We are proud to announce our latest published scientific study! Collaborating with researchers from the University of Miami we utilized ecological niche models to predict how future climate change may impact the habitat suitability of the Wood Turtle, one of our local species of concern, that we are working to learn more about their population and sustainability. Wood Turtles used to be a more common species across much of its range, but due to habitat loss and degradation, nest predators, road mortality and poaching are now becoming rare and harder to find, if not absent, in much of their former range.We wanted to explore how climate change would impact the future of this species since Maryland represents part of the southern extent of its range and species depends on habitat that will be affected by projected changes. With these we results we hope we can inform future management decisions and work to protect suitable habitat and continue to assess their proposed listing and associated protections as an endangered species. The model shows that by 2070 somewhere between 29-52% of the suitable habitat for this species will have been lost. Unfortunately, our model also shows similarly depressing declines in both the amount of the Wood Turtle’s optimal habitat and the amount of protected suitable habitat. Despite this and other threats, we still believe we may ensure the survival of the Wood Turtle with enough energy, funding and widespread efforts informed by science. Along with our partners we will continue to work on understanding the populations of Wood Turtles in the State of Maryland using new modeling and molecular techniques to provide the best recommendations for the management and conservation of this incredible species.
You may view the full paper here:
