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
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 2
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 3
Background Blanding s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) Life Span: up to 77 years in wild Reproductive Age: 14-20 years old Nesting Season: Late May Early June Clutch Size: 3 22 eggs Status: MI special concern, threatened/endangered elsewhere Range: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7166.html 4
Background: Habitat Prefer larger wetlands with: Good quality connectivity No human disturbance or development Cooler shallow water Submerged and floating vegetation Adequate substrate 5
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 http://www.citizenswildlife.com Thinkingturtles.worpress.com Photo: M. Keevil 6
Background: Location Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) 9,800 acres Emergent marsh Forested wetlands Blanding s Turtle Population 2008 population research 7
Background: Partnership Partnership started 2010 Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Detroit Zoological Society Herpetological Resource and Management Headstarting Blanding s Turtles 8
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
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
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 11
Current Research 24 Headstarted Blanding s Turtles Attached Radio transmitters Released June 2014 Four release sites 12
Current Research: Release Locations Wetlands Buffer 300 meters protects 14% 1000 meters protects 87% 2000 meters protects 100% 13
Current Research: Release Locations Shore Distance 14
Current Research: Release Locations Roads Buffer 15
Current Research: Release Locations Transect for release 16
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
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 18
Remote Sensing & Data Collection Movement patterns GPS location 19
Remote Sensing & Data Collection: Microhabitat factors including: Vegetation Water depth & temperature Substrate depth Air temperature Time/Date 20
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 21
Orthophotos & Georeferencing Muskrats: ecosystem engineers http://www.fcps.edu 22
Orthophotos & Georeferencing Tim Kaufman - photographer & pilot 23
Orthophotos & Georeferencing Grefe Pool control points Roads Dikes Trees Rivers 24
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Remote Sensing & Data Movement Analysis Final Remarks 25
Creating Layers: Grefe Pool Muskrat dens 26
Creating Layers: Cattails 27
Creating Layers: Willows 28
Creating Layers: Lowland Forests 29
Creating Layers 30
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 31
Movement Analysis Release Points 1 open water 2 cattails/duckweed 3 willow/duckweed 4 dense cattails 3 4 2 1 32
Release Point 1: Open Water 33
Release Point 2: Cattails & Duckweed 34
Release Point 3: Willows & Duckweed 35
Release Point 4: Dense Cattails 36
Movement Analysis: Turtle Points 37
Movement Analysis: MCP 38
Outline Background Current Research Remote Sensing & Data Collection Orthophotos & Georeferencing Creating Layers Movement Analysis Final Remarks 39
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
Final Remarks: Conclusion ArcGIS data analyses results: Aid conservationist & wildlife managers Help this local species thrive 41
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