Absent Bog Turtle: Freshwater Ecology

Bog Turtle (absent), Purple Loosestrife (invasive), and Common Reed (invasive)

The Bog Turtle is the smallest native turtle species in North America, reaching a maximum length of 4.5 inches. It inhabits wet meadows and marshy areas, getting its name from the fact that it can often be found in many of New York’s bogs. Bogs are found throughout New York state, and they often have very specific conditions that native organisms have adapted to and thrive in. The acidic nature of bogs allows specialized plants to thrive there, including many species of orchid. In New York State, orchids are protected due to their rarity and the ongoing threats to their natural habitats. Recently, invasive plants have begun encroaching on bogs, outcompeting native plants and drastically altering these fragile ecosystems. Purple loosestrife, an invasive plant, has been appearing in bogs and marshes, quickly sprouting new offshoots and creating a dense thicket of stems. These plants trap sediments with their extensive root and stem systems, often restricting waterways. Similarly, Common Reed has been found to invade these wetland areas and establish a monoculture, greatly reducing biodiversity in the region. For animals like the Bog Turtle, these invasive species threaten the plants they rely on for food, nesting, habitat, and egg-laying. The Bog Turtle has also been recorded moving into drier meadows, as they are pushed out from their native habitats due to development and invasive species. Often, when a habitat becomes disrupted, it becomes more vulnerable to invasion by non-native species.

Composition installed and designed by: Andrew Conway, Trevor Cosgrove, Lydia McGrath, William Yi

My name is Claudia Buszta, and I am an Environmental Geography major. I am working this year with Professor Haughwout on the 6th E Street project to illustrate how different organisms relate to each other within their ecological communities. Our focus is on regional ecosystems in New York State, identifying how native species interact with human activity. These summaries are meant to accompany the visualizations of the ecologies within the tunnels.