EPI Costa
Rica
Information
and Links
Bob
Dorsett, MD
Pacuare
Nature Reserve, Costa Rica. Bob Dorsett.
Contents
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Preparing
for the trip:
-
Complete
application process
-
physical
exam
-
participation
agreements
- minor travel letter
-
PASSPORT!
-
Read
EPI Handbook carefully
- Read
equipment list carefully
-
Pack
your bags well before the trip, to make sure everything fits
-
Think
about research questions you would like to investigate, related to leatherback turtles, rainforest ecology, culture, etc..
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After
returning home:
-
Review
your notes and journals
-
Reflect
-
what
did I learn about conservation that might change my behavior?
-
what
did I learn about ecosystems that might change my behavior?
-
what
did I learn about culture that might change my behavior?
-
what
would I like to do in the future to explore this world?
-
what
new questions do I have?
-
what
insights would I like to pass along to my friends and family?
-
how
can I help protect leatherback turtles, the marine environment, rainforest ecosystems, etc.?
Research:
Following
are questions related to the leatherback turtles at Pacuare.
Data
is available at links, below. (And let's return to Pacuare to
collect
more data!) : - )
-
Is
there a correlation between nesting and tide stage?
-
Is
there a correlation between nesting and moon phase?
-
Where
do the turtles go in the "lost years?"
-
Is
there a correlation between nest depth and number of eggs?
-
What
is the adaptive advantage of including infertile eggs in the nest?
-
Is
there a correlation between turtle size and number of eggs?
-
do
baula optimize energy expenditure when nesting?
-
ride
greatest inshore current?
-
nest
at high tide?
-
and
there are lots more questions to answer . . .
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Links
to Related Pages:
-
Organizations
-
Leatherback
database
-
Costa
Rica Maps
-
Tide
charts
-
Journals
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The Picture:
The photograph
shows Caribbean surf out the front door from the dining hall / research
center for Pacuare Nature Reserve in Costa Rica. Turtle nest
sites
start to the north (left) and extend 4 km up the beach. Four
patrols
leave at 1.5 hour intervals, beginning at 1930 hours each night to
monitor
turtle activity and discourage poachers.
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Contacts:
Bob Dorsett
dorsett.bob@gmail.com
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