Document Type
Honors Thesis
Major
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s)
Paul Rawson
Committee Members
Matthew Chatfield, Sabrina DeTurk
Graduation Year
May, 2025
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are a keystone species vital to coastal ecosystem health along the East Coast of North America. Despite their ecological importance, the northernmost subspecies face numerous threats that result in low natality and survival rates. This study, conducted in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, utilizes data collected through fieldwork with the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) to examine factors influencing nesting behavior of M. terrapin. My analysis also explores human activities, including habitat disturbance and shoreline modification that disrupt natural tidal flows and nesting environments, thereby reducing available nesting sites during critical high tide periods. Conservation strategies should take into account all life stages of diamondback terrapins while prioritizing restoring natural tidal dynamics, protecting nesting habitats, and mitigating predator impacts to support the species' long-term viability. Integrating tidal considerations into habitat preservation and management plans is essential for fostering resilient diamondback terrapin populations amidst ongoing environmental changes such as climate change and habitat loss.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Mei Li, "An Analysis of Associations of Temperature, Tide Cycle, and Sediment and Vegetation Characteristics With Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Coastal Areas Around Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts" (2025). Honors College. 942.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/942