DNR Grant Supports MTU Studies
HOUGHTON--A Michigan Department of Natural Resources Non game Wildlife
grant provided support for two studies conducted by Michigan Tech biologists
this year in the Sturgeon River watershed in Houghton and Baraga counties.
Dr. Nancy Auer and her graduate student Marty Holtgren of MTU's Department
of Biological Sciences carried out surveys of juvenile lake sturgeon and
endangered wood turtles.
"This was the first ever look at wood turtles in our area," said Auer.
"We were able to locate a limited number of turtles this year and next
year we hope to receive additional funding to continue the study. The
goal this year was simply to collect data on the population, but next
year we hope to be able to locate egg laying sites and get a better idea
of how large an area turtles require to successfully complete their life
cycles. If we can identify egg laying sites, it may be possible to protect
this group of wood turtles and ensure successful egg hatches."
Auer said the sturgeon survey focused on determining numbers of juvenile
sturgeon remaining in the river and the number and types of food organisms
available for them on the river bottom. She said both the sturgeon and
turtle studies were in their early stages although she has studied adult
lake sturgeon for several years.
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10/30/00-MTN381
Marty
Holtgren, graduate student in MTU's Biological Sciences department, shows
the colorful markings on the underside of a wood turtle captured near
the Sturgeon River.