This morning we went out for our first snorkel! It was hardly a real snorkel, we really just dipped our flippers in the water and tested our new gear out. But still, it was a great time and I was reminded of how sensitive my eyes are to salt water!
(some pretty shells by the room)
In the afternoon, we set off for a deeper look into our taxa in the reef, and I got to see a lot of my piscivorous fish out in the wild! I saw several yellow jack swimming among sea roads, some black groupers near the floor by some dead corals, and also a Nassau grouper hanging out in a little creviceby the bottom of the reef. It was really exciting to see the fish after researching them before this trip.
Later on, some of us got dressed up to take pictures on the dock!
KODAK Digital Still Camera
This evening, we heard taxon presentations on angelfish, damselfish, and I did my topic lecture on the evolution and ecology of damselfish. I think the trickiest part of this week will be limiting my sun exposure, as I really do not want to get cooked on the trip.
Today we set off for the reef! The boat ride from mainland Belize to Glover’s was so breathtaking and only a bit choppy in the middle. As soon as we got off the boat it felt like we were transported to a magical, new place. We got to just hang out a bit in the evening before dinner and presentations, which highlighted parrotfish, soft corals, and then a lecture on the ecology and evolution of parrotfish.
It was cool to learn about the hormonal mechanisms in parrotfish that cause them to transition from females into males if needed. Apparently, they also sleep for nearly 10 hours every day in a mucus bubble that protects them from potential predators.
The soft corals presentation really highlighted all of the soft corals we will be seeing in the upcoming days, which is getting me hyped for all of the snorkeling to come!
I have not seen any cockroaches on the island so far, and since we have not snorkeled yet I cannot report anything on my reef taxon. I have seen some insane crabs, though! The land crabs are so terrifying, I had no idea there would be so many of them or that they would be this large. I wish that they didn’t always hang out by the showers at night but it seems they are relatively harmless, just a bit terrifying.
The ATM cave was literally one of the coolest things I’ve ever done! It will be difficult to even describe what we just did since it was so unique and we couldn’t take any pictures, but seriously, if any future TFBs are reading this post, this travel day absolutely will not disappoint.
The entrance to the cave looks like a mermaid’s lagoon-just this beautiful stone arch shrouded in the natural flora of Belize with crystal waters gushing out of the inner cave. When we entered, I could hardly believe my eyes it was so magical. The cave ceiling was so high and the conditions inside the cave were so pleasant it barely felt real. As we traversed deeper into the cave, my fascination only continued to grow. We made our way though narrow passages and natural springs of water while learning about the ancient Maya people and their beliefs surrounding the cave. I 100% understand why they would have thought this cave had some deep connection to spirituality and specifically the underworld, especially knowing that all of their rituals in the cave involved some form of drugs and alcohol.
When we got to the largest room in the cave, our guide explained what researchers believed about the Maya remains we could observe. All of the pottery they left behind had serious meaning and I saw the reflections on the cave walls that they believed to be their gods. If all of this were not already crazy enough, seeing the full human skeleton in the cave certainly pushed the experience over the edge. At the time when the Maya were using the ATM cave, they were living through a mini ice-age when there was no rain for their crops. So, they started making human sacrificed to appease their gods out of desperation. They first started with adult sacrifices, then teenagers, then children, and finally infants when nothing worked. It was very grounding to learn about what lengths people will go to in times of absolute despair.
When we made our way out of the cave, we had to pass through some extremely narrow, tight spots, which honestly made me a bit nervous at times. Even though I knew that I was safe the entire time, sliding down some of the rocks and squeezing through those spaces was unsettling. It made a lot of sense to me why only a few Maya would enter the cave at a time. Besides it being a sacred ritual that only a few were aloud to partake in, it would be extremely stressful to go through that cave with no modern safety measures and a village including young children and elderly.
Tonight we made it to the Belize Zoo and got a personal tour after sunset. It was really awesome to see jaguars, puma, margay, and a Belizean porcupine up close. I’ve seen a few cockroaches around the premises including one green cockroach (panchlora nivea) flying around a source of light and two oriental cockroaches in the shower. I also may have seen a smoky-brown cockroach scurrying around near the bathroom sink.
This morning, we went out to collect our camera traps in the rainforest. We also learned about ant lion caterpillars and saw their homes underneath the lodging of the research station.
This afternoon, we went through double the usual amount of presentations, since tomorrow willbe our travel day. Overall, we learned about Fungi & Lichen, rainforest mammals, diseases and parasites, hard corals, sponges, and coral reef frameworks. I will include a little about what I learned from each of them.
For fungi and lichen, I learned about some cool different species. Turkey tail fungi are concave, fan-like, brown-grey in color, and grow in shelf-like clusters. The common tree oyster is concave, fan-like, solid, white-grey/brown, and also grows in shelf-like clusters. Common puffballs are convex, pear-like, solid white, have internal reproductive structures, grow individually, and are attached to decaying wood. The common green-shield lichen are foliose, have round lobes, grow loose to bark, and are light-green to yellow in their coloration. The common southern soldiers lichen have red reproductive structures, are generalists, and are usually green to grey in color. The asterisk lichen are small, tight and crowded in their growth patterns, and are often star-shaped. I also learned that lichen can grow on nearly anything, even a glass bottle!
On rainforest mammals, I learned that they all have lightweight bones and flexible joints. Some of the most interesting species discussed included the jaguar, margay, procionidae, and coatimundi. The jaguar is South America’s largest cat and is the apex predator of the jungle. It is very muscular, has a distinctive pattern on its fur, and apparently there are around 400 that live in the Chiquibul rainforest. The margay are small, noctournal cats with a distinctly rounded head, large eyes, and a very long tail that climb head-first down trees. The procionidae family includes racoons and they are distinctive for their elongated bodies and shortened legs. The coatimundi is diurnal, have long, pointed snouts, and tails that are nearly half of their body length. Mammals are essential for seed dispersal and pollination in the rainforest. Also, bats are the only winged mammals in the rainforest. It was really cool to learn about all of these mammals, so far the only ones I have seen are goutti in the garden and bats in the rafters.
The diseases and parasites lecture was really fascinating and it made me very glad that I had my Malaria meds with me. Apparently malaria has been in decline and dengue fever has been on the rise based on recent studies. Yet, we also learned that malaria cases are widely under-reported, and many more people get the disease than most numbers suggest. There were several other diseases highlighted in the lecture, but the main takeaway for me was to wear bugspray consistently and light layers whenever I’m in the rainforest.
The hard corals presentation was a fun change of pace since it was the first reef lecture we’ve had to far! Corals are the backbone of the reef ecosystem and are comprised of groups of polyps. They have tentacles and are often engaged in symbiotic relationships with algae species. Also, they are all capable of stinging!! I already knew that some coral were venomous, but I had no idea that they were all dangerous, which is important to know before getting there.
Sponges are quite simple organisms but it was cool to learn a bit more about them. As an organism, sponges’ living strategy is working as a conglomerate of cells together, each cell processing oxygen and CO2 and discharging waste into the sea. They can reproduce sexually or asexually, with there being some tradeoffs for each method. For sexual reproduction, sponges will bud, which results in no genetic diversity, and they cannot get very far, but it is safer and more reliable than sexual reproduction. Sponges may participate in sexual reproduction if their own environment is in danger and they need their offspring to go further.
The final presentation on coral reef frameworks taught me a lot about the overall diversity of the coral reef. There are a lot of destructive forces that can harm reefs, and they are an extremely delicate ecosystem.
Looking through our camera trap photos this evening did not disappoint at all! My camera honestly captured
one of the best photos with a puma strolling down the path!
Tonight, we had a little campfire in the rainforest and had a great time reflecting on our highs and lows of the trip so far. I said that catching the puma on my camera was definitely a high, and that findings all of those cockroaches in my bed on night 3 was a low. It was lovely to just stop for a moment and reflect with everyone on how special this trip has been.
KODAK Digital Still Camera
Tomorrow we will depart and make our way to the ATM caves! So I’m (hopefully) off for an early bedtime.
Morning cave expedition!! This morning, I got the chance to finally do a bit of laundry while the first round of TFBs went into the Las Cuevas cave system. Afterwards, we quickly set off to collect our pitfall traps, wanting to waste no time. Around 11:30am we returned with the traps and began the presentations for the day.
The first presentation focused on bees, and I learned a few things that made me less afraid! So many of the bees here are actually stingless, or not aggressive. There are a few species that have been Africanized and are actually quite aggressive with stingers, but for the most part it sounds like they are not out to get me.
We also learned about arachnids, one fun fact was that the red rump tarantula can be crushed and combined with alcohol and herbs to treat muscular dystrophy!
(Lizard caught by the cave)
So, going over the results from our pitfall trap experiment was honestly quite gross. It smelled awful by the sink and I felt so bad for Sam, who had to go through all of the samples and identify the (pee-covered) ants, which was unsurprisingly the most common taxon caught in the traps. I made the drawing for our poster methods which was quite fun!
This evening, we hiked to the bird tower for sunset! It was absolutely unreal seeing the rainforest from that vantage point. I just couldnt believe how lucky I was to be up there taking it all in with th other TFBs.
Once the sun had gone down on our hike back, I think I saw a few cockroaches come out! I definitely saw a few of the brown-banded cockroach, or supella longipalpa, hiding around some bark and leaves on the way back to Las Cuevas, and I think I may have also spotted a peppered roach, too!
This morning we analyzed results from our cecropia tree experiment, studying how the defense mechanisms in colonized vs un-colonized cecropia trees differ, if they do differ at all. Right after, we jumped into a fascinating presentation done by the head of Friends for Conservation Development (FCD), Rafael Manzanero. It was fascinating to hear about the history of the organization: starting with humble roots as a group of friends who would hike for days in the Chiquibul forest, documenting their findings, to a significant NGO with millions of dollars in funding.
As I am interested in attending law school after graduating, I was particularly interested in learning about the ethical and legal dilemas that FCD has faced over time. He explained how poor people are often the ones involved in illegal rainforest activities such as smuggling, cattle ranching, and drug cultivation, and that sometimes FCD is forced with tough decisions surrounding law enforcement. Their primary mission is always to protect the rainforest, but it can get tricky when someone is caught with only a couple dollars worth of illegal contraband on them and no other methods of securing income. Although this can be difficult, he noted a positive: this dilema has generated greater concern among the international community surrounding rainforest conservation. Yet, due to the lack of a clear border between Guatemala and Belize, it is tricky and complicated to enforce any guidelines. Territorial disputes are currently before the Belizean appellate court, but it is hard to make definite laws when persons are found operating illegally on the Beilze-Guatemala adjacency zone.
One specific issue that is currently facing the Belizean government has to do with cattle ranchers raising cattle within the Chiquibul forest. Rafael posed the question to us: without using lethal force, how can the cattle ranchers be moved? He noted that there are potential connections between the cattle ranchers and drug cultivators, so it is challenging to incentivize the ranchers to re-locate. These complex issues made me interested in researching more in the field of environmental law, as I had previously only heard from the perspective of big oil and gas lawyers.
As a fun little break from our presentations, we hung out with a stick bug outside the classroom! He loved climbing up our arms and on our heads!
The morning taxon presentations featured formidicae and epiphytes in Belize. Honestly, ants have been my absolute favorite taxon to learn about on this trip so far. I was fascinated by the zombie fungus that can sometimes infect ants. Apparently, the fugus can infect ants and demand them to climb to a specific height on trees, sprout a mushroom out of the ants, and then spread to other ants through air-borne spores. Further, when ants figure out that one of their kind is infected with a fungus, they will quarantine the ant in a chamber of the colony on its own. Also, there are certain species of cockroaches that will sometimes copy the scent of certain ants and live in the colony their entire lives. Epiphytes are a bit less naturally intriguing to me, but I still enjoyed learning about the plant mutualisms. Today’s lecture highlighted plant-animal interactions, and it was interesting to learn a bit more about some of the interactions we have been observing in the field such as acacia trees and pseudomyrmex ants, leaf cutter ant mutualism with fungi, and Belizean orchid bees with orchids.
This afternoon, we did a deep dive into leaf cutter ants and disrupted two colonies: one young and one old. I learned so much about them and specifically their queens! Apparently, leaf cutter ants partake in a unique (never been seen before) mating ritual only once in their lifetimes where the queen will fly up into the air, mate, and then return to the ground to start their colony. With the first colony we disrupted, the younger one, there was an ant with her fungi, which allegedly goes for around $1,000 in insect trade. The next colony we disrupted, the older one, was much much larger and the ants fought back when we uncovered them. On top of all this, we even spotted one of the cockroaches, which appeared to be a giant cockroach, that hang out with leaf cutter ants! I could hardly believe my eyes when he came crawling out of the ant hill. It was excreting a sticky substance off of its back to defend itself.
Tonight we went for a night hike and saw a lot of crazy bugs! We found a cockroach in some leaves that appeared to be either a brown-banded cockroach or oriental cockroach, though I am still a bit unsure. I also saw a smokybrown cockroach on a branch.
Overall, it was a super fascinating day and I loved learning more about this awesome species.
I’ve learned a lot in the past two weeks, and now that I’ve had a couple days to digest the trip and reflect, I feel like I’m ready to share my main takeaways from the trip. We spent a lot of time observing both the rainforest and the reef ecosystem, and I feel like one of my first key takeaways was that there are a number of similarities which might contribute to them both being such vibrant, biodiverse ecosystems.
The first of these key similarities is the number of mutualisms and beneficial species interactions going on in each ecosystem. In the rainforest, we learned about and observed the relationship between cecropia trees and Azteca ants, but that is far from the only mutualism present or the only mutualism we observed. It isn’t even the only mutualism we observed involving ants: the leafcutter ants are also engaged in a mutualism with the fungus they cultivate. Similarly, the basis of the reef ecosystem is the coral, but that coral gets its nutrients through a mutualism with zooxanthellae algae. Although many ecosystems see different species interacting, I think the density of mutualistic relationships in rainforest and reef ecosystems is unique.
Another similarity which surprised me was the nutrient limitation in both ecosystems. This surprised me to learn about both times. These ecosystems, which seem so rich, are both operating on extremely nutrient-poor substrates. The trick, in both, is that the biomass is holding nutrients and that nutrients are being cycled incredibly quickly. This was hard to observe, but we saw the byproducts: lush vegetation, towering trees, complex corals. We also were exposed to some of the factors which lead to the high rate of cycling, like the heat and humidity. It was interesting that both ecosystems are limited in this way, and yet both have such high levels of biodiversity.
A final link I wanted to touch on was the vulnerability of both ecosystems. The rainforest and the reef are both under threat due to a number of anthropomorphic challenges. We learned about how climate change impacts them both and how illegal poaching and the pet trade harm biodiversity. We also heard about (and saw, firsthand, in our trash pickup and elsewhere) how pollution can impact both ecosystems. All in all, the loss of these crucial habitats due to human activities was something that came up time and time again and is something that’s a huge issue. High levels of biological diversity mean that these ecosystems are particularly vulnerable because many of the species present are specialized and vulnerable to changes.
I will say, although there were many similarities between the rainforest and the reef, it did feel like the wildlife was much more accessible in the reef ecosystem. Maybe they’re less hidden, or maybe they’re less scared of people, but it felt like we were much more lucky in seeing interesting fish and other creatures on the reef than in seeing creatures in the rainforest.
I was so fortunate to be able to go to Belize and make these observations for myself. This course exceeded my expectations and was able to surprise me at every turn. One thing I was pleasantly surprised by was the way we carried out scientific experiments and explorations from beginning to end, starting with the design process and going all the way to drawing conclusions and presenting them. I had the impression that, given time constraints, we would be given set procedures and carry them out, maybe not even analyzing our results. I was amazed by the end of the trip when we would be given a general topic and design a whole experiment around it, carrying it out and making a poster by the end of the day. It really was a great crash course in the process of science. I also was surprised at how manageable the physical elements of the trip were. It’s either a testament to how the course was structured—in that we built up to the harder parts—or I was just more in shape than I thought. My initial fears were unfounded in that regard. I also want to shout out the food—I hadn’t expected it to be such a great part of the trip. Even the lodging was exceeded my expectations—I think being told to bring a sleeping bag made me think we would be in much more rugged conditions, but they were actually great!
There were some things about the trip which were more difficult for me, or which I didn’t like as much. Although the snorkeling was super beautiful and it was interesting to learn about the reef, I think overall it might not be for me. It was stressful for me to be out in open water, even close to a boat, and I think that I might not be built for hours of snorkeling. Given the opportunity, I definitely would go out again for short stints as a tourist, but I wouldn’t make a career out of it, if that makes sense.
It’s difficult to narrow my takeaways from this experience down to just three key lessons. If I had to, I think the first thing I’ll remember from this trip is the nutrient limitation of both rainforests and reefs. That surprised me so much that I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Such vibrant ecosystems, and the soil and seabed are so limited. I don’t think that ever occurred to me as a possibility. Another key takeaway is the fact that these ecosystems are under threat. It’s so tragic that such incredible ecosystems are so vulnerable, but it only reinforces the fact that we need to do something now to protect them. Finally, I think the last key thing I’ll remember from this trip is that science is a collaborative exercise and can be incredibly fun and rewarding if carried out together. There were so many things I would never have realized if someone hadn’t been there to connect a key link or point out something I had missed. I think I knew, on an academic level, that we were meant to do research collaboratively, but this trip cemented it for me. The ease with which our group settled into a rhythm and a good working groove just showed how essential cooperation and collaboration is.
I’m so glad I had this experience, and I’m glad you’ve been along for the ride. I’ll sign off with some of my favorite photos from the experience:
Trash pickup dayGlover’s ReefCaught on the camera trapsSunset by the bird towerPitfall traps!Caracol
With our suitcases in hand, we lay on the dock one last time, watching the schools of fish drift peacefully beneath us. We had already munched on bread and peanut butter, said our thank yous to the incredible staff (especially the chefs) and the unmatched views, and bid farewell to dear Clivus (the compostable toilet). By 6:30 am, we were ready for the 70-mile boat ride back to Belize City.
(View from Dining Room – 05/27/25)
Just as the engine roared to life, I reached for my music and realized my phone was missing. In a burst of panic, Elise, Sadhana and I took off running through the island checking every corner in search of it. It had been on our bucket list to go for a run, so this last-minute scramble felt stressfully perfect. We jogged back to the boat winded, and then we were officially on our way.
The three-hour ride passed in a blur of sleep, waves, and staring into the distance. Our captain spotted a sea turtle, and we passed by several islands. Some boasted polished resorts and others had quiet little villages. I noticed that one island had no trees, no shade, and sun-bleached roofs and walls. It looked a bit deserted, cooked by the heat, and I wondered if there was anyone there.
Then, in the distance, I saw a big island, with… cars??? Buildings grew larger, highways became visible from the shore, and I wondered how people brought vehicles to and island and why. Then, I saw no end to the island and realized it wasn’t an island at all. We had arrived at our mainland destination: Belize City.
(Giant Island aka. Mainland Belize City – cruisemapper.com)
Our boat docked a very elegant hotel. I didn’t even need to use the bathroom, but I went anyway to experience a non-compostable toilet. The bathroom was glorious experience, with a sink for washing hands and even some music – truly luxuries. On our drive back to the airport, we revisited familiar ground, like the department store we’d stopped at the week before, scattered resorts, the Central American flag monument near the airport, and the small runway lined with tiny planes and a few commercial jets. I took mental screenshots of it all, trying to lock in the memories our class made together and everything we learned about Belize. It is truly a remarkable place filled with wild beauty, from deep in the rainforest to far out in the reef- (and sponge-!) filled sea.
The tropical rainforest and the coral reef are two of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, and I’ve come to appreciate how much they actually have in common despite their differences in location and appearance. Both ecosystems are incredibly productive due to consistent sunlight and warm temperatures year-round, which support high rates of photosynthesis—through dense vegetation in rainforests and through symbiotic algae in coral reefs. This productivity forms the foundation for complex food webs that can support a wide range of organisms.
What also stands out to me is the structural complexity in both environments. In rainforests, there are multiple layers like the canopy, understory, and forest floor, while coral reefs have intricate three-dimensional frameworks built by corals. These structures create countless microhabitats and niches, allowing many species to coexist without directly competing. The relatively stable climates of both ecosystems further encourage species to specialize in narrow ecological roles. I’ve learned that this kind of niche specialization, along with strong biological interactions such as competition, predation, and mutualism, drives coevolution and the emergence of new species over time.
Together, these factors help explain why both tropical rainforests and coral reefs harbor such immense biodiversity. Their complexity, productivity, and stability foster environments where evolution can flourish, leading to the incredible variety of life we see in these ecosystems today.
Personally, I’ve noticed similarities between the two ecosystems in terms of mutualistic interactions and how each species forms a tight connection with others, creating a highly interconnected trophic web. Both systems depend heavily on all components of their food webs, and it was amazing to witness these relationships in action. One key difference I observed was that, in the reef, most organisms relied heavily on coral for both habitat and food. The coral–algae symbiotic relationship was absolutely crucial for the health of the entire ecosystem. In contrast, the rainforest had a broader range of vertical space, with species occupying the ground, understory, and canopy. There also seemed to be more specialized interactions between specific plants and animals, such as the cecropia tree and fungi’s mutualism with ants.
This course was an amazing experience, and I learned so much more than I expected in such a short time. My favorite parts of the course were snorkeling in Glover’s Reef and seeing all the diverse species of wildlife interacting and swimming around. It’s rare to see a reef thriving the way Glover’s was, and that was an unforgettable experience—especially seeing stingrays, sharks, and so many types of fish I knew nothing about before the course. I also loved observing mutualistic relationships in the rainforest. Learning about the ants and the various ways they interact with specific trees and fungi was really cool, especially because some of these examples were straight out of textbooks—seeing them in real life was surreal. My least favorite part? Definitely the bugs! Removing several cockroaches from our room in Las Cuevas and getting eaten alive by sand flies in Glover’s were probably my least favorite moments.
Three things from this course that I know I’ll remember for a long time are the cecropia and ant mutualism, the contrast between MPA and non-MPA reef sites, and seeing glass eels. I was especially fascinated by the cecropia and ant mutualism. It was amazing how two completely different organisms could evolve to rely so closely on each other. I had never seen that kind of relationship up close before, and it changed how I think about the complexity of interspecies interactions. Visiting the marine protected areas and comparing them to non-protected sites was honestly heartbreaking. The difference was so stark—vibrant coral and active fish populations in the MPAs, and lifeless, dying coral in the non-MPAs. It made the consequences of poor environmental management feel very real to me. Finally, one of the most magical moments of the course was seeing the glass eels swimming in the open ocean. I had read about them before, but witnessing these tiny, transparent creatures in person was incredible. It reminded me how much of the ocean’s life cycle is still hidden and delicate—and how much we still have to learn.
This morning, I finally woke up early enough to watch the sunrise on this beautiful island. We left at 6 am so I tried to spend my morning committing everything to memory, from the way the crabs scurry in the sand to salty sea breeze. I feel very lucky that I am not someone that gets seasick because the 3 hour boat ride was extremely choppy and made some of my classmates sick. For me the ride is so peaceful— I put my headphones in and sunglasses on, and I fell asleep. We got our first taste of AC on the bus ride and it was heavenly. After the flight and getting through customs, I said my goodbyes to the group and left for a plane back home. I was so excited to be home and see my family, I took the longest shower ever and fell into the deepest sleep of my life. This trip definitely felt like way more than two weeks long.
