Examining Blanding's Turtle Habitat using Remote Sensing and GIS: A study in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, Michigan

Transcription

1 Examining Blanding's Turtle Habitat using Remote Sensing and GIS: A study in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, Michigan GIS Symposium 2014 Melissa Szymanski 1

2 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 2

3 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 3

4 Background Blanding s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) Life Span: up to 77 years in wild Reproductive Age: years old Nesting Season: Late May Early June Clutch Size: 3 22 eggs Status: MI special concern, threatened/endangered elsewhere Range: 4

5 Background: Habitat Prefer larger wetlands with: Good quality connectivity No human disturbance or development Cooler shallow water Submerged and floating vegetation Adequate substrate 5

6 Background: Negative Impacts Problems with predators: Turtle eggs & Hatchlings: Raccoons Fox Skunks Coyotes Great Blue Heron American Kestrel Hawks Problems with habitat: Adults have large home ranges Roads Thinkingturtles.worpress.com Photo: M. Keevil 6

7 Background: Location Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) 9,800 acres Emergent marsh Forested wetlands Blanding s Turtle Population 2008 population research 7

8 Background: Partnership Partnership started 2010 Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Detroit Zoological Society Herpetological Resource and Management Headstarting Blanding s Turtles 8

9 Background: Headstarting Blanding s Turtle eggs From Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Hatched at Detroit Zoo Hatchlings raised for a year Release to SNWR Positives: Increases recruitment to the wild population: Captive reared turtles survive as well as wild ones Adults and juveniles can be sustained Hatchling turtles larger size increases turtle survival 9

10 Background: Previous Research Research by Cleary (M.S. Thesis 2014) Tracked headstarted Blanding s turtles to determine survivorship, home ranges and movement patterns Released 12 radio-tagged turtles Found: Predation at release site (25 % died from raccoon predation) Preference for emergent herbaceous wetland habitat 10

11 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 11

12 Current Research 24 Headstarted Blanding s Turtles Attached Radio transmitters Released June 2014 Four release sites 12

13 Current Research: Release Locations Wetlands Buffer 300 meters protects 14% 1000 meters protects 87% 2000 meters protects 100% 13

14 Current Research: Release Locations Shore Distance 14

15 Current Research: Release Locations Roads Buffer 15

16 Current Research: Release Locations Transect for release 16

17 Current Research: Goals To investigate the survival and habitat use of one year old headstarted Blanding s Turtles at SNWR in order to better understand their basic biological needs which will allow for better wildlife management of this species. To determine movements - Look for dispersal or seasonal movements - Determine minimum and maximum movements - Determine home range size To determine habitat preferences To determine survival patterns based on habitat factors Examine habitat use vs availability 17

18 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 18

19 Remote Sensing & Data Collection Movement patterns GPS location 19

20 Remote Sensing & Data Collection: Microhabitat factors including: Vegetation Water depth & temperature Substrate depth Air temperature Time/Date 20

21 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 21

22 Orthophotos & Georeferencing Muskrats: ecosystem engineers 22

23 Orthophotos & Georeferencing Tim Kaufman - photographer & pilot 23

24 Orthophotos & Georeferencing Grefe Pool control points Roads Dikes Trees Rivers 24

25 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Remote Sensing & Data Movement Analysis Final Remarks 25

26 Creating Layers: Grefe Pool Muskrat dens 26

27 Creating Layers: Cattails 27

28 Creating Layers: Willows 28

29 Creating Layers: Lowland Forests 29

30 Creating Layers 30

31 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 31

32 Movement Analysis Release Points 1 open water 2 cattails/duckweed 3 willow/duckweed 4 dense cattails

33 Release Point 1: Open Water 33

34 Release Point 2: Cattails & Duckweed 34

35 Release Point 3: Willows & Duckweed 35

36 Release Point 4: Dense Cattails 36

37 Movement Analysis: Turtle Points 37

38 Movement Analysis: MCP 38

39 Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 39

40 Final Remarks: Future Continuing Project Turtle tracking ongoing Survival & varying microhabitat factors Movement patterns release points changing seasons different age classes Use vs. availability Cattails Muskrat dens 40

41 Final Remarks: Conclusion ArcGIS data analyses results: Aid conservationist & wildlife managers Help this local species thrive 41

42 Acknowledgments Steve Kahl Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Jeff Jundt Detroit Zoo Teresa Yoder-Nowak - University of Michigan Flint Dr. Greg Rybarczyk - University of Michigan Flint Dr. Heather Dawson - University of Michigan Flint Larry Atherton - University of Michigan Flint UM Flint Undergraduate Research Assistants: Sasha Davis Billy Gibala Mallorey Smith Morgan Boyer Emily Kiser Melanie Schott University of Michigan Flint Biology Department University of Michigan Flint Earth & Resource Science Department University of Michigan Flint Office of Graduate Programs University of Michigan Flint Office of Research & Sponsored Programs Murchie Memorial Research Fund 42