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Conserving Vermont spotted turtles: Using novel techniques to detect a cryptic species
Kalonia, Anila
Kalonia, Anila
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Successful species detection is a long-standing problem in the field of conservation science. Detection is essential to understanding species distributions, providing foundational data for conservation plan development. However, obtaining such data is particularly difficult for species that are cryptic, have low population densities, or whose habitat requirements are poorly understood. Thus, when monitoring rare species, natural resources managers encounter a conservation paradox: accurate distribution data is needed for effective protection, but acquiring such data remains a significant challenge.In Vermont, Spotted Turtle populations are endangered, with only three populations known to exist. They are listed in the state’s Wildlife Action Plan, mandating natural resource managers to prioritize protection of the species and the habitats they are found in. However, Spotted Turtles are difficult to detect across their range because of their elusive behavior, the access barriers to the wetlands they occupy, and low capture rate with traditional survey efforts. To support Vermont’s Spotted Turtle conservation efforts, we tested the effectiveness of novel methods to monitor the species, with the goal of identifying new Spotted Turtle populations within the state. These strategies are outlined in two chapters of this thesis. Chapter 1 discusses the development of a state-specific habitat suitability model (HSM) to identify priority habitats for Spotted Turtle. Chapter 2 validates and tests the effectiveness of eDNA sampling as a Spotted Turtle detection tool. Primary research products include a developed HSM and eDNA sampling methodology that can be employed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to guide Spotted Turtle survey efforts. While our research is focused in Vermont, our findings will have broader implications for Spotted Turtle conservation. The established HSM framework will allow for ongoing model development and can be used by neighboring states. Additionally, our research will support the development of eDNA sampling protocols in lentic systems, provide a guiding framework for Spotted Turtle eDNA lab analysis, and provide transferable knowledge to eDNA surveys of other aquatic species.
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2026
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- Embargoed until 2026-12-12