Growth and Survival Outcomes for Immature Gopher Tortoises in Contrasting Habitats: A Test of Drone-Based Habitat Assessment.

Juvenile growth rate is a critical demographic parameter, as it shortens the time to maturity and often dictates how long individuals remain vulnerable to predation. However, developing a mechanistic understanding of the factors determining growth rates can be difficult for wild populations. The gopher tortoise () is an ecosystem engineer threatened by habitat loss and deficient management of pinelands in the southeastern United States.