Dr. Kevin Aviles-Rodriguez – The New England Turtle Project
Dr. Kevin Avilรฉs Rodrรญguez is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Fordham University in New York. Dr. Avilรฉs Rodrรญguezโs research focuses on understanding how species respond to urbanization, biological invasions, and extreme weather events. Turtles are an important model to address these questions. Recently turtles have declined due to habitat loss and illegal harvesting by humans. As such, monitoring turtle communities has become necessary to conserve these species. The New England Turtle Project aims to characterize how urban wetlands impact turtle species and to develop new methods to aid turtle conservation. This project stems from a collaboration with Dr. Scott Buchanan, the state Herpetologist at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and a long-term turtle expert.
In 2022, Dr. Avilรฉs Rodrรญguez and his students visited 27 wetlands across Rhode Island and Connecticut, including locations on WLT properties. Jada Henry is finishing a master thesis evaluating whether painted turtles’ body size, parasite, and shell damage differ between urban and non-urban wetlands. Painted turtles were chosen as their model as they are typically the more common turtle species in wetlands and readily occur in high density at both urban and non-urban wetlands. Ana Gomezโs research uses DNA analyses to infer the geographic source of the invasive turtles, red-eared and yellow-belly sliders, captured in New England. These species have been introduced via pet trade to nearly every continent and are listed as one of the worst invaders. This project aims to document the potential displacement and competition between invasive turtles and turtles native to New England. Dr. Kevin’s team is presently analyzing this data before undertaking future field endeavors. To learn more about Dr. Avilรฉs Rodrรญguezโs research, visit the following website https://kevinjaviles.wordpress.com/research/.
To learn more about the scientists & stewards on our land click HERE.
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Farm Squad students explored their gardens for different plant parts they eat such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. ๐ซ๐ฅ
They were so excited to taste fresh vegetables from @frontierfarmri ๐งโ๐พ
If you want fresh produce from @frontierfarmri or flowers from @echo_rock_flowers stop by the Barlow Farm Stand on Thursdays and Fridays from 3-6pm! ๐
Farm Squad students explored their gardens for different plant parts they eat such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. ๐ซ๐ฅ
They were so excited to taste fresh vegetables from @frontierfarmri ๐งโ๐พ
If you want fresh produce from @frontierfarmri or flowers from @echo_rock_flowers stop by the Barlow Farm Stand on Thursdays and Fridays from 3-6pm! ๐
Life is more fun playing in the mud! ๐ธโ๏ธ
#westerly #westerlyri #rhodeisland #outside #rainyday #explore #nature #hike #mud #landtrust #conservation
Life is more fun playing in the mud! ๐ธโ๏ธ
#westerly #westerlyri #rhodeisland #outside #rainyday #explore #nature #hike #mud #landtrust #conservation
Have you found time to explore a WLT trail this summer?๐ฅพ
Snap some pics while youโre out there and send to Erika at [email protected] to be entered into our calendar photo contest! ๐ธ๐
#summer #newengland #westerlyri #rhodeisland #flowers #hike #family #stoningtonct
Have you found time to explore a WLT trail this summer?๐ฅพ
Snap some pics while youโre out there and send to Erika at [email protected] to be entered into our calendar photo contest! ๐ธ๐
#summer #newengland #westerlyri #rhodeisland #flowers #hike #family #stoningtonct
Some highlights from our first week of Farm Squad๐งโ๐พ
WPS Elementary Students will help maintain a vegetable and pollinator garden throughout the summer to explore topics such as soil health, water quality, biodiversity, pollination, and more. ๐
Many of the students have never had some of the crops that are growing in the garden like peas, zucchini, nasturtium, tomatoes, so we are excited for them to try new things! ๐ฅ
#farming #garden #farmsquad #studentgarden #schoolgarden #vegetables #fruit #outside #nature #teamwork #explore #family
Some highlights from our first week of Farm Squad๐งโ๐พ
WPS Elementary Students will help maintain a vegetable and pollinator garden throughout the summer to explore topics such as soil health, water quality, biodiversity, pollination, and more. ๐
Many of the students have never had some of the crops that are growing in the garden like peas, zucchini, nasturtium, tomatoes, so we are excited for them to try new things! ๐ฅ
#farming #garden #farmsquad #studentgarden #schoolgarden #vegetables #fruit #outside #nature #teamwork #explore #family
We had lots of fun on our Pollinator Safari with Dr. Rachel Bonoan and students from Providence Collegeโs Pollinator Lab, Ren Johnson from URIโs Bee Lab, and Toby Shaya, DEMโs Pollinator Atlas Entomologist, and everyone else who joined!๐๐๐ฆ๐ชฒ
#pollinatorprotectors #pollinators #pollination #bee #butterfly #flowers #rhodeisland #westerlyri
We had lots of fun on our Pollinator Safari with Dr. Rachel Bonoan and students from Providence Collegeโs Pollinator Lab, Ren Johnson from URIโs Bee Lab, and Toby Shaya, DEMโs Pollinator Atlas Entomologist, and everyone else who joined!๐๐๐ฆ๐ชฒ
#pollinatorprotectors #pollinators #pollination #bee #butterfly #flowers #rhodeisland #westerlyri
Do you want to use a bug vacuum?! Embark on a Pollinator Safari with us at Avondale Farm Preserve on Wednesday, July 10th at 10am. For this all-ages, family-friendly event, weโve assembled a top-notch team of pollinator experts from around the state:
๐Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Providence Collegeโs Pollinator Lab
๐Ren Johnson, URIโs Bee Lab
๐Toby Shaya, DEMโs Pollinator Atlas Entomologist
Register through the link in our bio!
Those who joined us for our Lunch to Learn presentation at @westerlylibraryandwilcoxpark got to test out our cool bug vacuums. We explored the pollinator gardens in the park to trap, identify, and release insects!
#pollinator #pollinators #pollination #westerlyri #rhodeisland #summer #family #kids #fun #outside #adventure
Do you want to use a bug vacuum?! Embark on a Pollinator Safari with us at Avondale Farm Preserve on Wednesday, July 10th at 10am. For this all-ages, family-friendly event, weโve assembled a top-notch team of pollinator experts from around the state:
๐Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Providence Collegeโs Pollinator Lab
๐Ren Johnson, URIโs Bee Lab
๐Toby Shaya, DEMโs Pollinator Atlas Entomologist
Register through the link in our bio!
Those who joined us for our Lunch to Learn presentation at @westerlylibraryandwilcoxpark got to test out our cool bug vacuums. We explored the pollinator gardens in the park to trap, identify, and release insects!
#pollinator #pollinators #pollination #westerlyri #rhodeisland #summer #family #kids #fun #outside #adventure
We hope you had a great 4th! ๐Thereโs lots of fun opportunities to get outside and explore our trails this month! Registration is required for all events. Follow the link in our bio for more info and to register๐ฅพ
๐Pollinator Safari- July 10 at Avondale Farm Preserve 10-11:30 am
๐ช๐ป @barre_coast Outdoor Bootcamp - July 14 at Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 9-10am. WLT members, email [email protected] to receive a reduced price of $10 for the class.
๐ฃ Thursday Paddles
July 11- Switch Rd to Woodville
July 25- Shannock to Richmond Landing
๐งโ๐พFarm Squad - outdoor enrichment program open to all Westerly Public Elementary School students (SES, DCS, SSS) where students will get a deep dive into the farming world. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Barlow Nature Preserve.
๐ธ๐ซ Barlow Farm Stand featuring fresh flowers and produce from @echo_rock_flowers and @frontierfarmri on Thursdays and Fridays, 3-6pm at 449 Westerly Bradford Rd.
#july #happy4th #summer #westerlyri #rhodeisland #oceanstate #hike #kayak #pollination
We hope you had a great 4th! ๐Thereโs lots of fun opportunities to get outside and explore our trails this month! Registration is required for all events. Follow the link in our bio for more info and to register๐ฅพ
๐Pollinator Safari- July 10 at Avondale Farm Preserve 10-11:30 am
๐ช๐ป @barre_coast Outdoor Bootcamp - July 14 at Winnapaug Farm Preserve, 9-10am. WLT members, email [email protected] to receive a reduced price of $10 for the class.
๐ฃ Thursday Paddles
July 11- Switch Rd to Woodville
July 25- Shannock to Richmond Landing
๐งโ๐พFarm Squad - outdoor enrichment program open to all Westerly Public Elementary School students (SES, DCS, SSS) where students will get a deep dive into the farming world. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Barlow Nature Preserve.
๐ธ๐ซ Barlow Farm Stand featuring fresh flowers and produce from @echo_rock_flowers and @frontierfarmri on Thursdays and Fridays, 3-6pm at 449 Westerly Bradford Rd.
#july #happy4th #summer #westerlyri #rhodeisland #oceanstate #hike #kayak #pollination
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ the diverse population of pollinating insects right here in Westerly.
For this all-ages, family-friendly event, the Westerly Land Trust has assembled a top-notch team of pollinator experts from around the state:
๐Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Providence Collegeโs Pollinator Lab
๐Ren Johnson, URIโs Bee Lab
๐Toby Shaya, DEMโs Pollinator Atlas Entomologist
Register through the link in our bio!
.
.
#westerly #westerlyri #westerlyrhodeisland #watchhill #stoningtonct #landtrust #landconservation #environment #southcountyri #pollinators #westerlylandtrust #providencecollege #uri #ridem
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ the diverse population of pollinating insects right here in Westerly.
For this all-ages, family-friendly event, the Westerly Land Trust has assembled a top-notch team of pollinator experts from around the state:
๐Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Providence Collegeโs Pollinator Lab
๐Ren Johnson, URIโs Bee Lab
๐Toby Shaya, DEMโs Pollinator Atlas Entomologist
Register through the link in our bio!
.
.
#westerly #westerlyri #westerlyrhodeisland #watchhill #stoningtonct #landtrust #landconservation #environment #southcountyri #pollinators #westerlylandtrust #providencecollege #uri #ridem