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In addition to the nest identification activity, trash clean ups were conducted along the beach in 2015 in order to track plastic and microplastic. A total of 68% of the garbage collected was plastics sized less than 2.5 cm in diameter, 18% was large plastic pieces and 9% was fishing materials such as pieces of string and nylon; the remaining percentage was personal hygiene, clothing, paper, metal, and cigarette butts. Protecting the Green Sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) Through Citizen Science and Environmental Education in a Public Site on Santa Cruz (Galapagos Islands) 1Lady Marquez, 1Juan Sebastian Torres, 1Ana María Loose, 2 Macarena Parra, 3Valeria Tamayo, 3Maria Fernanda Arce, 3 Eduardo Espinoza 1Ecology Project International, 2 Fundación Charles Darwin, 3Parque Nacional Galápagos www.ecologyproject.org INTRODUCTION The Galapagos Islands are recognized as one of the most important nesting sites of the green sea turtle (C. mydas) in the eastern Pacific. The Galapagos National Park (GNP) has made efforts for the conservation of the green sea turtle through its monitoring program at the most important nesting sites: Quinta Playa and Bahia Barahona, located south of Isabela and Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island. However, it is fundamental to involve the local community in the protection of this emblematic species through environmental education programs that raise awareness on the efforts made to protect this species worldwide. In addition, environmental education is an important tool for the conservation of the species, since it enables the expansion of knowledge about animal ecology and promotes favorable attitudes towards environmental conservation actions. Although the GNP and Marine Reserve have been protected, several threats remain important to acknowledge for the Galapagos green sea turtles. Wild cats regularly frequent nesting beaches to feed on hatchings. In addition, activities such as tourism, traffic and fishing vessels on important foraging and nesting sites post a threat to this particular species. In 2013, the GNP and Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) together with Ecology Project International (EPI), through its Ecology Club Mola Mola performed for the first time an environmental education program to protect the green sea turtle nestling site at a public site located on Santa Cruz Island. The aim of this program was to promote local community participation on conservation efforts, particularly concerning green sea turtle nest protection, through an environmental education program. Students were accompanied by CDF and GNP technical staff. The beach was patroled during the early hours (7:30AM to 10:00AM) of the day to ensure that all nests were encountered through turtle footprints identification. In addition, night patrols were conducted to observe signs of hatching emergence through fresh tracks. Nests were excavated after the first signs of hatching emergence to estimate hatching and emergence success. Not all nests were excavated, because some were lost due to beach erosion, inundation, or could not be located as no hatchling tracks were observed. Emerged nests were excavated approximately 50 days after oviposition and if hatching signs were observed. From the nests that were excavated, the contents were removed and all hatched and unhatched eggs were counted. Unhatched eggs were opened and their content was recorded in order to calculate percent hatching success and percent emerge success. Additionally, trash clean ups were conducted along the beach in order to track plastic and microplastic, items that post a threats to this and other marine animals. Photos 2 & 3. Unhatched eggs were opened and their content was recorded MATERIALS AND METHODS A BSTRACT The Galapagos National Park (GNP) has made efforts for the conservation of the green sea turtle through its monitoring program at the most important nesting sites: Quinta Playa and Bahia Barahona, located south of Isabela and Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island. However, it is fundamental to involve the local community in the protection of this emblematic species through environmental education programs that raise awareness on the efforts made to protect this specie worldwide. Ecology Project International (EPI) through its Ecology club Mola Mola composed of 20 local students in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park and Charles Darwin Foundation had performed an environmental education program and citizen sicence to protect the green sea turtle ( C. mydas), involving local youth to participate in data collection and data analysis to increase the knowledge of the biology, ecology and threats of this emblematic specie. In addition, through this project local youth could increase their knowledge of the current nesting status of the green sea turtle on a public site (Tortuga Bay) and offer an unique educational experience in which local youth monitor this emblematic specie in a public site. The green sea turtle environmental program raised awareness on a total of 12 local students in 2013, 14 in 2014 and 33 in 2015, respectively. In 2014, a total of 52 nests were identified, while in 2015, a total of 46. Of the total of 46 nests identified in 2015, 81% (n=35) were reach by the tide, 14% (n=6) presented signs of feral cats and 5% showed signs of ants around the nest. In addition to the nest identification activity, trash clean ups were carried out along the beach in 2015. A total of 68% of the garbage collected were plastic items sized less than 2.5 cm in diameter, 18% were plastic lids and 9% fishing materials such as pieces of string and nylon; the remaining percentage was personal hygiene, clothing, paper, metal and cigarette butts. RESULTS The green sea turtle environmental program raised awareness on green sea turtle conservation with a total of 14 local students in 2014 and 33 in 2015. In 2014, a total of 52 nests were identified, while in 2015, a total of 46. Of the total of 46 nests identified in 2015, 81% (n=35) were reached by the tide, 14% (n=6) presented signs of feral cats and 5% showed signs of ants around the nest. Large plastic pieces Microplastics Other Materials 68% 14% 18% STUDY SITE The green sea turtle environmental program was conducted in Tortuga Bay beach, located about 1.55 miles from Puerto Ayora. The project was carried out for two months during the nesting season - March to May in 2014 and April to May in 2015. T HREATS TO GREEN S EA T URTLES DUE TO MARINE DEBRIS Table 4. Two year comparison of the total marked nests and causes of loss or de- struction Table 3. Two year comparison of hatching and emergence success of green sea turtle 90.41% 90.04% 80% 80.5% Hatching Success Emergence Success Percent Success 2014 2015 Success Rate Averages 2014 2015 Average eggs per nest 65 71 Number of nests 55 46 Estimated neonates production 3217 1279 Table 2. Two year comparison of hatching and emergence success of green sea turtle Table 1. Two year comparison of the total marked nests and causes of loss or destruction 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 2014 2015 Encounters Destroyed by the tide Destroyed by human impact Signs of ants Signs of cats 55 46 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 60 80 100 40 20 0 18 35 4 3 0 0 HATCHING AND EMERGENCE RATES NEST THREATS COMPARISON 2 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to thank Ecology Project International, Galapagos National Park, Charles Darwin Foundation, US. Fish and Wildlife Service, Whitley Fund for Nature, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Sociedad Nacional de Pesquería and World Wildlife Fund, which contributed in some way to our participation in the symposium.
