Students work to preserve the endangered Glyptemys insculpta (Wood turtle)
University of Northern Iowa students studying Iowa’s rarest reptile aren’t just reading about them. They’re gathering information that will appear in future books and papers. Under the direction of biology professor Jeff Tamplin, students are studying and helping to preserve isolated populations of endangered wood turtles in Black Hawk and Butler counties. For Zach Hall, a graduate student, the turtles will be his focus of studies for the next 2 1/2 years. It also is a unique opportunity, he said. “It’s very rare to find an endangered species in this state,” Hall said. “It’s very uplifting to know you’re helping something that is bigger than myself.” Tamplin and his students have spent years tracking movement, measuring and recording dozens of wood turtles. They have placed radio trackers on many of the reptile’s shells. “This is almost completely new to me,” said Brad Kerkove, a UNI student. “It’s nice doing actual things.” The student who finds it gets the privilege of naming it. Click the link to read more and watch a video…
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Did You Know…
The worlds largest tortoise is Aldabrachelys gigantea (Aldabra Aldabra) its carapace averages 122 cm in length with an average weight of 250 kg. The smallest tortoise species is Homopus signatus (speckled tortoise) with an average carapace length of 6–8 cm and an average weight 95–165 grams.
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Photo from Bandon Pollock: Courier Staff Photographer.
