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Turtles: Exploring data tracking turtle movements

Integrating Digital Technologies
Years 5-6; 7-8

DT+ HASS; DT+ Science


By gathering data on marine turtles, scientists have evidence that helps them work out where turtles migrate and the journeys they take. Scientists can then help to reduce the threats to the turtles’ survival. In this lesson we look at satellite tracking using real scientific data. Explore ways to model, interpret, represent and present data.

This lesson was created and developed in partnership with Pawsey Supercomputing Centre and Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) Kimberley Marine Research Program.. Turtle data was sourced from the WAMSI project, which is funded by the Western Australian State Government and research partners. Data is licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 AU licence.



Turtle with tracker on its shell

Image credit: USFWS Photo/Alamy Stock Photo


Suggested steps

  1. Use a quiz to stimulate interest in marine turtles and discussion of some key concepts.
  2. Use a suitable learning hook to engage students in analysing and interpreting real data about marine turtles. Here are some ideas:
    • Where on a map of Australia would you expect to see marine turtles in the wild? Where do they go and what do they do there?
    • Use a relevant resource such as Marine turtles in Australia to show images of different turtle species. Discuss what students know about turtle habitats, conservation status (vulnerable/endangered) and the cultural and social values of turtles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. to show images of different turtle species and discuss what students know about their habitat, conservation status (vulnerable/endangered) and cultural and social values of turtles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
    • Ask students to hand draw a picture of a turtle thinking about its features and how these features help it survive.
      Compare their drawings to an image of a turtle or draw on some inspiration from these 3D models:
  3. Discuss the work of scientists who work in conservation, surveying populations to ensure relevant data is collected, analysed and used to inform management strategies. Refer to career profiles for Sabrina Fossette of the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and Blair Bentley, a postdoctoral researcher.

    Sabrina Fossette

    Blair Bentley

  4. Discuss satellite tracking (satellite telemetry), a form of data collection used by scientists. Provide FAQ’s sheet: Satellite Tracking for more information or teacher background. Sea turtles are migratory animals and the satellite tracking data provides a view of where they go and how long their journeys take. It gives students an opportunity to learn about GPS data (longitude and latitude) and how the two points of longitude and latitude can give us an exact location on Earth.
    5. Turtle with tracker on its shell

    Image credit: USFWS Photo/Alamy Stock Photo

  5. Provide a simplified dataset to plot on a map with longitude and latitude grid references. Use the worksheet Northern Australia map developed by seaturtle.org. Students can infer a turtle’s direction of travel and indicate this on their map using arrows or other representation. They can also use the grid scale of 500 km to estimate the distance covered. Note that the first five map references from the table will not fit within the map grid references (115–150).
    tag_id date latitude longitude
    76034a 24/01/2008 19:32 -22.142 113.728
    76034a 31/01/2008 19:47 -22.277 113.823
    76034a 6/02/2008 22:09 -22.3 113.757
    76034a 13/02/2008 2:02 -22.21 112.707
    76034a 20/02/2008 21:38 -22.319 113.804
    76034a 27/02/2008 21:17 -21.128 115.137
    76034a 1/03/2008 14:43 -20.14 115.704
    76034a 27/03/2008 15:10 -15.314 123.166
    76034a 3/04/2008 5:52 -14.175 124.57
    76034a 10/04/2008 6:22 -12.642 126.599
    76034a 17/04/2008 18:02 -11.438 128.559
    76034a 25/04/2008 22:56 -10.982 130.781
    76034a 3/05/2008 5:42 -10.86 132.771
    76034a 10/05/2008 18:28 -10.374 134.917
    76034a 14/05/2008 15:02 -10.197 136.583
    76034a 25/05/2008 9:23 -9.84 140.047
    76034a 1/06/2008 4:01 -10.434 141.259
    76034a 8/06/2008 15:35 -10.348 141.222
    76034a 18/06/2008 15:30 -10.285 141.156
    76034a 24/06/2008 12:50 -10.309 141.434
    76034a 26/06/2008 15:58 -10.297 141.325

  6. Compare students’ manually plotted map with the same data, imported as a csv file, into an online map such as Google My Maps. Do this as a class, on a large screen, as a way to introduce them to the basics of online mapping software. By rolling over each icon, determine the date of the plotting, and infer the direction of a turtle’s journey. Use the onscreen ruler to measure the distance travelled. (The turtle starts at Exmouth in Western Australia and travels along the coast to around Thursday Island in Queensland, taking approximately 6 months a distance of over 3,500km).

    Loggerhead turtle satellite tracking data mapped on Google My Maps.

    Turtle tracking via Google Maps

    Image credit: Map © Google LLC

  7. Provide students with four spreadsheets to map using online mapping software such as Google My Maps (this requires students to have their own Gmail account). Alternative online mapping software include National Map and Google Earth. National Map is a simple tool to visualise data. Google Earth allows users to render a 3D representation of Earth, viewing data from different angles.

    You can import your own data which is ideal for our purpose. All you need is data with columns organised into latitiude and longititude as these are the headings that the mapping software recognises. Data is provided in two formats: csv and kml.

    Note that the Ningaloo Loggerhead turtle – Nicki 76034 data displayes best in Google My Maps.

    Turtle tracking via National Maps

  8. Share students’ analysis of the different species’ migratory data. A scientist’s description has been provided for background with a website link to show how the map should look.

  9. Ask students to do some further research and create an infographic about turtle conservation incorporating the data they used in their online mapping.

Discussion

Digital Technology focus

  • How can GPS data and satellite tracking help scientist survey a marine population?
  • What is the benefit of using this type of data?
  • How did you validate the data? Did any data appear incorrect or an error? How did you know it was an error?

Science focus

  • What factors affect the turtle population?
  • What do the migrating turtles do at different locations?

HASS focus

  • What economic activity may affect a turtle’s migration pattern?

Why is this relevant?

In Digital Technologies, students need to interpret data. To do this it helps to organise the data in some way; for example, in a table under relevant headings. In this spreadsheet, GPS data is provided as longitude and latitude. Students can visualise the data using online mapping software, and can look for patterns or trends. When presenting data to reveal information, students can use these to convey meaning.

This lesson integrates scientific and geographic understanding and skills.

  • In science, students use their ICT capability to access information; analyse and represent data; model and interpret concepts and relationships; and communicate science ideas, processes and information.
  • In HASS, students develop ICT capability when they locate, select, evaluate, communicate and share geographical information using digital technologies and they learn to use spatial technologies.

Resources

Datasets (csv format)


3D modelling


Online mapping software

Curriculum

Whole-school approaches

Lessons and ideas

Assessment

Inclusive curriculum

Professional learning

Technologies resourcing

Families

Related careers

Coding and games