(1979) status report. Cooper (1975) had estimated as many as 3500 turtles 

 might have been present in 1974, Brown and Moll (1979) suggested not more 

 than 300-600 were likely present at Big Sand Mound based on a canoe trip 

 made in 1976. 



Objectives 5) and 6) were directed towards gathering information that 

 could be used to protect and manage the turtle population at Big Sand 

 Mound, regardless of its future legal status. Monsanto was advised that, 

 regardless of the outcome of the proposed listing, the ecological resource 

 represented at the Big Sand Mound site was of considerable value, and that 

 they should take a major responsibility for its protection. They have 

 done exactly that. 



The aforementioned management activities designed to protect the 

 turtles at Big Sand Mound were proposed to Dr. Dodd at a September 1978 

 meeting in Washington. In summary, it was suggested to Dr. Dodd that the 

 basis for the listing appeared speculative and that Monsanto had 

 volunteered to fund a study enabling an up-to-date evaluation of 



(1) the taxoncanic status; 



(2) the present range and distribution; 



(3) present population levels; and 



(4) ecological requirements of the turtle. 



This proposal of a comprehensive, structured survey, was not well 

 received. The message was, in effect, that the data in hand (the status 

 report and "other" data) adeqioately supported the listing, and there was 

 no need to conduct additional studies until after the listing, presumably 

 then under the auspices of OES. It was shocking to us to come away from a 

 meeting, in which we fully expected encouragement and support, with the 

 clear understanding that the staff herpetologist of OES had taken the 

 position that no data generated by industry would have a bearing on the 

 proposed listing. After all, how often does a major corporation take an 

 interest in funding basic biological research on a cryptic endangered 

 species? Dr. Dodd was, however, amenable to receiving progress reports 

 on our range and distribution studies and the Big Sand Mound population 

 and ecology study as they became available. 



Representatives of state, federal, industry, and acedemic 

 organizations involved in the issue were invited to attend a February 1979 

 Illinois mud turtle research workshop at Monsanto. At the workshop 

 discussions were held regarding Monsanto's and IIGE's positions on mud 

 turtle research. LGL's proposed research, taxonomy, the state's positions 

 and recommendations, potential distribution in the three states, potential 

 mud turtle habitat mapping, and standardization of data collection. The 

 workshop was attended by representatives of the three state conservation 

 agencies. Monsanto IIGE. LGL, Drake University. Eastern Illinois 

 University, Northeast Missouri State University, and Texas A4M University. 



