Antioch University New England is pleased to announce the successful publication of the doctoral dissertation by Laura S. Deming, PhD, a 2025 graduate of the PhD in Environmental Studies and Sustainability program.
Deming’s dissertation, titled The Role of Floodplain Complexity in Wood Turtle Habitat Use, significantly contributes to conservation science. Her research examines how stream channel and floodplain complexity affect the habitat use of the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), a species of special concern in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Using high-resolution airborne LiDAR data, Deming analyzed specific terrain features—such as scroll ponds and steep slopes—and their correlation with wood turtle distribution. Her findings show that a combined model of geomorphic complexity and vegetation structure strongly associates with habitat use, offering valuable insights for conservation planning and ecological restoration.
Deming brings decades of experience as a wildlife biologist to her scholarly work. She currently leads conservation-focused field research initiatives at Moosewood Ecological and serves as an adjunct instructor at Antioch University in Keene, New Hampshire.
Learn more about her impactful work here: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1156/
