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At 溏心vlog免费B站, conservation biologist Nancy Karraker<\/a> focuses primarily on the consequences of environmental change for reptiles and amphibians. She has examined the impacts of habitat loss and degradation, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and disease on biodiversity in North America and Southeast Asia, and consults and collaborates across the country and around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her work is applied science, she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to say, \u2018watch out for turtles on roads,\u2019\u201d she says, \u201cthough we do want people to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though erroneously considered slow travelers, all turtles move through a home range that can be miles in diameter and can be analyzed for areas of risk or safety. Karraker and her students employ standard wildlife surveys<\/a> and use technology to see where turtles move<\/a> to better assess and plan safe buffer zones for populations. Her lab has worked with the Department of Environmental Management to help improve prospects for Eastern box turtles, wood turtles, and spotted turtles, all species of concern in Rhode Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to fast-moving cars, another risk to turtles is people who are interested in them, for less positive purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leading students in class research projects \u00e0 la Law & Order: Reptile Edition<\/em>, Karraker has had students research<\/a> the illegal pet trade throughout the U.S. All native turtles are protected in Rhode Island and captures of local turtles are illegal. Popular animal ID or wildlife apps that provide exact locations can lead wildlife poachers to turtle locations observed in the wild. These turtles may then be captured from forests and streams to be sold into the lucrative, but illegal, wildlife trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karraker notes that community science applications and some social media groups celebrate nature and encourage people to enjoy the outdoors but can inadvertently contribute to poaching, as native species are coveted as pets here and abroad, with Asia and Europe being frequent destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to turtles, Chris Thawley, Rhode Island\u2019s state herpetologist with the Department of Environmental Management and a former 溏心vlog免费B站 post-doc and instructor, says that most wetlands in Rhode Island contain amphibians to look out \u2014 and listen \u2014 for, with tadpoles still present in many ponds at this time of year. He says that walks at night, especially in rainy weather, allow people to easily hear different species of frog calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to enjoy reptile life closer to home, Karraker suggests purchasing species such as bearded dragons or leopard geckos that are known to be bred in captivity or adopting a pet through a reputable service such as Petfinder.com<\/a>. Be wary of individuals offering pets for adoption that include a \u201crehoming fee;\u201d these can be people who are collecting animals from the wild and selling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karraker understands the draw of turtles and similar wildlife, after all, she\u2019s been studying turtles and other reptiles for years; they are the focus of her life\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re beautiful creatures,\u201d she says. \u201cI understand the fascination, and why people want them for pets. However, we want everyone to enjoy them and we want to see them continue to live and flourish in the wild in their native habitats.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turtle catchers don\u2019t share that goal, she says, and don\u2019t care if they\u2019re taking the last one: \u201cOnce that last individual is gone, that species no longer exists in the wild. When we lose them, they are gone forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n