Unique Plastron Patterns of the State-endangered Blanding’s Turtle

Mumm, Lauren

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/99829 Copy

Description

Title

Unique Plastron Patterns of the State-endangered Blanding’s Turtle

Author(s)

Mumm, Lauren

Issue Date

2018-04

Keyword(s)

• Veterinary Medicine
• Wildlife Epidemiology Lab

Abstract

Blanding’s turtles (Emydoideablandingii), an endangered species in Illinois, have experienced range-wide declines due to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. The unique patterns on the plastron (bottom shell) along with hand-filed notches on the carapace (top shell) allow for identification of individual turtles. My research involved tracking, trapping or incidentally finding Blanding’s turtles in an area with a known existing population and establishing a baseline health assessment to aid in conservation efforts in Lake County, IL. Working with Lake County Forest Preserve District and through the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Epidemiology Lab we collected blood and oral swabs for testing the wellness of both individuals and populations. By monitoring health our objective is to establish criteria that can be integrated into future conservation assessments of wild and captive populations.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99829

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 Lauren Mumm

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