Patterns of long-term landscape and wetland change: Effects on four freshwater turtle species of conservation concern
ATO is wrapping up the first field season of a study supported by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust aimed at assessing the long-term spatial ecology of four rare turtle species in Massachusetts.
Overview
Massachusetts supports populations of four widespread, but rare and declining, semiaquatic emydine turtle species: Blanding’s, Wood, Spotted, and Eastern Box Turtles, representing the four living lineages of the subfamily Emydinae. By revisiting populations sampled 13 or more years ago, we are evaluating the effects of habitat and wetland change on four long-lived, freshwater turtle species of conservation concern in Massachusetts. A greater understanding of long-term habitat requirements, population dynamics, and movement patterns of these species of conservation concern — and how those parameters change in response to land-use and wetland change — will help inform management of these species and the wetland systems upon which they rely.
2018 Field Season Update
It has been a busy and productive field season so far! Since early spring, ATO field technicians have been hard at work setting traps, conducting visual surveys, and radio-tracking turtles throughout Massachusetts. To date, we have deployed 70 radio transmitters across the four focal species, including 31 on individuals that were radio-tracked 13–24 years ago! So far we have logged over 2,000 turtle locations. We will continue to track all turtles until they have settled in their overwintering sites. Once the turtles are hunkered for the winter, we plan to start preliminary analyses of the data that will help to inform management practices.
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About the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET)
MET (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-environmental-trust) is a grantmaking organization that supports activities that advance conservation and understanding of marine animals and restoration of critical ecological systems in the Commonwealth. The Trust is entirely funded by the 30,000+ Bay State citizens who purchase and renew one of the Trust’s three environmentally-themed license plates issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Supporting this project and other environmental programs funded by the Trust is easy: choose one of the 3 environmental plates (the Right Whale Tail, Leaping Brook Trout, and Blackstone Valley Mill) when you purchase or lease a new car or renew your registration with the RMV. Visit your local RMV or order online at: https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/SpecialPlates/intro.aspx
Overview
Massachusetts supports populations of four widespread, but rare and declining, semiaquatic emydine turtle species: Blanding’s, Wood, Spotted, and Eastern Box Turtles, representing the four living lineages of the subfamily Emydinae. By revisiting populations sampled 13 or more years ago, we are evaluating the effects of habitat and wetland change on four long-lived, freshwater turtle species of conservation concern in Massachusetts. A greater understanding of long-term habitat requirements, population dynamics, and movement patterns of these species of conservation concern — and how those parameters change in response to land-use and wetland change — will help inform management of these species and the wetland systems upon which they rely.
2018 Field Season Update
It has been a busy and productive field season so far! Since early spring, ATO field technicians have been hard at work setting traps, conducting visual surveys, and radio-tracking turtles throughout Massachusetts. To date, we have deployed 70 radio transmitters across the four focal species, including 31 on individuals that were radio-tracked 13–24 years ago! So far we have logged over 2,000 turtle locations. We will continue to track all turtles until they have settled in their overwintering sites. Once the turtles are hunkered for the winter, we plan to start preliminary analyses of the data that will help to inform management practices.
Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for stories from the field!
About the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET)
MET (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-environmental-trust) is a grantmaking organization that supports activities that advance conservation and understanding of marine animals and restoration of critical ecological systems in the Commonwealth. The Trust is entirely funded by the 30,000+ Bay State citizens who purchase and renew one of the Trust’s three environmentally-themed license plates issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Supporting this project and other environmental programs funded by the Trust is easy: choose one of the 3 environmental plates (the Right Whale Tail, Leaping Brook Trout, and Blackstone Valley Mill) when you purchase or lease a new car or renew your registration with the RMV. Visit your local RMV or order online at: https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/SpecialPlates/intro.aspx