The Davis Herpetology Lab has been awarded funding from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife to conduct surveys for four imperiled species of turtles in Indiana: River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna), False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica), Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica), and Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum). There has been little focused research on these species in the state, limiting the ability to make informed management decisions. These surveys will occur from 2025–2027 across southwestern Indiana and support graduate thesis research. Recent data suggests that some of these species occur across a greater range than previously expected, and visual surveys and hoop-net trapping will help to better understand the current range of these species in the region.

Grant Title: Assessing the Distribution and Conservation Status of Imperiled Aquatic Turtles in Southwestern Indiana