 Course Description:
Field Course in Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Antillean Manatees and Bottlenose Dolphins.
Students will participate in a hands-on field study. This course will include instruction in general marine mammal ecology, anatomy, physiology, evolution and population biology and specifics about bottlenose dolphins and Antillean manatees in Belize. Students will learn field assessment methods for dolphins, manatees, and turtles in their habitat, including GPS use and basic GIS location mapping. Discussion of conservation issues particularly related to isolated tropical ecosystems.
Field excursions from the Blackbird Oceanic Field Station will compliment lectures and presentations. The class goal is to provide participants a focused, comprehensive knowledge of marine mammal ecology.
Lectures:
Orientation to the field station, biogeography of Turneffe Atoll (geology, mangroves, corals, seagrass)
1. Anatomy and physiology of manatees and dolphins.
2. Evolution and systematics including population biology
3. Diet and feeding strategies, locomotion, social behavior, mating and reproduction
4. Issues of conservation for endangered species and systems at Turneffe
5. Protected areas and marine mammals Student presentations
Labs:
1. Basic anatomy of the skull and skeleton of bottlenose dolphins, Antillean manatees, and loggerhead sea turtle.
2. Morphometrics-size, age, and sex differences
3. Functional morphology of dolphin and manatee skeletons
Fieldwork:
1. Field measurements and data collection
2. Transect analysis of animal abundance
3. Mapping field data in a Geographic Information System
4. Boat-based surveys for dolphins, manatees, seagrass assessment
Labs
Labs will be conducted in the station classroom after lunch on 3 field days, or on days when weather interferes with field work. Lab exercises will be completed and handed to the instructor by the following day at dinner.
Participation in the field
Each student will be assigned various data collection activities in the field, which will rotate to give each student a chance to experience them all. This will include searching for animals, data recording, GPS recording, and various types of environmental data recording.
Participation in discussions
Students will be encouraged to engage in discussions about the issues raised in lectures, labs, and field activities during all activities.
Location Description:
Blackbird Caye is approximately 90 minutes by motor vessel east of Belize City.
Operated by the Oceanic Society, the Blackbird Caye Field Station sits on a low sand and mangrove island archipelago within the barrier reef system of Belize. This is a remote tropical island with no medical facilities. A private airstrip is available for emergency evacuation.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Afternoon arrival. Travel by boat to Blackbird Caye, Turneffe Atoll. Dinner and settle in. Look around. 8:00PM Program orientation and overview. Safety.
Day 2 to 7
Lectures, Labs, Fieldwork.
Day 8
Recap, exam. Return by boat to Belize City.
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