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How to Gauge the Height of a Turtle from the USGS

This U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, protocol for the south coast ecoregion documents survey techniques for populations of the western pond turtle from Santa Barbara, California to the border in Mexico. The protocol provides guidelines for gauging the presence and abundance of pond turtles. It gives various institutions making this type of survey a standard means of measuring and recording data. Be sure to fill in all the relevant fields when using this survey to measure the height of the turtle.

Things You'll Need

Appropriate permits, if required
Copy of protocol
Map of the survey area
GPS unit with accompanying list of coordinates
Personal Digital Assistant, or PDA
Slide calipers for measuring

Instructions

- 1
  Use a map to predefine your survey site in the USGS database. When working with this USGS survey, you are required to determine the survey start and end points before including any additional data.
- 2
  Record the species of turtle. In this case, the species is western pond turtle.
- 3
  Fill in each of the fields, which include "Sex," "Length" and "Shell damage," among others.
- 4
  Choose the method that you have used to observe the turtle, which in this case will be "Hand Capture," as you are required to handle the reptile and to measure the height of its carapace, or top shell.
- 5
  Ensure that your GPS is connected to your PDA and generate your location.
- 6
  Select the age of the specific individual by choosing from a number of options, which include "Hatchling," "Juvenile" and "Adult."
- 7
  Record the turtle's sex by choosing from a number of options, which include "Male," "Female" and "Unknown." Check "Unknown" if you are not able to determine the sex of the animal. The vent of the male is further from the shell than that of the female.
- 8
  Record the length of the carapace.
- 9
  Record the width of the turtle's carapace.
- 10
  Measure the height of the turtle's carapace with the calipers. Record this measurement. An adult female western pond turtle has a higher shell than an adult male to accommodate her eggs.
- 11
  Record any additional information that is pertinent to the turtle you have just measured, but which does not fit into any of the existing data fields.

Animals & Science