Abstract:
With all the talk of global warming and climate change, people mostly think of what would happen to the world and environment as a whole. But most people never think of what happens to individual species, like the bog turtle. The bog turtle has very sensitive nerves and can be affected by things like environment and weather change. Because the bog turtle is so temperamental, in this experiment scientist can see what happens to the bog turtle and its environment in this period of "global warming" and climate change.
Info:
The bog turtle is New York's smallest turtle, reaching a maximum length of 4.5 inches. It is one of seventeen species of turtles found in New York State, including marine turtles. A bright yellow or orange blotch on each side of its head and neck are a distinctive feature of this species. The body color is dark with an orange-red wash on the inside of the legs of some individuals. The carapace (upper shell) is domed and somewhat rectangular, often with prominent rings on the shell plates (scutes). In some older individuals, or those that burrow frequently in coarse substrates, the shell may become quite smooth and polished. Although generally black, the carapace is sometimes highlighted by a chestnut sunburst pattern in each scute. The plastron (lower shell) is hingeless, with a pattern of cream and black blotches. As with most turtles, the plastron of the male is slightly concave while the female's is flat.
Bog turtles are one of the most rare turtles found in the United States. Laws banning the collection of the turtles for sale have done little to stop the practice with bog turtles being a prized species in many animal black markets.Invasive plants such as the purple loosestrife can dry out large areas of suitable habitat. Purple loosestrife grows in large, compact clumps that are impenetrable to the turtle, restricting its movement.
Bog turtle populations are divided into two distinct populations separated by a 250-mile distance. The northern populations found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland are listed as threatened. The southern populations found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are listed as threatened due to similarity of appearance.
Bog turtles are extremely sensitive to the effects of global warming. The turtle's survival is closely tied to its delicate habitat. Erratic weather patterns resulting from global warming will disrupt the fragile balance key to the turtle's survival. By altering hydrological cycles, global warming will either dry out or flood the turtle's habitat.
Info About Marking nd Capturing:
In this procedure, biologists use traps to capture the animals alive and mark them in some way. The animals are returned unharmed to their environment. Over a long time period, the animals from the population are continued to be trapped and data is taken on how many are captured with tags. A mathematical formula is then used to estimate population size.
Hypothesis:
If the continuing trend of global warming continues and the bog turtles environment is changed then the population of marked bog turtles will decrease but the over all population will increase. This is because bog turtles adapt better in warmer environments, and they will reproduce more and live longer.
Materials:
-150 marked turtles-average yearly temperature (will vary depending on environment)
-thermometer
Procedure:
-Go to Bog Turtle Habitat
-Record how many bog turtles are in the habitat yearly (control group)
-Research the normal yearly temperature from month to month in that area (control temp.)
-Collect and mark 150 Bog Turtles
-Release marked turtles
-Go back to habitat each month for another year and compare temperature with control temp.
-Capture 150 turtles and see how many are marked (compare with control group)
With all the talk of global warming and climate change, people mostly think of what would happen to the world and environment as a whole. But most people never think of what happens to individual species, like the bog turtle. The bog turtle has very sensitive nerves and can be affected by things like environment and weather change. Because the bog turtle is so temperamental, in this experiment scientist can see what happens to the bog turtle and its environment in this period of "global warming" and climate change.
Info:
The bog turtle is New York's smallest turtle, reaching a maximum length of 4.5 inches. It is one of seventeen species of turtles found in New York State, including marine turtles. A bright yellow or orange blotch on each side of its head and neck are a distinctive feature of this species. The body color is dark with an orange-red wash on the inside of the legs of some individuals. The carapace (upper shell) is domed and somewhat rectangular, often with prominent rings on the shell plates (scutes). In some older individuals, or those that burrow frequently in coarse substrates, the shell may become quite smooth and polished. Although generally black, the carapace is sometimes highlighted by a chestnut sunburst pattern in each scute. The plastron (lower shell) is hingeless, with a pattern of cream and black blotches. As with most turtles, the plastron of the male is slightly concave while the female's is flat.
Bog turtles are one of the most rare turtles found in the United States. Laws banning the collection of the turtles for sale have done little to stop the practice with bog turtles being a prized species in many animal black markets.Invasive plants such as the purple loosestrife can dry out large areas of suitable habitat. Purple loosestrife grows in large, compact clumps that are impenetrable to the turtle, restricting its movement.
Bog turtle populations are divided into two distinct populations separated by a 250-mile distance. The northern populations found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland are listed as threatened. The southern populations found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are listed as threatened due to similarity of appearance.
Bog turtles are extremely sensitive to the effects of global warming. The turtle's survival is closely tied to its delicate habitat. Erratic weather patterns resulting from global warming will disrupt the fragile balance key to the turtle's survival. By altering hydrological cycles, global warming will either dry out or flood the turtle's habitat.
Info About Marking nd Capturing:
In this procedure, biologists use traps to capture the animals alive and mark them in some way. The animals are returned unharmed to their environment. Over a long time period, the animals from the population are continued to be trapped and data is taken on how many are captured with tags. A mathematical formula is then used to estimate population size.
Hypothesis:
If the continuing trend of global warming continues and the bog turtles environment is changed then the population of marked bog turtles will decrease but the over all population will increase. This is because bog turtles adapt better in warmer environments, and they will reproduce more and live longer.
Materials:
-150 marked turtles-average yearly temperature (will vary depending on environment)
-thermometer
Procedure:
-Go to Bog Turtle Habitat
-Record how many bog turtles are in the habitat yearly (control group)
-Research the normal yearly temperature from month to month in that area (control temp.)
-Collect and mark 150 Bog Turtles
-Release marked turtles
-Go back to habitat each month for another year and compare temperature with control temp.
-Capture 150 turtles and see how many are marked (compare with control group)