FLO SEA TURTLE STUDY IN COSTA RICA
Donation protected
Hi everybody!
I am raising money for my Master’s thesis research, where I will be investigating sex ratios of sea turtle hatchlings at a critical nesting beach in Costa Rica. Playa Ostional, Costa Rica is one of the only beaches in the world where olive ridley sea turtles nest in mass nesting events known as an arribada. During these mass nesting events, up to 250,000 females may emerge synchronously to nest in Ostional in the span of 3-7 days.
What many people might not know is that the sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature at which their eggs are incubated and not by sex chromosomes. At cooler temperatures, higher proportions of males are produced and at warmer temperatures, higher proportions of females are produced. With global temperatures rapidly increasing, this may have huge impacts on future population structures. To study how climate change is affecting sea turtles, we plan to monitor incubation temperatures throughout Ostional and investigate associated sex ratios of hatchlings. This study will create a baseline for the long-term study of climate change effects on this important sea turtle population.
To carry out my investigation, I will build a sea turtle hatchery and relocate eggs during an arribada. I plan to deploy 80 temperature loggers in relocated nests as well as in-situ nests. 30 loggers were recently lent to us so we only need to purchase 50 loggers. Onset brand temperature loggers cost $42 each, so I need to raise $2,100 to buy the remaining loggers. It will also cost about $1,000 to purchase supplies to build the sea turtle hatchery, so I am hoping to raise $3,100 through this fundraising campaign. I will head down to Costa Rica in May 2017 to start my field season so I will need to purchase these items soon. I am applying for grants and scholarships to cover other portions of my thesis research (field supplies/equipment, lab supplies, travel, lodging/food) but it would be wonderful if I can raise money to cover these crucial aspects of my study!
Your donations will contribute to the research of sea turtles and the effects of climate change on their populations. Please donate and share this page! Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and will bring me one step closer helping conserve these magnificent animals!!
Yours Truly,
Florence
I am raising money for my Master’s thesis research, where I will be investigating sex ratios of sea turtle hatchlings at a critical nesting beach in Costa Rica. Playa Ostional, Costa Rica is one of the only beaches in the world where olive ridley sea turtles nest in mass nesting events known as an arribada. During these mass nesting events, up to 250,000 females may emerge synchronously to nest in Ostional in the span of 3-7 days.
What many people might not know is that the sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature at which their eggs are incubated and not by sex chromosomes. At cooler temperatures, higher proportions of males are produced and at warmer temperatures, higher proportions of females are produced. With global temperatures rapidly increasing, this may have huge impacts on future population structures. To study how climate change is affecting sea turtles, we plan to monitor incubation temperatures throughout Ostional and investigate associated sex ratios of hatchlings. This study will create a baseline for the long-term study of climate change effects on this important sea turtle population.
To carry out my investigation, I will build a sea turtle hatchery and relocate eggs during an arribada. I plan to deploy 80 temperature loggers in relocated nests as well as in-situ nests. 30 loggers were recently lent to us so we only need to purchase 50 loggers. Onset brand temperature loggers cost $42 each, so I need to raise $2,100 to buy the remaining loggers. It will also cost about $1,000 to purchase supplies to build the sea turtle hatchery, so I am hoping to raise $3,100 through this fundraising campaign. I will head down to Costa Rica in May 2017 to start my field season so I will need to purchase these items soon. I am applying for grants and scholarships to cover other portions of my thesis research (field supplies/equipment, lab supplies, travel, lodging/food) but it would be wonderful if I can raise money to cover these crucial aspects of my study!
Your donations will contribute to the research of sea turtles and the effects of climate change on their populations. Please donate and share this page! Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and will bring me one step closer helping conserve these magnificent animals!!
Yours Truly,
Florence
Organizer
Florence Wen
Organizer
Hammond, LA
