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Hi all, my name is Lizzy & I am a Graduate Research Assistant studying the population demographics of Blanding's Turtles in Iowa. The objectives of my research include:

1. Work with the Iowa DNR to determine Blanding’s turtle response to management actions using radio-telemetry and a larger mark-recapture study to attempt to quantify population size at a local scale. This portion of the study may include head-started juvenile turtles if available.
2. Estimate seasonal and annual survival probability of adult and seasonal/monthly survival probability of head-started hatchling Blanding’s turtles.
3. Evaluate the effect of management on Blanding’s turtle population dynamics using a population viability analysis. 
4. Describe seasonal movements and wetland use patterns of Blanding’s turtles. 

This project is a collaboration between Iowa State University, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to evaluate Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidae blandingii) populations and their response to management activities.