EFFECTS OF MYCOPLASMAL UPPER-RESPIRATORY-TRACT DISEASE ON MOVEMENT AND THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR OF GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS) IN GEORGIA, USA.

The article presents a study on the behavior of gopher tortoise populations with high prevalence of antibodies to Mycoplasma agassizii in Georgia. It discusses findings on the effects of upper-respiratory-tract disease (URTD) on thermoregulatory behavior of tortoises, prevalence of antibodies to a second pathogen, Mycoplasma testudineum, associated with URTD and population density of gopher tortoise. It also discusses the implication of the study on the transmission of pathogens.