R Foundation https://doi.org/10.32614/CRAN.package.secr Field data were collected on paper data sheets and Garmin global positioning systems (GPS) units and later proofed (QA/QC) to confirm completion. Those data were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and mapped in ArcGIS Pro v3.0.5 and proofed again for completeness and location accuracy. Data collected were checked for logical consistency by conducting spreadsheet queries to proof spelling, standardization, and duplication or ommission of information in all data fields. Site coordinates were confirmed with ArcGIS Pro. Recorded dates were confirmed as correct. During the QA/QC process, the data were filtered to only include survey information collected within the date range and plot described in the abstract. Robin E. Russell J. Andrew Royle Richard Desimone Michael K. Schwartz Victoria L. Edwards Kristy P. Pilgrim Kevin S. Mckelvey 20120615 publication The Journal of Wildlife Management vol. 76, issue 8 n/a Wiley ppg. 1551-1561 https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.412 Digital and/or Hardcopy 20120615 publication date Russell et al. 2012 Methods used Craig M. Thompson J. Andrew Royle James D. Garner 20111229 publication The Journal of Wildlife Management vol. 76, issue 4 n/a Wiley ppg. 863-871 https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.317 Digital and/or Hardcopy 20111229 publication date Thompson et al. 2012 Methods used J. Andrew Royle Haley Turner 20220926 publication Journal of Herpetology vol. 56, issue 3 n/a Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles https://doi.org/10.1670/21-016 Digital and/or Hardcopy 20220926 publication date Royle and Turner 2022 Methods used Data were collected from mark-recapture Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) demographic plot surveys within a previously unsampled 1-kilometer x 1-kilometer area over four days in September 2022 within the south range of U.S. Department of Navy - Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, USA. During surveys, all tortoise signs (e.g. live tortoises, carcasses, and scat) were recorded by surveyors walking transects. In addition, surveyors recorded their daily survey tracks using a global positioning system (GPS) units. All tortoise detection data from 25 tortoises were converted to three-dimensional spatially explicit detection histories and plotted with surveyors’ GPS tracks to discretize a continuous grid of ‘effective detectors’ encompassing all tortoise detections and tracks. Two detection data files were formatted for fitting spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models to estimate Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) density and sex by size class compositions of the plot site. Tortoise detection data are organized by plot identity, tortoise identity, occasion (day of detection during surveys), trap (specific grid cell where tortoise was detected), location (tortoise location recorded upon detection), sex (female, male, juvenile, or unknown), age (adult or juvenile), and sex by age (female adult, male adult, juvenile, unknown adult). Detector data are organized by trap (grid cell identity from discretized grid of effective detectors), x (UTM Easting of trap), y (UTM Northing of trap), and effort (occasion-specific surveyor search effort). These data are comprised of input files formatted for fitting spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models to estimate Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) density and sex by size class compositions on a previously unsampled demography plot in the Mojave Desert in California, USA. Russell et al. 2012 Thompson et al. 2012 Royle and Turner 2022 2023 Universal Transverse Mercator 11 0.9996 -117.0 0.0 500000.0 0.0 coordinate pair 0.6096 0.6096 meters NAD83_National_Spatial_Reference_System_2011 GRS 1980 6378137.0 298.257222101 ChinaLake_Detections_SexAge.txt Tortoise detection data are organized by plot identity, tortoise identity, occasion (day of detection during surveys), trap (specific grid cell where tortoise was detected), location (tortoise location recorded upon detection), sex (female, male, juvenile, or unknown), age (adult or juvenile), and sex by age (female adult, male adult, juvenile, unknown adult). tab delimited text file. Producer Defined Session Categorical alphanumeric identifier for the survey plot. The SR prefix denotes the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake South Range. This session was the same for all records. Producer Defined SR1 Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake South Range plot Producer defined ID Unique alphanumeric identifier for each tortoise encountered during the plot survey. Producer Defined These identifiers were approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and also attached as a paper tag to each tortoise carapace as able. The identifiers included a prefix CL denoting the site it was found (China Lake), followed by a unique four-digit number. Tortoises that did receive a tag (i.e. could not be retrieved to process) would be assigned a temporary identifier including a prefix CL followed by temp and a three-digit number. Occasion Day (1, 2, 3, or 4) of survey of plot SR1 that tortoise was detected. Producer Defined 1 4 Trap Numerical identifier for specific discretized grid cell 'effective detector' within which a tortoise was detected. Producer Defined 8 487 Location Categorical identifier of location of tortoise at time of detection. Producer Defined Veg Tortoise was located directly beneath any part of a perennial plant, alive or dead, or in the open but actively using the shade of vegetation Producer defined Open Tortoise was located on the surface and not directly under cover or within shade of vegetation Producer defined Burrow Tortoise was located in a thermal refugia greater than or equal to 1 foot deep, or greater than 50 percent of the tortoise was inside the entrance Producer defined Sex Categorical identifier of sex of tortoise at detection. Producer Defined U Unknown Producer defined F Female Producer defined M Male Producer defined Age Categorical identifier of age of tortoise at detection. All tortoises sexed as male, female, or unknown but measured greater than or equal to 180 millimeters of midline carapace length were classified as adults. All tortoises sexed as juveniles or unknown but measured less than 180 millimeters of midline carapace length were classified as juveniles. Producer Defined J Juvenile Producer defined A Adult Producer defined SexAge Categorical identifier of sex by age class of tortoise at detection, which combines the Sex and Age variables. Producer Defined NA Unknown sex adult Producer defined J Juvenile Producer defined FA Female adult Producer defined MA Male adult Producer defined ChinaLake_Detectors_Cat.txt Detector data are organized by trap (grid cell identity from discretized grid of effective detectors), x (UTM Easting of trap), y (UTM Northing of trap), and effort (occasion-specific surveyor search effort)). tab delimited text file. Producer Defined Trap Numerical identifier for specific discretized grid cell that served as an 'effective detector' within which occasion-specific surveyor search effort (meters walked) was assigned and therefore where a tortoise could have been detected. Producer Defined 1 548 X Easting (Datum: UTM NAD83 11N) location of the centroid of each discretized grid cell. Producer Defined 499128 500478 Y Northing (Datum: UTM NAD83 11N) location of the centroid of each discretized grid cell. Producer Defined 3934353 3935653 Effort Occasion-specific search effort within each ‘effective detector’ that surveyors walked to detect tortoises. Producer Defined Occasion-specific search effort within each ‘effective detector’ that surveyors walked to detect tortoises. DRYAD mailing address

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Boulder City Nevada 89005 United States 440-479-2237 sdoyle@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999