Diamondback Terrapin Monitoring

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The Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island, Talbot County, MD, presents a unique opportunity to understand how large scale ecological restoration projects affect terrapin populations. The most effective way to accomplish this task is to monitor the activity and use of Poplar Island by terrapins.The objective of the monitoring will be to evaluate the current terrapin population in the Poplar Island archipelago and to establish how the population responds as the project progresses and available habitat increases. By monitoring the terrapin population on Poplar Island as habitat is developed, the USACE can learn how to optimize the benefits provided to this species at Poplar Island and other dredged material placement sites. One concern about the nesting activity occurring on Poplar Island is that some of the nests are being placed in areas where the emerging hatchlings may end up in cells under construction.

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