General Monthly Meeting: Wildlife Summer - Diamond-backed Terrapin

The doors open at 7:00 PM, and the program starts at 7:30 PM. Everyone is welcome.

JUNE GENERAL MEETING:
Wild Summer with Wildlife - Diamond-backed Terrapin

Our June 14th program star wildlife species will be the diamond-backed terrapin. Researchers with the Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH) at the University of Houston –Clear Lake will be our guest speakers.
Dr. George Guillen, Executive Director of the EIH and Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at U of H – Clear Lake is engaged in a multi-year study of the diamond-backed terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin littoralis) in the marshes of the upper and central Texas coast. Why is it so significant? …. because it is the only turtle species to live exclusively in brackish water. With their limited distribution and restricted habitat requirements, they could be an important indicator species.

What is needed is important baseline data on population distribution so we can track population growth or decrease and determine what, if any, protections are needed to maintain a sustainable population. That is the focus of Dr. Guillen’s research.

To adopt a terrapin or see pictures. go to https://www.uhcl.edu/environmental-institute/outreach/adopt-terrapin or scroll to the bottom to find links to research on the diamond-backed terrapin.