COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of sea turtle biology including evolution, anatomy, species identification, life history, reproduction, and nesting behavior. Students learn about research and monitoring techniques that they will partake in during their time at the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Students will be working with the Sea Turtle Conservancy assisting biologists on the longest continuing sea turtle research program in the world by helping to measure turtles counting eggs, marking nests, recording data, conducting track surveys and nest.
“Micah came back with more focus, increased confidence, and a new appreciation for the world of others as well as his own. ” — Barbara Wynn, East Grand Rapids, MI
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- The main objective of the course is for students to achieve a working knowledge of sea turtle biology and the conservation issues facing turtle populations today.
- Students will be able to identify various types of sea turtles and be able to interpret and understand their behaviors.
- Students will develop an in depth knowledge of local sea turtle populations including lifecycles, feeding, mating and nesting behaviors and migratory patterns.
- Current conservation issues facing these populations, including the role of culture and social issues in developing conservation strategies will be examined.
- Students will develop an understanding of conservation techniques and theories being used to recover depleted sea turtle populations along with a working knowledge of standard monitoring techniques.
- The history of Tortuguero National Park and the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s role in establishing current environmental policies in Tortuguero, in Costa Rica and internationally will be explored.
LECTURE TOPICS
- Introduction to local culture and regional biodiversity
- Regional geology, climate and oceanography
- Natural History of Costa Rica and Tortuguero
- Sea Turtle Biology
- Sea Turtle Monitoring and Research Techniques
- History and Work of the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC)
- Sea Turtle Ecology
- Worldwide Status of Sea Turtles
- Marine Mammal Characteristics
- Tropical Marine Biology
- Guest Lectures
FIELD STUDIES & EXERCISES
- Night time beach patrols and turtle surveys
- Sea turtle nest excavation
- Mangrove tour
- Bioluminescence tour
- Tropical insect workshop
- Organic farm tour
- Cano Island and Corcovado National Park visits
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