The OTP is a turtle monitoring program based at the Queen’s University Biological Station. This program focuses on two species from lake Opinicon that are federally listed as Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada: The Northern Map Turtle, and the Common Musk Turtle. The primary goal of the program is to keep a finger on the pulse of these populations of turtles that are facing increasing threats from development and environmental changes.
Monitoring turtle populations involves going in the field every year to capture turtles from both species. Each turtle is measured, examined for superficial signs of diseases and injuries, and marked with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag – same technology used to microchip pets ). Each turtle is then release at its site of capture within 24 hours. Collected over many years, this data allows us to answer questions about the “health” of these populations. The data collected is also the backbone for other research projects on the ecology, behaviour, and conservation of turtles.
Monitoring turtle populations involves going in the field every year to capture turtles from both species. Each turtle is measured, examined for superficial signs of diseases and injuries, and marked with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag – same technology used to microchip pets ). Each turtle is then release at its site of capture within 24 hours. Collected over many years, this data allows us to answer questions about the “health” of these populations. The data collected is also the backbone for other research projects on the ecology, behaviour, and conservation of turtles.