ABSTRACT: Severed landscapes and habitat fragmentation can result from anthropogenic effects and climate change on habitat. These fragmentations can have lasting negative effects on surrounding species, especially reptiles. Wood Turtle populations are experiencing a decline due to dwindling habitat, making research for management and conservation crucial to their survival. My research aims to observe the movement patterns of these turtles throughout suitable habitats and developed land within Michigan. To accomplish this, I will attach GPS units to individual turtles to gather data on preferred habitats and movement. This data will be used to identify corridors and possible barriers that can aid in conservation. This data will also be used to construct maps using ArcGIS to visualize patterns of movement and connectivity.
