I have been working on the STC In-Water Research project since the fall of 2019. The project is studying juvenile green turtles on Florida’s Nature Coast. Most sea turtle work is focused on nesting females, so this In-Water work is crucial to studying juveniles turtles and the lesser understood life phase. Blood samples are taken to help determine the sex ratio and genetics of the sea turtles, as well as their overall health. Measurements of their shells, weights, and sometimes the deployment of satellite transmitters are done to track their movements.
STC In-Water Research
The In-water Project is important for many reasons. First, it allows us to better understand previously undiscovered and understudied populations of an important life stage of green turtles. Most sea turtle research is done on the nesting beach, with adult females. In-water research is special and unique, as it is studying the animals in the habitat where they spend 90% of their lives.
