Sea Turtle Monitoring (April 08)

This week saw the continuation of the Sea Turtle Monitoring program at Glovers Reef, with WCS’s Dr Cathi Campbell back on the atoll to lead the search. The monitoring started in April 2007, running three times per year and is a joint effort by the Belize Fisheries Dept. and WCS to find out more about Sea Turtles’ use of Glovers as a feeding, reproduction & recruitment ground. This phase of monitoring spotted 49 turtles, of which 24 were caught and tagged, and 1 of which was a recaptured turtle tagged in the September 07 phase. Initial data seems to suggest that Glovers Reef is a vital habitat for juvenile Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) less than 40cm in length. Large loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) are seen between March-July and known to nest on the cayes of Glovers, but in dwindling numbers over recent years. The next phase of monitoring will take place in July of this year.

 

Species List for Glovers created (April 08)

A class project conducted by Marine Biology students and faculty from California State University, Long Beach has resulted in the generation of a species list for Glovers Reef Lagoon. The species list is now available on this site, and will form the base document for continued categorization of all species encountered within the Glovers Reef Atoll system. Substantiated additions and corrections are gratefully received by the station manager (grmrs@wcs.org)  

 

SeagrassNet Belize 2008 (April 08)

GRRS recently hosted the 2008 Belize SeagrassNet training workshop, run by Dr Aaren Freeman (UNH) and Tino Chi (UBC). SeagrassNet is the global monitoring network that investigates and documents the status of seagrass resources worldwide, and the threats to this important and imperilled marine ecosystem. Participants from WCS, TIDE, TASTE, SWEET and BAS came together to learn the monitoring techniques necessary to continue sampling for 10 sites in Belize. For more information see www.seagrassnet.org

 

 Seismic surveys unearth Glovers geological past (March 08)

A recent research expedition led by Gregor Eberli of the Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, RSMAS and Flavio Anselmetti of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & Technology (Eawag) conducted seismic surveys over Glovers Reef lagoon and patch reefs. Preliminary results show that the majority of Holocene reefs initiated on Pleistocene topographic highs, suggesting that topographic highs are favourable sites for reef initiation and that Pleistocene topography exerts some degree of control of Holocene reef morphology. Work will continue later in the year using cores to try to elucidate the influence of this topography on coral assemblage.

 

This season’s monitoring of the spawning aggregation of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) on Glovers Reef’s northeast point has recorded a slight increase in numbers from previous years. The maximum count this season was estimated at 1100 fish, compared to 800 last year.  We hope that this trend of increasing numbers will continue in future years as a result of the special patrols at the spawning grounds recently instituted by the Belize Fisheries Dept. and supported by WCS; the general strengthening of enforcement by marine reserve staff and the assistance they receive from fishers equipped with radios through a WCS-funded project; and the informal agreement by the Sarteneja fishermen to cease spearfishing of E. striatus.   

 

New Summer Conservation Program (Feb 08)

In summer 2008 WCS-Marine will team up with Sail Caribbean to engage energetic high school students in marine conservation and fieldwork here at the Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station in Belize. Sail Caribbean is a well regarded summer adventure camp for teenagers that has been offering sailing, SCUBA, and community service camps in the Caribbean for more than 25 years.  Teens will take classes covering species interconnectivity, biodiversity, and climate change, and will identify, count, and tag sea turtles as part of the Glover’s Reef Sea Turtle Monitoring Project. The curriculum will be led by WCS’s own Dr Cathi Campbell of the Nicaragua Sea Turtle program, and Alex Tilley, the station manager.  Sail Caribbean has pledged its commitment to sponsor several Belizean students to encourage a local conservation ethic, and pride in their country’s natural resources, which also creates an enhanced cultural exchange experience for American teens. For more information go to www.sailcaribbean.com.     

 

Hurricane Season Closure (Jan 08)

In order to reduce the costs and upheaval of station operation through the Hurricane season, it has been proposed that GRRS will close for the months of September and October, 2008. If any researcher has been planning to conduct research around this period, please contact the station manager immediately to enquire as to exact dates of closure (grmrs@wcs.org).