EAPSI: Using Drone Technology to Address Key Knowledge Gaps in the Life Histories of Sea Turtles

该项目使用无人机研究海龟在筑巢海滩和澳大利亚近岸栖息地的丰度和活动。合作者包括Mark Hamann和Karen Joyce（詹姆斯库克大学）、Mick Guinea（查尔斯达尔文大学）、Scott Whiting和Tony Tucker（公园和野生动物系）、阿曼达霍奇森（默多克大学鲸目动物研究所）以及澳大利亚各地的土著社区。澳大利亚拥有世界上生态多样性最丰富、研究最充分的海龟栖息地。与海龟和遥感专家的合作将提供专业知识、先进的无人机技术以及多个海龟物种和栖息地，这是PI以前无法获得的。将开发最佳无人机方法，以研究筑巢海滩和近岸沃茨的海龟。这些方法将可用于加强全世界的海龟保护方案，并促进下一代环境管理员对海洋环境的更深入理解、认识和保护。该项目评估了使用无人机研究海龟在筑巢海滩，以及在澳大利亚的近岸觅食，交配和发育栖息地。该研究涉及与澳大利亚各地的多个研究人员，机构和土著社区的合作。澳大利亚拥有世界上最具生态多样性和研究最充分的几种海龟栖息地。通过与海龟生物学和遥感专家的直接互动，可以获得更先进的无人机技术、方法以及多种海龟物种和栖息地。将开发最佳的无人机方法，以研究海龟在筑巢海滩和邻近关键栖息地的多个生命阶段的人口统计和行为。这个机会将提高申请人？该公司在海洋领域生态学中使用无人机的专业知识，同时产生可用于加强全球海龟保护计划的方法。这一项目的协作性质将促进下一批环境管理人员更深入地了解、认识和保护海洋环境。该奖项是东亚和太平洋夏季研究所计划的一部分，由NSF和澳大利亚科学院共同资助，支持美国研究生的夏季研究。

This project uses drones to study the abundance and activities of sea turtles on nesting beaches, and nearshore habitats of Australia. Collaborators include Mark Hamann and Karen Joyce (James Cook University), Mick Guinea (Charles Darwin University), Scott Whiting and Tony Tucker (Department of Parks and Wildlife), Amanda Hodgson (Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit), and indigenous communities throughout Australia. Australia boasts some of the most ecologically diverse and well-studied sea turtle habitats in the world. Collaboration with sea turtle and remote sensing experts will provide access to expertise, advanced drone technology, and multiple species of sea turtles and habitats, that were previously inaccessible to the PI. Optimal drone-based methods will be developed to study sea turtles at nesting beaches and in nearshore waters. These methodologies will be available to enhance sea turtle conservation programs worldwide and promote a deeper understanding, awareness and conservation of the marine environment in the next generation of environmental stewards. This project evaluates the use of drones for studying sea turtles on nesting beaches, and in nearshore foraging, mating, and developmental habitats of Australia. The research involves collaborations with multiple researchers, institutions, and indigenous communities throughout Australia. Australia boasts some of the most ecologically diverse and well-studied habitats in the world for several species of sea turtles. Direct interaction with experts in sea turtle biology and remote sensing provides access to more advanced drone technology, methodologies, and multiple sea turtle species and habitats. Optimal drone-based methodologies will be developed to study the demographics and behavior of sea turtles in multiple life stages at nesting beaches and adjacent critical habitat. This opportunity will enhance the applicant?s expertise in the use of drones in marine field ecology while generating methodologies that will be available to enhance sea turtle conservation programs worldwide. The collaborative nature of this project will promote a deeper understanding, awareness and conservation of the marine environment among the next environmental stewards. This award, under the East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes program, supports summer research by a U.S. graduate student and is jointly funded by NSF and the Australian Academy of Science.