Catching rays: a research experience in Costa Rica 

"Spending the summer of 2024 with the NSF-IRES Costa Rica program, Baylen Ratliff wasn’t just catching rays of sunshine. He spent three weeks in Costa Rica observing estuary rays, exploring coral reef ecology, and recording humpback whale songs. The NSF-funded program took place in Santa Elena Bay, located on the northwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica, a Central American country known for its biodiversity, both in its vibrant rainforests and sparkling waters. Baylen, a UW Marine Biology senior, shared his four-week research experience with us, from what he worked on, new skills he learned, and how he found out about the opportunity."
Students will generate detailed monitoring data, that will be used to assess the factors shaping the ray community in the Santa Elena Bay and inform national conservation planning.

Ecology of rays at Santa Elena Bay

Dr. Espinoza is a leading shark ecologist in Costa Rica that uses multiple technologies to study the distribution, abundance and movement of sharks and rays inside and outside marine protected areas. This theme of the program will be led by him and Dr. Easton White. Students will received training in the use of a wide range of techniques, including baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS), underwater visual surveys (UVS), scientific fishing sampling (e.g. bottom long-lines, beach seines and rod-reel), environmental monitoring (temperature and dissolved oxygen sensors) and acoustic telemetry.

Coral reef health in Santa Elena

Because climate change is expected to increase the frequency and strength of natural disturbances, documenting the current status of coral reef communities and their threats is essential to identify critical habitats, and to establish successful coral restoration projects that preserve ecosystem function and maintain species diversity. ​Students in this program will work with Dr. Alvarado and his students to gather detailed information on coral reef structure using soundscape monitoring, conventional visual surveys, and photomosaic data. These are cost-effective tools that allows to measure long-term changes in reef-building coral communities
Students will generate a collection of oceanographic and coral reefs monitoring data that can inform models to assess the short- and long-term impacts of abiotic and biotic factors in the Santa Elena Bay’s coral reef communities and inform national conservation planning.
Students will generate estimations of underwater ambient noise levels in different type of habitats, estimate the contribution of boat engine noise to the overall soundscape, and to generate a collection of recordings from fish and cetaceans that can be used to assess their temporal and spatial presence as well as their response to ambient noise leves. Together the data will inform ongoing efforts to regulate noise levels in critical marine habitats in Costa Rica

Underwater Noise and Whales 

In Costa Rican coastal waters, the rapid increase of boat-based whale watching activities and associated noise levels is thought to be the most important factor impacting coastal cetacean’s habitat. Santa Elena is one of the few spots where cetaceans are still communicating in a relatively low noise environment. Students in this program will work with Dr. May-Collado and her students to program and deploy bottom-based passive acoustic monitoring stations and directional recording systems from the research boat to study the soundscape of  cetaceans to boat traffic and other anthropogenic noises.