Sand shinnery OAK shrubland ecosystems in eastern new mexico provide important habitat for ornate box turtles (terrapene ornata), which occur in relatively high numbers in this ecosystem

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the CFDA 15.247 Wildlife Resource Management program provides $119,056.05 to conduct research on ornate box turtle habitat in sand shinnery oak shrublands in eastern New Mexico. The project will survey turtle populations and characterize vegetation, soil, and environmental conditions in areas with different land management treatments, including prescribed burns, mechanical/chemical vegetation control, and unburned/untreated sites. The research aims to evaluate how different vegetation management approaches impact ornate box turtle habitat and inform guidance for BLM on restoration methods to benefit this species. The award period runs from September 2024 to November 2027, and the research is being conducted by Nmc, Inc., a non-profit research consortium based in New Mexico.

Historically, sand shinnery OAK shrublands were maintained by frequent fire however, contemporary fire exclusion has caused substantial changes in plant community composition and structure. Vegetation management approaches have been applied to restore the ecosystems, but the value and balance of different approaches for restoring box turtle habitat is unknown. We will conduct surveys for ornate box turtles in the sand shinnery OAK shrublands on BLM- administered lands east of roswell, NM in areas burned by wildfire and prescribed burns, areas mechanically- or chemically-treated for vegetation control, and unburned untreated areas. We will characterize vegetation structure and composition, and soil thermal and moisture conditions at surveyed sites. Finally, we will evaluate how ornate box turtle abundances relate to environmental conditions in burned, treated, and unburned untreated sites. From the data collected, we expect to publish one scientific journal article, give one conference presentation, and, in collaboration with BLM staff, develop a guidance document that details treatment approaches that are most beneficial for restoring ornate box turtle habitat. Other researchers and land managers will benefit from the scientific publication and conference presentation and may be able to use the information as a model approach for restoring habitats for turtles in other places. BLM staff will benefit from the scientific publication and the guidance document, as IT will provide comprehensive information that may direct vegetation management approaches toward restoring ornate box turtle habitat.