RESEARCH - SPECIES AT RISK HABITAT

PROJECT	HERP (Habitat Ecohydrology for Reptiles in Peat)
FIELDWORK LOCATION	Nibi Observatory for Boreal Ecohydrological Landscapes (NOBEL) (Georgian Bay Biosphere Mnidoo Gamii, Ontario)
KEYWORDS	habitat mapping, climate change vulnerability, energy-water-ecosystems nexus, ecological restoration, overall benefits, habitat adaptation, sustainability, land-use change impacts
MEDIA	"Citizen scientists wanted for project"  Parry Sound North Star
OVERVIEW	We are developing innovative approaches to (1) rehabilitate and restore degraded moss dominated peatlands to functional ecosystems which provide critical overwintering habitat for at-risk reptiles and (2) create representative and successful cryptogram dominated turtle nesting habitat on open rock barren landscapes. We are evaluating reptile habitat restoration strategies using an integrative ecological and hydrological approach to elucidate how hydrological setting (e.g. wetland size, watershed size), moisture, rainfall/snowfall, water/air temperature, soil type, water table fluctuations, and surface cover mosaic interact to dictate habitat function and long-term sustainability. Furthermore, we are determining success of restored and created habitats by evaluating reptile use, overwintering survival, and hatching success. Determining key factors in habitat design and construction which support reptile overwintering survival and turtle hatching success would significantly contribute to future success of restoration projects for reptiles. Our research aims to develop effective and sustainable restoration techniques as an integrative component to addressing climate and land-use changes which threaten the resilience of wetlands and reptile habitat in Ontario rock barren landscapes.

All research personnel handled turtles under approved research permits.