Desert Tortoise Recovery Office

Science Advisory Committee

The DTRO includes a Science Advisory Committee (SAC) chaired by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Coordinator. The SAC is made up of scientists from within and outside the Mojave desert tortoise arena with diverse expertise relevant to desert tortoise recovery. The SAC serves in an advisory role to the DTRO and cooperators to ensure that recovery action plans, recovery plan revision, monitoring, recovery action effectiveness, etc. meet rigorous scientific standards. The DTRO will provide the primary interface between the SAC and stakeholders and managers, but the SAC will meet with these groups to communicate and discuss scientific findings and recommendations on specific topics, as needed.

The SAC is composed of 7 scientists with diverse backgrounds appropriate to the SAC’s charge. SAC membership includes scientists from within the Mojave desert tortoise community, but it also includes several outside members in order to ensure independent, broad perspectives are brought to the tortoise recovery effort. The SAC includes scientists affiliated with five universities and the Smithsonian Institution, plus one representative of the U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division. Two members participated on the original Desert Tortoise Recovery Team, and two served on the Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan Assessment Committee. Two members include Mojave Desert tortoises among their current research interests, while another studies gopher tortoises. The conservation biology background of the remaining three members brings diverse perspectives to the SAC, especially relative to genetics, population viability, biostatistics, and epidemiology.

Responsibilities of the SAC

• Advise the DTRO and cooperators on the overall scientific direction of the desert tortoise recovery effort, including revision of the recovery plan and adequacy of recovery goals.
• Assess the efficacy of monitoring (tortoises, habitat, and threats).
• Prioritize research and research-based recovery actions.
• Evaluate research results and recovery progress.
• Consult outside scientific experts, as necessary.

SAC members

SAC Meetings and Events

	DTRO Staff			Land Management For Desert Tortoise
	Desert Tortoise Recovery Planning			How You Can Help The Desert Tortoise
	Science Advisory Committee			Announcements
	DesertTortoise.gov			Meeting Summaries
	Desert Tortoise Habitat & Life History			Reports
	Threats to the Desert Tortoise