Massachusetts Project
Evaluating the impact of management and stressors on at-risk species in Pine Barrens
July 2021 - September 2023
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act as a species of special concern. This species occurs in Pine Barren habitats, where many other species are listed as species of special concern at the state and federal levels. We are currently developing a research study to assess the population dynamics of the eastern box turtle at Joint Base Cape Cod. We aim to explore the effects of a parasitic fly larva on box turtle home range, survival, dispersal, and habitat selection. We will collect radio telemetry data during the summer of 2022, and we will monitor their behavior and/or distribution in comparison to records kept prior to prescribed fire implementation and parasitic larval infestation. The results of this study will be used to inform the upcoming federal listing decisions of species that inhabit Pine barrens habitats by the USFWS.
We also aim to evaluate the effect of management action on Prairie Warbler occupancy across Camp Edwards.
| Theses and Dissertations | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Gordon, A. B. 2023. Pine Barrens wildlife management: Exploring the impact of a stressor and active management on two taxa at Camp Edwards. University of Massachusetts, Amherst. MS-thesis. | August 2023 |