During the Útila Island Experiential Learning Course, I was able to take a deep dive into field research and conservation biology. 

As an avid birdwatcher and wildlife photographer, being immersed in a field biology study really gave me a deep perspective into what I truly enjoy about being surrounded by nature.  It was amazing to be able to develop a research project from start to finish, producing a paper and a presentation by the end of the trip.  My project was focused on studying the population dynamics of the critically endangered Útila spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) and analyzing the impacts that humans have had on the species over the past decade. 

Specifically, I analyzed the sex ratio of the species, which has been altered by human hunting patterns in recent years.  Humans like to hunt gravid, or egg-bearing females, skewing the population male and increasing aggressive male competition or mating behaviors.  This female-biased harvesting additionally decreases genetic diversity, which is crucially important for this endangered species. 

During my time on the island, I was able to find a positive trend in the sex ratio over the past few years, pointing to potential success of conservation attempts that seek to reduce poaching of C. bakeri.  This really exciting discovery brought to a close a truly rewarding experience, and I would love to engage with opportunities like this again in the future.