Washburn University turtle
research team
Research, Education, Outreach, & Conservation
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Research, Education, Outreach, & Conservation
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Movement EcologyIndividual turtles are monitored via radio telemetry to determine daily and seasonal movement and ranging activity. We use models to estimate home-range size, or the area an animal covers over a specified time frame, to determine habitat area needs and other important aspects of the individual's ecology. |
Temperature and Turtles Climate and weather are hugely important factors that influence turtle ecology. As ectotherms, turtles nearly exclusively rely on behavioral mechanisms to modulate their body temperature instead of physiological mechaninisms (like endotherms/mammals). We investigate the relationships between temperature and turtle behavior across a variety of contexts. |
Personality and CognitionIndividual level differences within a population are important for maintaining species persistence. We are particularly interested in how variation in personality and cognition (spatial memory and navigation) influence turtle fitness (reproductive success relative to others). |