Huron Fringe Field Naturalists welcome great crowd to new season

The Huron Fringe Field Naturalists club launched the 2017-18 season with a great crowd of new and returning members and guests, Tuesday, at Pine River United Church.

President Gina Dalkin Davis welcomed everyone and introduced new executive members: vice-president Lynn Johnston and treasurer Onno Visser.

After a recap of summer activities and description of upcoming outings, Tom Lobb, outings director, introduced speaker Damien Mullin.

Mullin holds an undergraduate science degree, with a zoology specialization, from Laurentian University and is continuing toward earning a Master’s degree in science.

His work experience has included a variety of research and conservation studies of salamanders and turtles for Scales Nature Park, the Algonquin Wildlife Station, and he has just completed his second season with the Huron Stewardship Council.

He informed the audience that turtles are among the most endangered animals in the world and the prime reason derives from a quirk of reproductive evolution. While many large mammals are reproductively mature after only a few years, some species of turtles may live 17 years or more before reproducing.

There are eight species of turtles in Ontario and most can be found in the Lake Huron watershed, he said. Seven species are considered at risk due to threats which can include habitat loss, poaching for the pet trade, harvesting for food and persecution. However, the greatest threat to turtles is road mortality.

Turtles are most visible in June as they search for suitable nesting sites. Many females travel several kilometres when nesting which, in southern Ontario, increases the likelihood of crossing a road.

Mullin research involves a process called “headstarting.” To counteract low survival rates of eggs and hatchlings, nesting sites are monitored, turtle eggs are collected and hatched, and the young are raised in captivity at the Toronto Zoo for one or two years.

To determine which length of time produces optimal results, Mullin used radio transmitters attached to turtles’ shells to track a selection of subjects in three cohorts: hatchlings, one-year-olds, and two-year-olds over several years. Analysis of his findings concluded that the headstarted two-year-old group demonstrated superior survivorship.

From the start of the presentation, it was abundantly clear that Mullin loves his work and his subject matter. His enthusiasm was inspiring and club members found his anecdotes highly entertaining.

The next Huron Fringe Field Naturalists meeting takes place Oct. 24. Guest speaker is Dr. Janice Gilbert, a leading expert on management of the invasive species, Phragmites. To learn more about the club, access the newsletter or find contact information, visit: hffn.huronstewardship.ca.



Huron Fringe Field Naturalists outings director and renowned local naturalist, Tom Lobb (left), introduces graduate student Damien Mullin at the club meeting, Tuesday, at Pine River United Church; photo by Christine Roberts