Eric Munscher Publishes Long-Term Study in Biology Journal

Eric Munscher, natural resources director out of our Houston office, recently published a long-term study in Biology, titled Population Dynamics of the Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) in a Protected Spring Ecosystem.

Drawing on 16 years of mark-recapture data from Wekiwa Springs State Park, the study offers the most comprehensive population assessment of the Florida softshell turtle to date. Researchers recorded over 225 captures of 120 individual turtles, estimating a superpopulation size of up to 204 individuals, making it the largest documented population of this species in the literature.

Eric’s findings reveal high population densities and biomass values that rank among the highest globally for softshell turtles. The study highlights WSSP as a potential nursery habitat, with consistent juvenile recruitment and strong female site fidelity suggesting the area supports critical life stages. Notably, the park’s protected status appears to contribute to these exceptional ecological conditions.

The study also provides global benchmarks for softshell turtle ecology and reinforces the need for targeted conservation actions in unprotected or exploited habitats.

Softshell turtle photo from the study. Photo Credit: Bill Hawthorne