iTerrapin: Episode #3

Squid Dissection at Soundwaters 1/09

Hi All,

As part of our development as scientists Soundwaters arranged for us to learn about another organism, the squid! Here are some pictures of our class in action!


Here we are getting some background information on the squid body design.


Eric is on the case developing his hypothesis!


Alexa and Sonia and their squids!


Writing with squid ink!


Soon to be calamari!

What a great learning experience this was for us!

Mr. F :-)

iTerrapin: Episode 2

Terrapin Facts #2

Here are some facts form Giulio, Frank, Will, and Eric!

1. Major injuries occur to many turtle species as a result of human development and natural factors.

2. The Northern Diamondback Terrapin is the only turtle species that lives in Estuary waters in the USA.

3. The Diamondback Terrapin population is declining by commercial farming.

4. The Terrapin Turtles terrestrial predators are raccoon and crows.

5. 10.8% of all captured terrapins had a major injury.

6. 92.2% of Diamondback Terrapins eggs are being eaten by raccoons.

7. Nesting of the Terrapins usually takes place in high temperatures and high tide.

8. Breeding females journey up to 1600 meters and may take as long as 48 hrs to reach their nesting location.

Christina Mohrman- Mississippi Terrapins

Hello everyone,

Thank you for contacting me about being involved in your effort to find our more about diamondback terrapins. I would be glad to be involved in your blog. I have attached a photo of a diamondback terrapin from my area, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, in southeastern Mississippi. (see aboe) The terrapins here are a different subspecies from yours, the Mississippi diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin pileata) instead of the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin). The subspecies name (pileata) means capped and refers to the dark diamond-shaped patch that most MS diamondback terrapins have on top of their head. The photo is of an adult female terrapin on a nesting beach.

Also, I worked at the Wetlands Institute in New Jersey, so I helped the Jordan Road School class that you mentioned on your blog. You can probably get updates on what they are currently doing from the Wetlands Institute. Several classes are involved in raising terrapins and at the end of the school year they all come to the Wetlands Institute and release their turtles. It is a great program.

I look forward to being in touch with all of you soon.

~Christina

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Christina Mohrman
Coordinator, Environmental Cooperative Science Center
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

christina.watters@dmr.ms.gov

Click here to see a group of elementary students from NJ who actually were involved in trying to raise hatchling terrpins! (This entry was from 2005 ...so I am unsure of they still do this.) Use the links on the bottom of the page to see some of their research. I like what they did!

Mr. F :-)