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澳大利亚筑巢海滩和近岸栖息地的丰度和活动。合作者包括马克·哈曼和卡伦·乔伊斯（詹姆斯·库克大学），米克·几内亚（查尔斯·达尔文大学），斯科特·怀廷和托尼·塔克（公园和野生动物部），阿曼达·霍奇森（默多克大学鲸类研究单位），以及澳大利亚各地的土著社区。澳大利亚拥有世界上生态最多样化、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、多种海龟和栖息地，这些都是PI以前无法获得的。将开发基于无人机的最佳方法来研究筑巢海滩和近岸水域的海龟。这些方法将用于加强世界范围内的海龟保护计划，并促进下一代环境管理人员对海洋环境的更深层次的理解、意识和保护。该项目评估了无人机在澳大利亚筑巢海滩、近岸觅食、交配和发育栖息地研究海龟的使用情况。这项研究涉及与澳大利亚各地的多名研究人员、机构和土著社区合作。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。与海龟生物学和遥感专家的直接互动提供了更先进的无人机技术，方法和多种海龟物种和栖息地的访问。将开发最佳的基于无人机的方法来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学和行为。这个机会会提升申请人吗？美国在海洋野外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。这个项目的合作性质将促进下一届环境管理人员对海洋环境有更深的了解、认识和保护。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会和澳大利亚科学院共同资助，隶属于东亚和太平洋暑期研究所项目，支持一名美国研究生进行暑期研究。

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.