Category Archives: 2022

2022, Uncategorized

Pre-departure… Can’t Wait!

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I think a lot of what excites me about this trip is summed up in the name: Tropical Field Biology. Firstly, I am super excited about being out in the field, experiencing the tropics. Having read some of the past blogs and learning a bit about what the rainforest and coral reefs from our readings, I know that this is an unbelievable. opportunity to see and experience these incredible areas. However, what makes this even more exciting is that we will be seeing these places through a lense of Biology. Rather than just passively admiring  the rainforest and reefs as sightseers, we will get to study these areas and understand more of how they function. I hope that making meaning of what we are seeing through our understanding of biology will make our experience of these areas even more interesting and exciting!

That being said, I also realize that I shouldn’t expect this trip to be a ride on a merry-go-round. I don’t have much experience in the tropics, but I expect I will have to face a fair amount of physical discomfort, be it the bug bites, the heat, etc, and I also realize that this trip will entail a lot of hard work. However, I am hopeful that those challenges will be part of what makes this trip rewarding and meaningful. I think many times having to embrace and work through those things are what make memories all the more memorable!

But at the end of the day, I find that even in the process of writing this I am realizing that I don’t actually have a very good idea of what I should be expecting at all. But whatever comes, I hope that I learn lots, ride with the punches, and come away feeling like I made the most of it!

See you in Belize!

 

2022, Uncategorized

PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION & EXCITEMENT

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Hi my name is Maegan Aljure and I feel so excited and thankful to be part of Rice University’s first tropical field biology trip to Belize since the pandemic.

After reading about Belize’s fauna and flora, I expect to be amazed at biodiversity of creatures we encounter as well as admire the beauty of the rainforests at Las Cuevas Research Station and coral reefs at Glover’s Reef. I have lived on an atoll in the Marshall Islands for most of my childhood. This has enabled me to see many marine organisms while snorkeling, and has inspired me to continue to learn about these ecosystems and a desire to protect them. I am not familiar with many of the Caribbean species of fish, but I am excited to expand my current knowledge. I’m also thrilled about the opportunity to hike through the rainforest!

I researched beetles and hydroids for this trip. I have learned a lot about these creatures including the important roles they play in their ecosystems which as given me a new respect and love for these animals. Hydroids have stung me before in the ocean, but now I know that their goal is not to sting people- but to catch food.  I am very excited, but I am also nervous about lacking in field biology experience and I am worried about being overheated in the climate. I hope that the data I record in Belize will help me decide on my career path and contribute to current conservation efforts.  I am already packing all of my required supplies in anticipation for this amazing trip! I can’t wait to share all our experiences! I’ll see you all in Belize!

2022

Pre-Departure First Post!

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My name is Ava and I can’t wait for our trip to Belize!

I expect that I will see tons of interactions/animals/and things that I have learned about in my courses at Rice but never seen firsthand. After taking coral reef ecosystems this past semester, I am excited to witness some of the species we have discussed as well as many of the reef interactions we learned about (like maybe some reef diseases!). Likewise, I am excited to see lots of weird and interesting insects, maybe some of which I learned about in insect biology!

Mainly though this course, I am hoping to gain fieldwork skills in tricky environments. Most of my previous research has been in a lab, so I am very excited to spend lots of time in the field and start learning about the unique challenges fieldwork presents. I have never been to the tropics, so I am also excited to explore this habitat type for the first time!

I am sure the trip will be pretty exhausting, so I’ve been trying to rest up in preparation. That being said, I can’t wait to see and experience everything that Belize has to offer.

2022

Almost time to depart! (Day 0)

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It’s thrilling to think that in just 1 week, I will be on the shores of Glover Reef learning about the delicate coral reef ecosystem.  All summer, I have been reading up on and studying  Belizean reptiles, echinoderms, flora, illnesses, and traditional medicines, and I hope to put this knowledge to good use.  When I was younger, I visited many tropical countries like Costa Rica, Belize, Bonaire, Honduras, and Peru, yet I’ve never gone on a research-based trip. Therefore, I’m excited to revisit Belize and develop a newfound appreciation for the Mayan forest’s biodiversity.

Admittedly, I am a little nervous about lionfish, venomous snakes, mosquitos, and ants. Belize has 8 different types of venomous snakes, and although they all have antivenoms, I still don’t want to get bitten by accident. Also, tropical mosquitos like the Aedes aegypti carry tons of illnesses that I would hate to host. However, I’m sure that we can avoid any dangerous interactions with proper equipment and vigilance! I think the only non-environmental concern I have is being able to identify my taxa. I’m so worried that something may pop up, and I’ll have no clue what it is. I can only hope my Taxon cards are enough!

My goals for the trip are as follows:

  1.  Find a Holcosus festivus aka the Central American Whiptail. Whiptail lizards are my favorite species and their colorful variants are only found in tropical areas
  2.  Find a West Indian Sea Egg (Tripneustes ventricosus) and name them “Fuzzy”
  3. Identify a few traditional medicine plants, and maybe use one if it is safe. (For context, medicine is a niche interest of mine)
  4. Learn about the tropical bats in Belize and how they differ from “old-world bats”
  5. Gain research experience and better understand  how research is conducted:  the environment, tasks, etc.
  6. Better understand the Ecology and Bioscience fields (my major!!!) as a whole

I’m most excited to see the wide variety of fauna and walk through the rainforest. The ocean is great and all, but as a Floridian and an experienced diver, I have already visited very diverse reefs. So, I am way more excited to be immersed in an unfamiliar ecosystem like the jungle. Also, the professors keep mentioning cave systems and Las Cuevas, and caves mean my favorite animals, BATS!!! Lastly, I’m hoping to get some great photos to paint when I get back in July.

Even though it’s a week away, I’ve been studying, planning, preparing, and packing , so my suitcase is already stacked for adventure!

Wish me luck, because the next time you will hear from me I’ll be in the tropics! Till then!!!

I’ve had this suitcase packed for weeks now, slowly adding to the collection as gear came in the mail!!!

-Faith