The Gopher Tortoise Council (GTC) gathered for its 47th Annual Meeting from November 14–16, 2025, at the Leigh Perkins Conservation Education Center at Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy in Tallahassee, Florida. We had the great fortune of being the first group to ever set foot in this brand new meeting facility! The meeting convened researchers, land managers, students, and conservation professionals from around the southeast for three days of engaging science, applied management discussion, and community building centered on gopher tortoise conservation and southeastern upland ecosystems.
Opening Day: Keynote and Research Updates
The meeting opened Friday morning with registration, networking, and a warm welcome from GTC Co-Chair Kim Sash. Participants then gathered for a keynote presentation, “Renewal Through Fire: Collaboration and Conservation in the Southeastern Landscape”, delivered by Dr. Bill Palmer, CEO of Tall Timbers. Palmer’s address highlighted the essential role of fire ecology and collaborative stewardship in sustaining longleaf pine systems — the core habitat for gopher tortoises and many associated species.
Following the keynote, a series of oral presentations showcased cutting-edge research on topics including:
- Pathogen dynamics and genetic diversity in gopher tortoise translocation programs
- Occurrence and genetics of tick-borne pathogens associated with tortoise burrows
- Effects of dormancy on head-started tortoise physiology
- Landscape-scale monitoring using camera traps and other technologies
- GPS-tracked movement and spatial ecology of gopher tortoises in diverse settings
Consistent with GTC’s mission to support emerging conservation scientists, the meeting featured numerous student presentations recognized throughout the agenda and supported through travel grants and student award opportunities. The day culminated with a poster session featuring professional and student research spanning a wide range of species, ecosystems, and conservation techniques, followed by a social dinner at Tall Timbers where colleagues relaxed and reconnected.
Saturday: Special Session, Restoration, and Applied Ecology
Saturday’s program opened with a special session titled “Ecological Firepower: Evaluating the Role of Prescribed Burning in Upland Pine Specialist Conservation.” Presentations in this session explored:
- Restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems supporting critical wildlife
- Avian responses to pine savanna restoration
- Private land conservation strategies
- Decadal progress in state-level conservation initiatives
A panel Q&A provided rich discussion and context for how prescribed fire and habitat restoration support both gopher tortoises and broader biodiversity objectives. The morning continued with additional talks on topics such as:
- Building research programs and restoring tortoises at long-term protected sites
- Research needs guided by the 2024 Florida Gopher Tortoise Management Plan
- The historical contributions of Tall Timbers to herpetology and land stewardship
- Vegetation community patterns and burrow site selection
- Interactions among species in fire-maintained landscapes
Afternoon sessions culminated in the GTC business meeting, with updates from GTC board members and committees, and our second annual sustainability raffle for meeting attendees who brought their own reusable beverage containers. The day concluded with the Awards Dinner at Proof Brewing Company in Tallahassee.
Sunday: Field Experiences
The 47th meeting wrapped up Sunday morning with a wagon tour of Tall Timbers, giving participants an immersive look at fire-managed longleaf ecosystems and applied conservation practices firsthand.
Awards and Recognitions
The individuals below were recognized by GTC for their contributions to gopher tortoise science, conservation, and community engagement. Congratulations and thank you to all of this year’s award winners!
Auffenberg and Franz Conservation Award
This award is presented to individuals with lifetime accomplishments, and organizations with long-term efforts in conserving gopher tortoises and upland ecosystems. Fittingly, the award for 2025 was presented to Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
Distinguished Service Award
Two individuals received the Distinguished Service Award for 2025. Thank you to Jeff Goessling and Andrew Grosse for your years of service to the Gopher Tortoise Council.
Special Projects Award
This award is reserved for individuals who have taken the lead or played a major role in special GTC projects. Don Stillwaugh was recognized for his work in the role of GTC’s Treasurer. Thank you Don!
Conservation Education Award
The Council recognized Dirk Stevenson with this award for his outstanding contributions to the GTC newsletter. Dirk’s writing and photography transports newsletter readers to the field, and educates readers on lesser-known tortoise commensals and other residents of the southeastern coastal plain.
Bob Herrington Student Travel Grants
GTC gave grants of $250 each to all 13 student presenters to help cover their meeting expenses. This year's pool of recipients hailed from 11 different academic institutions in 5 states. Their participation and stellar presentations contributed greatly to making this such an informative and energizing annual meeting!
Joan Berish Student Presentation Awards
Three students were recognized for giving particularly outstanding talks at this year’s meeting:
1st place ($400) - Nicholas Canino (University of Florida) "Occurrence and genetic insights into the tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia turicatae in a Florida population of soft ticks"
2nd place ($200) - Anet Filipova (Auburn University) "The effects of first year cold-dormancy on the phenotypic and metabolic responses in head-started gopher tortoises"
3rd place ($100) - Emily Mailhos (University of New Orleans) "Life history traits of federally threatened gopher tortoises at the western edge of their range: insights from camera traps and AI"
The Gopher Tortoise Council extends sincere thanks to all presenters, volunteers, sponsors, and participants who made the 47th Annual Meeting a vibrant and impactful gathering. We look forward to continuing this important work together and hope to see you at the 48th Annual Meeting in fall 2026.