Training

See also: Western Pond Turtle, Habitat RestorationOn August 28, 2008, the Elkhorn Slough Coastal Training Program in partnership with the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County was pleased to sponsor the Western Pond Turtle Workshop featuring experts Drs. Dave Germano and Galen Rathbun. The instructors presented a comprehensive training on the biology and conservation of the southwestern pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata). The instructors had published a variety of reports and papers on the ecology and life history of this species, and their lectures summarized the knowledge base on the ecology and conservation of the species. Workshop Objectives: This was an opportunity to gain an understanding of the biology of western pond turtles and also how this information could be applied to surveying, conserving, and managing projects for the benefit of this species. The information conveyed was designed to be useful in both large-scale and local conservation planning efforts. Topics discussed included: the geographic distribution of western pond turtle, upland and aquatic habitats and their management, movements, population and community ecology, survey methods, and methods for assessing potential project impacts and approaches for avoidance and minimization. Participants received training in species identification, sampling techniques, and habitat requirements of the species.