Angela Marie Sirois

Tracking bog turtles in Massachusetts.

EDUCATION

 

B.A. Natural Science                                                          2005                        St. Anselm College

         Minor in Environmental Studies & Minor in Public Policy                             

 

M. S. Conservation Biology                                                    _                          SUNY ESF          

MASTERS CANDIDATE

305 Illick Hall                                                                                          

Department of Environmental Forest Biology                                                     

SUNY– College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY 13210

E-mail: amsirois‘at’syr.edu

Phone: (315) 470-6754

 

 

 

I am broadly interested in testing ecological theories in the context of applied conservation biology. I am interested in the ecology and conservation of wildlife and how factors such as invasive species, diseases, and climate change will alter species distribution and ecology. Animals have always fascinated me, particularly mammals and herps, and therefore I am most interested in conducting research that will advance our knowledge in wildlife management and conservation.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

PAST EXPERIENCE

MASTERS RESEARCH

My job with the Berkshire Taconic Landscape Program of the Nature Conservancy introduced to me to the intriguing world of calcareous wetlands and the federally endangered bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) which inhabits then. This hands-on experience managing bog turtle habitat led to the formation of my master’s thesis project. The goal of my research is to assess how two populations of bog turtles are responding to habitat alterations. One site has had extensive habitat management to improve basking and nesting conditions, while the other has been impacted by a wildfire, flooding from beavers, and the expansion of non-native plants. The turtle populations at both sites were intensely studied during the 1990’s, before these habitat alterations occurred. Through the use of weekly observations and habitat mapping I hope to investigate if the turtles are using the altered habitats differently than before. By analyzing capture data from these sites that goes back to the 1980’s I plan to look at long term trends in their population structure and dynamics. Overall my goals for this project is to begin to assess how we can monitor the responses of long lived species, like this turtle, to habitat changes.  Monitoring the responses of managed species is critical to the adaptive management process and the overall success of conservation.

Holding a  Morelet’s Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) during a night survey in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico.

Yearling spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) found while monitoring bog turtle populations.

Measuring bog turtles with Alison Whitlock, USFWS.