About Our Trip

St. Croix: April 20-29, 2018

This course will present the essential biology of sea turtles (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, population dynamics) and their conservation needs; emphasis on their role in marine ecosystem structure and function. Basic ecological concepts integrated with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and the veterinary aspects of conservation.

 


Past Trips:

Culebra and St. Croix: April 18-28, 2016

This course will present the essentials of the biology of sea turtles (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, and population dynamics) and their conservation needs, emphasizing their role in marine ecosystem structure and function. We will integrate basic ecological concepts with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and veterinary aspects of conservation.

In weeks #2-3 we will travel to Culebra Island (Puerto Rico) and St. Croix. In both locations will participate in ongoing sea turtle monitoring and conservation projects (both in-water and nesting). We will also participate in other conservation activities on the islands, and have several lectures, seminars and discussions during our travel. We will interact with local resource managers, researchers, community members, tourists, and others in a ‘real-world’ context where the complexities of island biodiversity conservation can be learned in ways that are impossible to convey in a classroom setting.

Culebra and St. Croix: April 13-23, 2015

This course will present the essentials of the biology of sea turtles (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, and population dynamics) and their conservation needs, emphasizing their role in marine ecosystem structure and function. We will integrate basic ecological concepts with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and veterinary aspects of conservation.

In weeks #2-3 we will travel to Culebra Island (Puerto Rico) and St. Croix. In both locations will participate in ongoing sea turtle monitoring and conservation projects (both in-water and nesting). We will also participate in other conservation activities on the islands, and have several lectures, seminars and discussions during our travel. We will interact with local resource managers, researchers, community members, tourists, and others in a ‘real-world’ context where the complexities of island biodiversity conservation can be learned in ways that are impossible to convey in a classroom setting.

Ascension Island: 27 Feb – 07 March 2014

Join us as the Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles class from the Duke University Marine Lab travels to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic, which hosts one of the largest green sea turtle nesting colonies in the world! In this course students learn the essentials of sea turtle biology (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, and population dynamics) and their conservation needs. Students learn to integrate basic ecological concepts with related topics including the conservation and management of protected species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy. Ascension Island is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, and the island government has an active conservation department that undertakes monitoring and conserving wildlife on Ascension. We will spend most of our time participating with the conservation department staff during their work with nesting female turtles and incubating eggs. We will also be exposed to other island conservation projects involving seabirds, land crabs, indigenous plants and predator control. This field expedition provides an opportunity for students to participate in long-standing and high-profile conservation projects. We will interact with local resource managers, community conservationists, and others in a ‘real-world’ context where the complexities of biodiversity conservation can be experienced in ways that are impossible to convey in a classroom setting. We look forward to sharing our adventures!

Puerto Rico: April 14-23, 2013

Sea Turtle Ecology is an annual trip taken by students and instructors from the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina.  The Lab is part of the Nicholas School of the Environment The course varies from year to year — see individual descriptions below, and access the specific year’s blog entries through the links at the left.

Puerto Rico: April 18-28, 2012

Join us as the the Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles class from the Duke University Marine Lab travels to the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico to meet some of the planet’s most endangered marine megafauna! In this course students learn the essentials of sea turtle biology (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, and population dynamics) and their conservation needs. Students learn to integrate basic ecological concepts with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and veterinary aspects of conservation.

We’ll spend much our time in Puerto Rico on the island of Culebra working with researchers from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and Chelonia, Inc. We’ll end our trip with a tour of the main island, a visit to the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla (with Duke alum Robert Mayer!), and evening in Old San Juan. While in the field we’ll meet for daytime lectures and excursions (both by land and sea!) as well as nighttime visits to leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches. This field expedition provides an opportunity for students to participate in a long-standing in-water and nesting beach monitoring project. We will interact with local resource managers, community conservationists, fishermen, and others in a ‘real-world’ context where the complexities of biodiversity conservation can be experienced in ways that are impossible to convey in a classroom setting. We look forward to sharing our adventures!

Puerto Rico: March 19 – April 2, 2011

In this course we discuss the biology of sea turtles (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, and population dynamics) and their conservation needs, emphasizing their role in marine ecosystem structure and function. We integrate basic ecological concepts with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and veterinary aspects of conservation.

In week #3 we travel to Puerto Rico, spending much of the week on the island of Culebra and ending our week with a tour of the main island and evening in San Juan. While in the field we’ll meet for daytime lectures and excursions (both by land and sea!) as well as night-time visits to leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches. This field expedition provides an opportunity to participate in a long-standing in-water and nesting beach monitoring project. We will interact with local resource managers, community conservationists, fishermen and others in a ‘real-world’ context where the complexities of biodiversity conservation can be learned in ways that are impossible to convey in a classroom setting.

Trinidad : March 20 – 27, 2010

Join us as we travel to the Caribbean island of Trinidad to study the world’s second largest nesting colony of leatherback sea turtles!   This highly endangered turtle is truly a creature of superlatives….it is the largest living reptile (and can weigh up to 2,000 lbs), one of the deepest diving animals in the sea, and is as ancient as the dinosaurs.   Our studies will focus primarily around the nesting colony on Trinidad’s eastern coast at Matura Beach, where one of the world’s finest community conservation organizations, Nature Seekers is responsible for caring for the turtles.

We will work hand in hand at night with the naturalist’s of Nature Seekers as well as conduct our own studies of the turtles.  We will also get to know other community conservationists, resource managers and fishers who can provide a ‘real world’ context to our studies of sea turtles and marine conservation.

Since truly learning about real-world conservation of endangered species requires an understanding of the context in which such conservation takes place, we’ll be spending many of our days seeing Trinidad and getting to know its wonderful people.  We’ll visit other turtle projects, including the highest density leatherback nesting colony in the world at the north coast village of Grande Riviere (3,000 leatherbacks nest on an 800 meter long beach!).  Of course no trip to Trinidad would be complete without also exploring its wonderful jungles, so we’ll hike through its rain forests to tropical waterfalls, track down its elusive troops of howler monkeys and admire its extraordinary bird life.   We’ll even venture into the more developed portions of Trinidad with a guided historical tour of Port of Spain and the Caroni swamp.

Trinidad : April 19 – 27, 2009

The course will present the essential biology of sea turtles (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, and population dynamics) and their conservation needs, emphasizing their role in marine ecosystem structure and function. Basic ecological concepts are integrated with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and the veterinary aspects of conservation. While in Beaufort, the course meets Monday – Thursday mornings (0900-1200), and one or two afternoons per week. In Trinidad (Week #3), the course includes day lectures and excursions, as well as nocturnal sessions on the nesting beach.

In Trinidad we have the unique opportunity to study the world’s second largest nesting colony of leatherback sea turtles, as well as smaller assemblages of other endangered sea turtle species. We will interact with local resource managers, community conservationists, fishermen and others in a ‘real-world’ context where the complexities of biodiversity conservation can be learned in ways that are impossible to convey in a classroom setting. The field expedition also provides an opportunity to participate, if only briefly, in one of the finest village-based endangered species co-management and ecotourism programs in the developing world.

2 thoughts on “About Our Trip

  1. This looks like a completely amazing trip. You are a great writer. Reading your blog was almost like being there. Keep up the good work.

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