Volunteers sought for sea turtle study

GULF BREEZE — Gulf Islands National Seashore seeks volunteers who want to participate in a study to learn how human-made light affects sea turtles.

An informational session is set 6 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Park Headquarters Auditorium at the Naval Live Oaks Area, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze. Volunteer positions are open to the public.

Volunteers will assist with the Turtle T.H.i.S (Teens Helping in the Seashore) citizen science project. They will investigate how sea turtle site selection in adults and disorientation in hatchlings could be related to the manufactured and natural light present around the seashore. Through the project, participants collect ambient light data to create a light profile of the beaches in and around Gulf Islands National Seashore.  They also take these measurements at sea turtle nest sites and hatch locations during the nesting season.

Volunteers will learn how to conduct field and monitoring work, enter and organize data, communicate with a variety of stakeholders about sea turtle conservation, observe sea turtle hatches, and gain many other experiences that occur within a national park.

Training will be available; a scientific background is not necessary. Email guis_information@nps.gov for more information.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Volunteers sought for sea turtle study