ADVANCING CITIZEN SCIENCE THROUGH SEA TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION AT GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE

Turtle T.H.i.S. (Teens Helping in the Seashore) is a citizen science research project that measures anthropogenic light on beaches in Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS). Sea turtle hatchlings use the natural light of the horizon, the reflecting light off the water, and the white crest of the waves to orient towards the Gulf of Mexico. Anthropogenic light is also hypothesized to disorient the nesting adults by obscuring innate cues they use to find nesting locations. Anthropogenic light sources may cause sea turtle hatchlings to become disoriented when making their first journey to the sea.

During sea turtle nesting season, May to September, local youth serve as citizen scientists, measuring ambient light at sea turtle laying and hatching events to further study how ambient light correlates with disorientation of the sea turtles in both relocated and non-relocated nests. During non-nesting season, light data is collected along beach transects and is spatially analyzed to create a light profiles of beaches at Gulf Islands National Seashore and Pensacola Beach. The light profiles are important for providing sound science towards managing and preserving sea turtle nesting habitats within Gulf Islands National Seashore.