Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/handle/10219/3222
Full metadata record
DC Field | Value | Language |
---|---|---|
dc.contributor.author | Mullin, Damien I. | - |
dc.date.accessioned | 2019-03-13T15:45:36Z | - |
dc.date.available | 2019-03-13T15:45:36Z | - |
dc.date.issued | 2019-03-05 | - |
dc.identifier.uri | https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/handle/10219/3222 | - |
dc.description.abstract | Headstarting is a conservation strategy that assumes raising hatchling turtles to larger body sizes increases their survivorship compared to wild non-headstarted turtles. This increased survivorship should increase population growth rate relative to wild recruitment. There are, however, few published results of long-term population recovery using headstarting. The lack of demographic assessment of population recovery has led to an overall lack of quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of headstarting as a conservation action. Headstarting needs to be efficient and effective as a poorly executed headstarting project can result in species extinction given it is often used with critically endangered species. We released 3 cohorts of headstarted Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) with varying degrees of headstarting to determine if headstarting increases survivorship. I showed that headstarting turtles to a larger body size confers a survival advantage, and this survival advantage should increase population growth rate relative to wild recruitment. I then quantitatively assessed the effectiveness of a 15-year Wood Turtle headstarting program by modeling population-specific demographic parameters to evaluate recovery efforts, and determine the next phase of recovery. I found some evidence of population recovery, but also identified challenges and make several management recommendations that should enhance the success of the headstarting program. Overall, I have provided support for headstarting as an effective conservation strategy, with the caveat that all headstarting projects must be paired with management plans that maintain high adult and juvenile survival. | en_CA |
dc.language.iso | en | en_CA |
dc.subject | headstarting | en_CA |
dc.subject | conservation | en_CA |
dc.subject | recovery | en_CA |
dc.subject | species-at-risk | en_CA |
dc.subject | endangered | en_CA |
dc.subject | population modelling | en_CA |
dc.subject | population viability analyses | en_CA |
dc.subject | zoo conservation | en_CA |
dc.subject | long-term research | en_CA |
dc.subject | population demography | en_CA |
dc.subject | population dynamics | en_CA |
dc.subject | intervention ecology | en_CA |
dc.subject | turtles | en_CA |
dc.subject | VORTEX | en_CA |
dc.title | Evaluating the effectiveness of headstarting for wood turtle (glyptemys insculpta) population recovery | en_CA |
dc.type | Thesis | en_CA |
dc.description.degree | Master of Science (MSc) in Biology | en_CA |
dc.publisher.grantor | Laurentian University of Sudbury | en_CA |
Appears in Collections: | Biology - Master's Theses Master's Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mullin MSc Thesis for Grad Studies FINAL 24 Feb 2019.pdf | 2.14 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in LU|ZONE|UL are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.