Thermal characteristics of overwintering habitats for the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) across three study areas in Ontario, Canada

Habitat restoration is a necessary strategy to protect populations of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) living in settled areas. Relatively little is known about thermal tolerances and requirements of this species in situ during the overwintering period, except that these turtles must find water bodies that do not freeze completely and that are sufficiently cool to allow them to stay dormant throughout the winter. We used water …