Diamondback Terrapins of Barnegat Bay

  United States

Philadelphia

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: see website for details

Description: With the coastal sprawl of New Jersey's Ocean County bearing down on beautiful Barnegat Bay, this is a rare opportunity to contribute to environmental sustainability in the face of rampant development. Working from a motorized boat, your team will help capture, tag, and track terrapins in their rich estuary environment. You'll monitor turtle nests on marsh island beaches, measure sound disturbance, and collect samples and temperature data to determine preferred habitat. Later teams will mark and tag hatchlings and determine hatching success. In your recreational time, you may choose to canoe in the spectacular Pine Barrens (one of the most unique and undeveloped ecosystems in the northeastern U.S.), visit Old Barney (one of North America's most photographed lighthouses located on Long Beach Island), snorkel for invertebrates or take a swim at Island Beach State Park.

Your team will stay at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education, situated on 180 acres of undeveloped coastal habitat, with beautiful views of Barnegat Bay and opportunities to explore some of the last remaining natural scenery of the New Jersey shore. The center provides double rooms, air conditioning, laundry facilities, a computer lab, lounge, and shared bathrooms with hot showers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be catered by a local chef and served in the dining room.

Highlights: Barnegat Bay, New Jersey -- Arguably the world's most attractive and colorful turtles, diamondback terrapins are the only U.S. turtles that inhabit the brackish waters of estuaries, tidal creeks, and salt marshes. With a historic range stretching from Massachusetts to Texas, terrapin populations have been severely depleted by land development and other human impacts along the Atlantic coast. Veteran Earthwatch turtle scientists Drs. Hal Avery, Jim Spotila, Walter Bien and Ed Standora are determining the viability of terrapin populations in the face of growing environmental change. You can help these researchers in the rich, brackish waters of Barnegat Bay Estuary, an ecologically important salt marsh ecosystem along the mid-Atlantic coast and a special oasis of coastal biodiversity.

Cost in US$: 1,846

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: 18-93

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to United States Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971