When will we know that the Western Pond Turtles in Washington have recovered? The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WSDFW) has issued a goal of 5 populations consisting of 200 individuals each (Hays et al. 1999). When this status is reached, then management will cease, and hopefully (as discussed on the next page) turtle populations will grow naturally. Even though WSDFW has their goal, the turtle will not be downlisted to threatened until there are 7 populations consisting of 200 individuals (Hays et al. 1999). As you can see in the following chart, there are not enough turtle populations as of 2011.
This
chart, made by using Microsoft Excel, displays the number of populations that contain at least 200 individuals. When turtle populations were counted in 1990 and 1999, there were no sites where turtle numbers reached 200. In 2011 however, there were 3 known turtle populations (Berkel 2011). The amount of populations need to more than double to be downlisted.
There are many more turtle living today than 20 years ago. In the following chart (also made using Microsoft Excel) you can see that since conservation efforts began, turtle number have exceeded the WSDFW goal and the downlisting goal.
There are many more turtle living today than 20 years ago. In the following chart (also made using Microsoft Excel) you can see that since conservation efforts began, turtle number have exceeded the WSDFW goal and the downlisting goal.
The chart shows that in 1990, there were in total 150 turtles that were dispersed between 2 populations. After only 8 years of this program, there were about 300 turtles in those 2 populations (Hays et al. 1999). The latest data show 1500 individual turtles (Berkel 2011)
Overall, we can conclude that the programs to save the Western Pond Turtle have been successful. So far the two origonal populations has reached 200 individuals as well as one established population. Efforts will continue until two more of the established populations grow to 200 individuals.
Overall, we can conclude that the programs to save the Western Pond Turtle have been successful. So far the two origonal populations has reached 200 individuals as well as one established population. Efforts will continue until two more of the established populations grow to 200 individuals.
- Berkel, Jessie Van. "Program Revives State-endangered Western Pond Turtle." The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times, 28 July 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015760462_turtles29m.html>.
- Hays, David W., Kelly R. McAllister, Scott A. Richardson, and Derek W. Stinson. "Washington State Recovery Plan for the Western Pond Turtle - WDFW Publications | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife." Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Washington DEpartment of Fish and Wildlife, Aug. 1999. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00398/>.
Simple, clear graphs that I can understand. But are these not somewhere in the literature?
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ReplyDeleteGreat idea on the graphs! One overall suggestion I have is to do something interesting with your homepage because it is currently empty and that is the first page people see. Maybe fill it with pictures or make is a site directory?
ReplyDelete-Brianna
The graphs you've added provide good data, but I feel as though you could do a better job labeling the graphs. For example in both cases the title of the graph is the same as the y-axis. Perhaps using a descriptive title would be helpful. Also the way you've labeled the x-axis is confusing since neither "WSDFW Goal" nor "Downlisting Requirements" represent a measure of time. Maybe a separate graph for those values would work?
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