Course Detail: TRV117 - Costa Rica Marine Biology and Turtle Research
This program is open only to Purdue University Fort Wayne graduate and senior advanced undergraduate students and high school students enrolled in BIO140 through PFW Dual Credit.
The trip involves a field lab experience in Costa Rica that is part of a larger course, Biology 140, "Introduction to Marine Biology." and takes place at the Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station in Playa Grande, Costa Rica.
During the program, students will help tag and identify turtles, record nest location, turtle size, turtle fecundity, and hatchling success according to nest site location. They will also have the opportunity to assist in the nesting and hatchery projects, as well as other research projects. These opportunities will vary depending on the field lab time and will include assisting in the hatchery project by excavating and transporting nests to the beach hatchery, helping out in studies of metabolism, digestion, growth of hatchlings, diving and behavioral physiology, or assisting in projects related to endocrinology, genetics, and the attachment of satellite, radio and sonic telemetry devices to monitor inter-nesting migrations. Students will also participate in two extensive field laboratories, taking marine transect inventories of local coral and rock-intertidal reffek.
Dr. Frank Paladino from Purdue Fort Wayne will lead the program. Together with Dr. Harold Avery from Drexel University, Dr. Paladino and others have conducted research and Earthwatch expeditions on site for the last 19 years. They have directed over 1500 participants in the project.
There are a number of scientific studies happening at different times of the season. Throughout the project there will be nighttime tagging and censusing of the nesting turtles as well as nest relocation and development of a hatchery. In addition, there will be hatching success studies during the day. Other major daytime activities include data entry and hatchery maintenance.
Travel Fees:
$1550 + tuition for 3 credit hours of BIO 140/BIO 434. Travel fees are subject to change until ticketing.
A non-refundable payment of $1550 is required by January 17, 2020.
All travelers must submit a completed PFW Travel Application and provide a copy of their passport to register. Please return the completed application by email to Jamie Fleming at jamie.fleming@pfw.edu
Purdue Fort Wayne Travel Application - Download Here
You may also mail the application to the following:
Purdue Fort Wayne
International Education
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Walb Union, Room G42A
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Please call Continuing Studies at 260-481-6619 for questions on making payments.
No Refunds Available. All payments are final.
