Effects of Beaver Flooding on a Spotted Turtle population in southern Ontario

My Master's research, under the supervision of Dr. Jacqueline D. Litzgus, involved conducting radio telemetry on individuals from an endangered population of Spotted turtles, with the goal of determining their habitat selection and thermal preferences in a recently beaver-flooded habitat. We discovered the newly flooded areas to be better habitat for the turtles. The outcome of this project resulted in a habitat management proposal in 2010, where we suggested that the beaver activity be allowed to continue in their natural cycle of wetland creation, and mediate flooding effects on human activity by facilitating public recreation by the installation of an elevated boardwalk in certain flooded areas.