Myers paddles by kayak to another trap.

Gallatin displays a big Blanding's turtle.

Myers pulls a trap out of the water. The traps float just beneath the surface, suspended by pool noodles.

Gallatin returns to shore. She found no turtles on this pond today. As the weather gets colder, turtles become less active, and eventually burrow into the pond bottom for the winter.

 

 

Photo of Blanding's turtle submitted. All others by Brad Whitehouse.

STUDYING TURTLES posted 10/24/02

AC SENIORS CONDUCT FIELD RESEARCH

Think turtles are slow? You haven't seen one swim, then.

As a senior research project in environmental science, Adrian College seniors Melissa Gallatin and Chris Myers are studying the health and growth of the turtle population in several ponds near Onsted. Three times a week, they make their rounds to check their traps for catches. They measure each turtle, weigh it, record its sex, mark it, and release it. So far this fall, they have caught and marked 160 turtles, adding to the 84 that the students and their classmates captured when the research began last year.

Both Gallatin and Myers are dual majors in environmental science and biology. Gallatin graduated from Morenci High School in Michigan. Myers graduate from Strasburg High School in Ohio.

Myers casts a trap back into the water.

Myers (left) and Gallatin each hold a small painted turtle that they just caught. Each turtle is marked with a unique set of grooves on the edge of its shell. The markings are made with a file, which is permanent, but hurts the turtle no more than filing a fingernail. If one of the turtles has already been caught, they record how much it has grown.