We often do not realize the impact we as humans have on the environment. A simple act such as swimming in a creek can disrupt the lives of not only one species but of many. Luckily, the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve provides a safe haven for species such as the Western Pond Turtle, protected from the influence of human damages to the environment. Unfortunately, this native turtle is still facing difficulties; therefore graduate students are currently conducting research in hopes of continuing our knowledge of nature with the goal of protecting it.
Nanette is assessing the effects of habitat on turtle physiology. She began by trapping turtles and marking them, looking at them in one instant in time. Things such as body condition, injuries, and damage to their shells was recorded, as well as the overall health of the turtles through a method of blood withdrawal and analysis.
Once her research is published, this in-depth look at a turtles’ health will allow other establishments to determine the health of their turtle population as well. This is something that has been unclear, and clarifying a range of what is healthy and what is not is essential in determining whether a habitat is truly safe. There is much discussion concerning turtles that have had to migrate from their natural habitats to human-created habitats, and this research will help verify whether unnatural and natural habitats can be compared.
Will expands on the research by assessing the effects of habitat on the lifetime of turtle physiology. Rather than investigating one instant at a moment in time, he is investigating the occurrences in one turtle’s life over time. Turtles develop symmetrically and any asymmetries are indicative of a period of stress in a turtle’s life. By accurately measuring the scutes, or scales, on a turtle’s shell it can be determined how perfectly a turtle has developed. Stress can be caused by a lack of nutrition and other hardships, which may indicate the quality of an environment.
Mike is researching a different aspect of a turtle’s development by assessing whether or not salmon is part of a turtle’s diet. It has not been recorded as part of their diet, and this research could possibly gain more support for the conservation of the Western Pond Turtle. By using a technique called stable isotope analysis, it can be determined if a turtle has consumed salmon. Carbon isotopes can determine the presence of salmon, and nitrogen isotopes can determine where that salmon is derived from. This research could uncover a novel behavior, as well as establish a link between decreasing salmon populations and how it could affect turtles.
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve excels in maintaining a natural environment for its native species, and it provides a rare canvas for those conducting research. The benefits of what these students discover could not only protect the habitats of many species, but could also remind us that the simplest of human actions can have a dramatic influence.
{ 0 comments }
