Tortuga (Turtle) Survey Method

Team: 33

School: Deming High

Area of Science: Animal Science

Interim: Proposal
1. what the problem is, the definition of the problem
2. why it is important, the purpose of the project or what results you hope to get
3. how you plan to work on it, plan of action or methods you hope to get.

1. In southeastern New Mexico, large numbers of turtles migrate across the desert. For a 30 mile long stretch of road, dozens of live turtles can be seen crossing the road. Also, along the road, hundreds of dead turtles can be seen. Our question is, can the turtles spotted on the road be used to calculate the turtle population in the surrounding desert?
2. With a functioning model, this survey would provide wildlife biologist a fast and accurate method for conduction population density surveys. This would save both time and money.
3. A simple model in which the turtle population can be adjusted will be created. Turtles will cross the road. Both live and dead turtle populations will be counted. When the model matches the real world data collected, the model setting for starting population will be compared with the data for actual population surveys.


Interim Report
1. the definition of the problem,
2. your plan for solving the problem computationally,
3. a description of the progress you have made up to this time,
4. the results you expect to get,
5. and at least five citations of information you have referenced.

1. Can road side observations be used to accurately predict turtle population?
2. Turtle speed, car speed, and car/turtle collision ratio will be combined with the a scale model.
3. Our team has already written the basic program. Dale from SCC worked with our team for a few hours. Basic research has been started on turtles, traffic, and wildlife survey methods.
4. We expect our model’s prediction to be within a factor of ten of the actual population surveys.
5. http://www.msb.unm.edu/herpetology/publications/NM_species.htm
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/OrnateBoxTurtle.php
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm
http://dot.state.nm.us/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6J-48JJWWV-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1131353824&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=24eaaa38abee4faa9e8f422d3d931100

Team Members:

  rocky navarrete
  Gabriela Anguiano
  Lilyan Timmons

Sponsoring Teacher: Creighton Edington

Mail the entire Team