Important Multi-species Marine Sighting Survey of Golfo Dulce

Posted by Kory 1 COMMENT

In the months of January and February this year, Friends of the Osa hosted Brooke Bessesen to conduct an important baseline survey of the marine fauna that inhabit the Golfo Dulce. The project was funded by a Greg Gund Memorial Fellowship.

Because the gulf is actually a tropical fjord, one of only four in the world, there is very little mixing of its waters with those of the neighboring Pacific Ocean. This characteristic makes the gulf waters, and subsequently all of the Golfo Dulce’s marine plant and animal life, highly sensitive to physical and chemical changes.

Breeding Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

This report is very important for the conservation of Golfo Dulce as it is the first time that anybody has systematically documented what species frequent these waters and their movements.

From the report:

“Golfo Dulce remains a locale of intense biological interest and through sound research and protective strategies it may continue to be one of Costa Rica’s most important and vibrant marine habitats. Further studies are required to more fully understand the ecology of this unique embayment. While data analysis did not allow precise population estimates for the species studied, it is hoped the information secured by this pilot sighting survey expands knowledge about which species utilize Golfo Dulce and which areas they frequent, providing some framework for future researchers seeking to investigate individual species with greater precision.

We also hope this baseline data will support new and improved measures of in situ conservation. Though overall wildlife populations seem to be in decline, public desire for conscientious stewardship of remaining biodiversity and environmental resources increases the potential to attain ecological stability in Golfo Dulce. International support, strong national environmental policy and local enforcement regulations are all required to guarantee the protection of Golfo Dulce through prudent eco-management.”

Creating a base of scientific knowledge and understanding about the Golfo Dulce will be critical in opposing projects such as tuna farms and marinas that will have a detrimental impact on this sensitive ecosystem.

Portuguese Man o' War (Physalia sp.)

Read the entire report on Friends of the Osa’s website. We thank Brooke again for her ongoing contributions to Osa conservation. She has been a sea turtle conservation volunteer and has authored another scientific paper with our Piro Research Center manager, Guido Saborio, about feeding behavior of the vesper rat.