Where did the day go? I woke up on my friend’s couch this morning exhausted and now I’m falling asleep to crickets in Belize! (Still exhausted)

I’ve had plenty of time to catch my breath today and do some personal observations. My favorite thing to do in the field right now is to listen. There are hundreds of voices in the darkness, each belonging to a different organism, determined to have his pulses or drones or chattering chirps heard by a mate. How romantic, no? Let’s not think about their creepier, crawlier side just yet—I’ll have close-up pictures of that tomorrow.

I heard a fascinating lecture on life in the rainforest canopy. One point stuck out to me, as I listened to Sam. These paradoxically nutrient poor soil conditions produce the most astounding variety of plant life on Earth, which in turn supports the entire trophic web here. In turn, without the wealth and diversity of life in the rainforest, each organism with an integral role to play in this game, these plants could not survive such oligotrophic soils. If you don’t think about it, you could take for granted the unique biodiversity hotspot we are in.

Simply put: Life… UHHHHH … finds a way. (Pictured: me, today)

P.S. Mom and Dad, our accommodations are like paradise. Dinner was outstanding, but also represented the only substantial meal I’ve eaten today. Hobby airport had no water, which meant restaurants were all closed; even the toilets were roped off. But here I am, stomach full and brain active all the same.