Water Testing Round 2
Our water testing with SUNY Jamestown Community College interns continues as we get through our eight samples testing for nitrogen, phosphorous, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and temperature. Next week we will finish up going through our samples and share our findings of the water quality of the Chadakoin River. This information will give us more insight about the habitat the Spiny Softshell Turtles are utilizing and what conditions they are tolerable of. Stay tuned as some of our results may surprise you!
Read MoreWater Testing
This week we have been getting outside collecting water samples and running some tests looking for specific elements in the waters of the Chadakoin River. The resulting data will give us more insight into the water quality of the river and the tolerances the Spiny Softshell Turtles appear to have to the existing conditions. We tested temperature and dissolved oxygen levels with our SUNY Jamestown Community College interns and Jan Bowman, JCC professor of biology, and will be testing for levels of phosphorous and nitrogen as well. Spiny Softshell Turtles are rather sensitive to pollutants, so...
Read MoreLeaves are leaving
This is a picture of the Chadakoin River before all of yesterday’s formidable gusts blew away much of our fall foliage here in Jamestown. Yep, the leaves are leaving. What makes me shake my head is how low the water level has been lately as our precipitation has fallen back to near average or below after a very wet summer. We sure could have used these conditions for Spiny Softshell Turtle work the rest of the year when they were more active, nesting and basking in strong numbers. The weather shapes all of the life around us in both positive and negative ways. This is also why active...
Read MoreEastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
The past few sunny days have been enjoyable for humans and turtles alike! This adult female Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) was in the process of hauling herself out of the water to soak up some rays when RTPI staff and JCC interns spotted her and a few others doing the same along the Chadakoin River. Observational work will continue until the turtles go into hibernation later this fall, and we encourage all of you that may be out seeing or observing them to let us know what you are finding. We love to hear where else they are being found and this information is helpful in...
Read MoreBiological Regionalism – Spiny Softshell Turtles
RTPI President Twan Leenders will lead a nature walk introducing participants to the Spiny Softshell Turtles inhabiting the Chadakoin River on September 15 from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. Meet in the parking lot of the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street, Jamestown, NY. Presented in partnership with Jamestown Community College to highlight Alberto Rey’s exhibit “Biological Regionalism”, which will be featured at Jamestown Community College’s Weeks Gallery August 25 – October 3, 2014. This is a free event open to the public and we hope to see you there! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read More
