Great Hollow contributes to regional Wood Turtle research project

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Great Hollow

Great Hollow assisted researchers from the Wood Turtle Working Group with the collection of blood samples from wood turtles in our area for a population genetics study. DNA from the blood samples will allow scientists to measure the genetic diversity and size of the northeastern populations of this species of conservation concern. Great Hollow’s Executive Director, Chad Seewagen, will be using samples from these turtles to also investigate their mercury levels. Freshwater turtles that are long-lived and are predators can be at high risk for the accumulation of mercury and other environmental contaminants. This work is the beginning of a collaboration to assess the degree and geographic distribution of mercury accumulation among reptiles in Connecticut.

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