FGCU’s Matt Ware collaborated with state agencies to give students experience surveying sea turtle nests in Cayo Costa State Park and Don Pedro Island State Park. The team identified loggerhead and green sea turtle crawls, excavated nests post-hatching, recorded data on egg viability and hatchling success, and monitored predator threats, water levels, and light pollution. They also responded to injured or dead turtles washed ashore.

“We like these nice pristine beaches. So do sea turtles. We like fishing offshore for fun and for food. The sea turtles use those same resources for a lot of the same purposes,” says Ware says. “Having healthy ecosystems provides a lot of services to us as a society … clean air, clean water, recreational opportunities. When we can provide a healthy system for turtles, we’re also providing a healthy system for ourselves.”

• Matt Ware