Hi everyone! My name is Lily Hestjean, and I’m an ecology and evolutionary biology major at Rice currently anticipating this exciting trip! This is how I image our Belize trip will go: Our class will be gathered together in front of this infinitely high tree surrounded by vines and epiphytes (the plants without roots that latch on to trees for structural support), and as Dr. Solomon explains how to measure trunk diameter, my eyes wander away, following the leaf cutter ants marching by. Just today, in our Belize textbook, I read about where this endless line of ants is headed. They’re on their way back to their fungal gardens. Yes, they are little gardeners who cultivate their own fungus as a food source, tucked away underground and out of our sight. While the ants bring the fungus a leafy food source, the fungus returns the favor by producing special, nutrient-rich portions of itself for the ants to eat. This is mutualism at its finest, the species relationship where both parties benefit from one another. https://discoverwildscience.com/the-symbiotic-architects-leafcutter-ants-and-their-underground-fungal-farms-1-296417/ 

(The Ant Farm – biointeractive.org)

In Belize, I can’t wait to see all of the fascinating ecological concepts I read about in real life. I can’t wait to wake up to the sound of birds chirping from all directions and maybe a couple of howler monkey calls. I think that this course (BIOS 319: Tropical Field Biology in Belize) is my idea of heaven – spending the day out in the rainforest doing ecological field work, spotting cool trees and insects, and bonding with my class through shared sweating and learning. In this 2-week-long course, we will be spending five days at Las Cuevas Research Station in the Maya Mountains (the rainforest) and five days at Glover’s Reef (the ocean!), gaining hands-on researching skills. Though I don’t know exactly what we’ll be doing day to day at the sites, I am so ready for all of the one-of-a-kind experiences the days will hold. 

While I will have to get adjusted to the 5 am wake-up calls, I can’t wait to put eco-gear and training to use. I’m ready to rep my new bucket hat and green rubber boots–my protection from all of the biting critters on the forest floor. A few weeks ago, our class walked over to the Houston Zoo’s reptile exhibit to learn how to identify and react to poisonous snakes we might encounter in the rainforest. Then, we jumped into Rice Rec’s pool to practice using our snorkels and fins. We laughed at how, while we were snorkeling on one side of the pool, we got strange looks from the other side of the pool, where people were just trying to get some laps in. 

(Snorkel Practice – 04/28/25)

Besides my training in Houston, last summer, I was able to gain tropical researching experience at EARTH University in Costa Rica during a two-month plant science internship. The most fulfilling part of my experience was immersing myself in the rich, dynamic ecosystem and sharing my appreciation for nature with friends. I am certain I will be able to do the same in the rainforests of Belize. 

I’m also very excited to dive around reefs in search of sponges. My job as a part of the class is to be able to identify the different sponges and explain more about their living strategies, from the way they eat (by filtering little particles out of the water) to the way they reproduce (by releasing clouds of sperm into the water). While I am slightly nervous about my identification skills, especially underwater, I am looking forward to sharing some sponge fun facts with the class. Did you know scientists have discovered carnivorous sponges in the deep ocean? Look up harp sponges, trust me. 

(Harp Sponge – mbari.org)

While I’m there, I hope to learn how to quantify human impact on these rich, biodiverse ecosystems, like calculating deforestation rates and the impacts of elevated CO2 levels. I hope to better understand the challenges these ecosystems face and sustainable solutions. 

Thank you for checking in! Over the course of these next two weeks, I will continue updating you each day about the cool, interesting things I learn! T-minus 12 hours until our flight to Belize boards!