Rainer von Brandis
Source: People & the Planet [1]
February 4, 2010

Better known for the aesthetic qualities of its shell than for the role it plays in maintaining coral reef ecosystems, the hawksbill sea turtle is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. In view of this status, hawksbills have been the focus of numerous research projects in recent years, and while much has been learned about them when nesting, studying them in their aquatic environment has proven far more challenging.

Sea turtles underwater are difficult to locate and extremely wary, and often the only reward for researchers is a glimpse of one swimming off into the blue. Their natural behaviour, feeding methods, prey preferences, social interactions and impact on their environment are therefore still largely a mystery.

To read the full text of the article, click here [2].