This transmitter is held in place with waterproof duct tape and wax. It is not harmful to the turtle. Students locate six turtles using a radio receiver that emits a beeping noise which gets louder as you approach the turtle. It is often very difficult to locate turtles that can travel up to mile in a day. Students record their data in personal journals and the data is compiled as a class when the project is concluded.
Students identify and count key indicator species in several different ecosystems.
They examine fields which are mowed on a regular basis, abandoned farm fields which have not been mowed for several years, deciduous forests, and evergreen forests. As open space initiatives become more important to area citizens, it is important for our young people to be educated about the issue, and capable of making wise decisions concerning land use policy. After our succession project is completed, students make their way to the boat launch site at Merrill Creek Reservoir. A consulting company which performs fish population surveys for the reservoir is making their way to shore. In their boats are several fish which, unfortunately, were unable to survive the rigors of being brought to the surface in fish nets.