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reflections on our adventure

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The past two weeks have felt like some of the longest days of my life, but I can not believe that BIOS 319 is over already. It was truly amazing to experience nature in these tropical environments in full force. I had never been so south before, so it was interesting to witness the latitudinal diversity gradient up close. The biodiversity that we observed in the field was unrivaled by anything I had seen before. The combination of intense, somewhat regular tropical sunlight and abundant rainfall has cultivated impressive biodiversity in both the reef and forest ecosystems. Further, the similarities in both ecosystems also stem from their biogeohistory. The bedrock of the forest is mostly limestone, making the soil pretty nutrient-poor, and leading to a variety of ecosystem adaptations to account for this. We saw the soil horizon on our drive to the forest, and there wasn’t much topsoil. We saw the buttress roots of trees that couldn’t go any deeper because of the bedrock, and we learned about different methods of quick nutrient cycling in the forest, like through nitrogen-fixing epiphytes. This is connected to the reef. With my taxon being hard corals, it was really interesting to learn about the calcium carbonate skeletons that hard corals create, and then to see them as calcified fossils in the coral graveyard. It’s amazing to think how these calcified fossils are what led to the limestone bedrock over millions of years. We also saw methods of quick nutrient cycling in the reef, like the constant feeding and pooping of the parrotfish. In contrast, we also learned and saw a lot of differences between the two ecosystems. For one, the weather it was so windy on the atoll, but in the forest, there was just heat without a breeze. Because of this, I think the days in the forest seemed much longer than the ones on the atoll. While I would’ve expected to experience more bugs in the forest, they actually weren’t as much of a problem compared to the atoll. In the forest, my biggest issues with bugs were huge insects like cockroaches and katydids wanting to spontaneously fly at my face or join me in the shower, but I never got bitten. On the other hand, in the atoll, our insect problem was sandflies. They are so tiny that you can hardly see them, but boy, do they bite. Just a few minutes in the sand around sunset, and I would have dozens of bites.

I honestly thought that living “off the grid” would be more challenging for me, but it wasn’t too bad. The limited access to technology didn’t bother me as much as I had anticipated, and I actually enjoyed the break from screens. I knew that I would be dirty, but oh my gosh, I couldn’t have anticipated how filthy I would be every day. I never felt truly clean while on the trip, so the first shower when I got home really hit.

Overall, my favorite thing about the trip was the ATM cave. I love seeing how biology, geology, and history interact with each other in these caves. I definitely think I could have spent hours exploring the cave, and it was so interesting to hear from our tour guide, who specializes in studying Belize caves. Especially because my family is descended from the Maya, it was really interesting to hear about their culture and relationship with the environment. I think it is so cool how they thought caves were doors to the underworld and worshipped and made sacrifices to the rain and corn gods there.

My least favorite thing was definitely when we had to go off the trail to place our camera traps. The first few times were fun, but after a while, the heat started to get to be and I felt drenched in sweat and I was nervous the whole time that a snake would pop out, out of nowhere.

I definitely learned a lot on this trip, but the three most important things were:

  1. How coral polyps function as a colony and almost like one giant organism.
  2. How plant and insect species coevolve together over millions of years to become extremely specialized and depend on one another.
  3. Even a small pilot study with a limited sample size can help guide further studies in the right direction and offer some insight into general trends.
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Travel Day/Reflection

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Well, we left Glover’s reef this morning and now I’m back in Houston.

As I look back on my time in Belize, I can’t help but marvel at how the tropical rainforest and coral reef each tell their own story, yet share so many similarities. Both are vibrant ecosystems teeming with life, where every inch seems to host something new and surprising. Whether it was towering trees covered in epiphytes or coral heads bursting with schools of fish, these places had layers upon layers of life that created an overwhelming sense of wonder.

One thing that really struck me is how both the rainforest and reef are built in three dimensions. In the rainforest, I saw how even a single tree could be home to ants, epiphytes, and hidden birds’ nests, all stacked together in this complex network. The reef felt the same way, with fish weaving between corals and sea fans swaying with the current. All of this structure gives room for so many different species to coexist, which I think is a big reason why they’re both so incredibly diverse.

Of course, there were some big differences too. The rainforest felt dark and mysterious, with all sorts of insects crawling around on the forest floor. The reef was much brighter and more colorful, with fish flashing by and rays of sunlight piercing the water. The rainforest almost felt ancient and hushed, like a hidden cathedral, while the reef seemed alive with constant motion and sound.

When I first signed up for this course, I knew I’d be learning a lot about these ecosystems, but I didn’t realize how much of it would come from actually being out in the field. I loved being able to see everything up close and hear about the unique ways plants and animals interact. My absolute favorite moment was the day we explored the ATM caves. The crystal-clear water, the towering ceilings, and the human history woven into that space made it feel completely surreal. It was something I’ll never forget. On the other hand, I could have done without the cockroach invasion that first night at Las Cuevas! Finding them in my pillow was definitely a low point, but it gave me a whole new appreciation for how adaptable those little creatures are.

Three things really stand out that I know I’ll remember for years. First, I was amazed to learn that even though the rainforest is so green and lush, the soil itself isn’t rich in nutrients. The nutrients are mostly in the plants and animals themselves, and as things break down, they’re recycled really quickly back into the ecosystem. Second, seeing how mutualistic relationships work in both the rainforest and the reef was eye-opening. Whether it was ants defending cecropia trees or coral polyps sheltering algae, it was so cool to see how cooperation really drives these ecosystems forward. Lastly, hearing Rafael Manzanero from FCD talk about conservation challenges made me realize how complicated it all is. It’s not just about protecting animals or trees, but about balancing people’s livelihoods and the forest itself. It got me thinking about environmental law and how real conservation work has to include everyone.

This trip taught me to embrace both the awesome and the uncomfortable moments. I’ll never forget seeing a puma in our camera trap photos, swimming alongside parrotfish on the reef, or watching the sun go down from the bird tower in the rainforest. Five years from now, I’m sure I’ll still be thinking about the night we caught a squid off the dock and the quiet moment in the rainforest when it hit me just how alive everything really is. I’m so grateful for every day of this experience, even the ones with cockroaches in my bed.

(Photos taken by Scott Solomon)

-Emily

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Final Reflection: An un-Belize-able experience

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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 day
Glover’s Reef
Caught on the camera traps
Sunset by the bird tower
Sunset by the bird tower
Pitfall traps!
Caracol
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The Season Finale: Reflections from Belize

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Hi Blog,

When we first arrived in Belize

These past two weeks, I have had the incredible privilege of being completely immersed in nature across two distinct, yet similarly vibrant ecosystems in Belize: the tropical rainforest and the coral reef.

Night hike at Las Cuevas
Surreal bird tower view

Although the tropical rainforest and coral reef were very distinct ecosystems, I still noticed several similarities. Although both of these ecosystems—and the research stations we spent our time at—seemed significantly isolated from civilization, they were nevertheless both suffering from the impacts of human disruptions. At Las Cuevas Research Station, located in the heart of the Chiquibul Forest, we learned all about threats of deforestation and poaching (especially of the endangered Scarlet Macaw) leading to habitat loss and the unethical stripping of animals from their environment for the benefit of humans. Similarly, at Glover’s Reef, we saw firsthand how even a remote island is not immune to the impacts of human pollution and disruption. Especially on our last day at Glover’s Reef during our morning trash pick-up, we saw the countless amounts of trash that had accumulated on the edges of the island, especially in the coral graveyard. Furthermore, we learned that fish, such as surgeonfish, are often illegally harvested to be entered into the illegal pet trade.

Snorkel flick!

Another factor that I noticed could be both a similarity and a difference was the structural complexity of these ecosystems. The rainforest ecosystem is vertically stratified, with different layers—from the forest floor to the canopy—allowing the development of niche specialization and a high degree of biological diversity. Likewise, although marine rather than terrestrial, I noticed that the coral reef also had different components culminating in structural complexity, such as the surface, nooks, and crevices.

Most beautiful ocean I’ve ever seen

This course went above and beyond my expectations. Before going on this trip, I just had a vague idea of a rainforest and the ocean, but being actually immersed in these ecosystems was truly surreal. Seeing all of the cool species that I’ve only read about or seen in documentaries with my own eyes was incredible—I even got to hold a Scarlet Macaw feather! Also, I got to see so many of my rainforest mammal species at the Belize Zoo, and saw some Blue Tangs in the coral reef!!

Tapir at the Belize Zoo

My favorite part of the course was, as cheesy as it may sound, getting to know all of my fellow Tropical Field Biologists! In fact, today, a group of us (Lily, Emily, Sadhana, and I) remaining in Houston for the summer grabbed dinner and boba together! Post-Belize food was heavenly, although I must admit, the food provided to us over the trip was significantly better than I had expected. Throughout the trip, I acquired a taste for plantains and hot sauce. Before this, I had not even touched plantains that were served in Rice serveries. Now, you know what my staple meal is going to be once school restarts in the fall.

On the other hand, my least favorite part of the course, I think, would be being eaten alive by bugs both in the rainforest and the reef. I am especially traumatized by that one night at Las Cuevas when Emily and I accidentally left our dorm room light on and returned to about 20 bugs buzzing around the light… I remember us trying to ignore them at first, but it quickly turned into a bug elimination frenzy, as the buzzing of the bugs (especially near my ears!) became unbearable. We learned our lesson about turning off the lights the hard way, but we know now. :,)

I learned SO many new, incredible things on this trip, but the three most notable things were:

1) The symbiotic relationship between Cecropia trees and Azteca ants. It was so fascinating (yet anxiety-inducing) to see all of the Azteca ants swarm out from the tree trunk to protect the Cecropia tree (which Dr. Solomon had macheted down), and the countless chambers within the tree. Without knowing anything about this tree, I would have never imagined that it would be a “high-rise apartment complex” for ants.

2) Human impact is everywhere. Even on remote islands, the impact of human pollution is still transferred. It was sad but incredibly powerful to see the contrast between the black and white fossilized corals and the vibrantly colored plastic pollution on the coral graveyard.

3) I am not immune to motion sickness nor sea sickness. I thought I would be different, but snorkeling and the boat ride almost took me out every time… Heat exhaustion and the side effects of drinking seawater (on accident) were not a joke and were quite a combination. So my biggest takeaway was: when in the ocean, do not drink seawater and drink lots and lots of (fresh!) water whenever possible.

Overall, Belize was such an incredible experience, and this will be a trip that I reminisce about often. When I close my eyes, I can almost still feel the breeze from the ocean as I lay on the dock at Glover’s Reef, or I can hear the screeches of the bats as I lay on the picnic table at Las Cuevas.

As I return to civilization, I’m eternally grateful for things I took for granted, such as cold water, clean clothes, and a sand-free bed. I’m now confident to call myself a tropical field biologist.

If any of you reading this blog right now are contemplating taking this course: take it. Take it and run. You will have the most amazing two weeks of your life that you cannot gain elsewhere.

Now for the last time, signing off:

With love,

Sohee

Bye, Belize
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Wrapping and Reviewing: Thoughts on the TFB Experience

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Despite their widely different biomes, the terrestrial tropical rainforest and its lush greenery, compared to the vast ocean and its mysterious creatures, both have developed rich, complex ecosystems. For instance, the forest sustains itself on light and plant matter, reaching different trophic levels and creating microhabitats by temperature and structure to allow biodiverse inhabitants. Similarly, the reefs of the coral reef, fed by billions upon billions of photosynthetic algae, create structural niches for fish and other fauna to reside in, developing hidden habitats as a result. On a greater level, the intense light, heat, and moisture within both systems has become a breeding ground for several producers, enhancing the food web further down levels of prey, mesopredator, predator, and apex predator. 

Personally, I have also noticed that both systems intrinsically propel organismal adaptations (both behaviorally and morphologically) for specialization through competition and symbiotic relationships. For instance, my taxon in the coral reef, the parrotfish, is known for its numerous speciation in the area. Observing their behavior through fish follow studies, we noticed some more adventurous, like the Striped parrotfish, while others like the Redband parrotfish more quickly hiding in reefs. Similarly, the forest’s big cats like pumas often appear at night on the ground while the smaller margay, or tiger cat, hunts its prey on trees despite also being nocturnal. And where there is a will, there is a way. Fungi and insects develop richly on the underside of logs and leaves, in the cracks of tree bark and soil, and atop other living organisms. Inundated with liveliness, neither the ocean nor the forest is ever silent, waiting and adapting with time.

The course far exceeded my expectations. I have been able to pick up so many skills listening and waiting patiently for organism interactions, developing field biology research predictions and methodology, and presenting research. I came in thinking about all the equipment we needed and how unnecessary it probably would be, but I’ve come to value literally every single thing I’ve used in the course, from the thick rubber boots to a tight mask and snorkel. My favorite part of the course is the sheer amount I’ve learned–be it listening to other people’s presentations, or meeting organizers of the various research stations. Another thing that shifted my perspective of both the forest and the reef was witnessing them at night, understanding the enormity of these systems amidst the bright, starry sky. My least favorite part was probably the heat. Traversing the rainforest’s dry season and the atoll’s brutal humidity, I could definitely feel my patience wearing thin at times. Still, it was very character-building. 

Five years from now, I think I’ll still remember a lot about this trip. My favorite, and biggest takeaway: everything can be an ecosystem, especially caves. Caves hold so much geological and biological adaptation, with much continually being explored. Second, ecosystems can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Snorkeling in strong ocean currents or not performing basic stingray (via the stingray shuffle) and snake checks can make or break your life. Thirdly, the more you stare at something, the more life you’ll find. While the reef and forest are not always as dynamic at the macro level, a single leaf can hold colonies upon colonies of lichen. And these relationships are complex, like leafcutter ants with their fungal gardens, adapting for millions and millions of years to form the most astounding dynamics.

Signing off! P.S. some final forest and reef pics 🙂

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Pre-Trip Thoughts: I can’t Belize it’s happening!

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We are hours away from going to Belize and I am beyond excited. Prior to the trip, each of us had to sign up for two taxonomic groups and a topic to present on during the trip itself. In preparation, I have been reading research, articles, and books on ants, sponges, and how competition, predation, and environment shape coral reefs. Though we are preparing to become “experts” in those disciplines, I am definitely still nervous about articulating and conveying information to the class. I expect that I will most certainly struggle with naming ant and sponge species, but I think that’s exactly the value of this trip- to practice, to fail, and to sometimes succeed! 

I think this trip will definitely offer insight being a tropical field biologist and conducting field research. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be able on the trip and experience the things I read about with my own eyes. I am very excited to be immersed in the environment for two weeks and engage with the class. 

One aspect of the trip I am particularly excited about is actually writing blogs! I have never had an opportunity to communicate science through blogs and having that on display for the world. Growing up in Taiwan, a small tropical island, I never would have imagined going to Belize and writing about my experiences, and, in all honesty, I don’t know what to expect! All I know is, if you’r reading this, I hope you stick around because I have a great feeling about this trip. 

 

fig. 1: doing some last minute shopping at Academy because I forgot field pants!

Brendan Wong

Houston,TX

5/13/2019

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Belize has my heart

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The tropical rainforest and the coral reef are two of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. What similarities exist between these two ecosystems, and how might these similarities relate to high levels of biological diversity? What personal observations have you made about the similarities and differences between these two ecosystems? How did the course compare with your expectations? What were your favorite—and least favorite—parts of the course? Describe three things that you learned in the course that you consider to be the most important or surprising (i.e., what did you

It seems so weird that just a couple of days ago we were in Belize and now I’m back home in my bed writing this reflection (with air conditioning).

The tropical rainforest and coral reefs have so much biodiversity, and there is still so much we have to learn and discover about these ecosystems. I knew before that there were large numbers of species that hadn’t been identified yet in the rainforest as well as coral reefs, but nothing compared to seeing this for myself. The amount of flora and fauna in the rainforest is crazy, and there were definitely things that we saw such as beetles and even ants that Scott or our guidebooks couldn’t identify. In our hurricane gap project as well as our To Pee or Not to Pee project, we separated our findings into morphospecies and the number of species we had for both projects was extremely large (so large it took us 5 hours to separate the morphospecies from the pee traps). Both ecosystems also are nutrient poor, but they overcome this by finding nutrients in their own inhabitants. Nutrient cycling takes place by decomposers or in coral reefs, by corals and sponges. Another similarity is how both ecosystems are not only threatened by natural dangers such as the changing environment but also direct human threats such as poaching and use/harvesting of land and resources by other countries like Guatemala and Honduras.

I went into this class not really knowing what to expect, as many of the other now TFBs will say as well. I was definitely nervous the day we left Rice to fly to Belize. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the class, or I would discover I wasn’t cut out for the TFB lifestyle. However, I discovered that the TFB lifestyle is amazing and I am more than capable of completing long hikes and swims in tropical environments. I can even hold snakes and swim after sharks because I’m not afraid of them anymore. Seeing these creatures in the wild is way different than seeing a picture online, and you can truly appreciate how amazing they actually are.

One of the last days in Belize, Scott asked some of us what our favorite moment of the trip was, but having to choose one is just too hard. One of my favorites from Las Cuevas had to be the last night there where we all gathered around a laptop to look at the camera trap pictures, and we first saw a tapir picture and the second the picture changed there was a gorgeous shot of a jaguar and we all flipped out and were screaming. At Glover’s I really loved the sea urchin day, because I got to hold a ton of adorable sea urchin, including my favorite thing ever, a sea egg (yes sea urchin can be adorable).

It’s hard to say something out of this trip wasn’t great, but I guess my least favorite moment was having to endure getting a ton of mosquito bites at Glover’s. However, I was having so much fun that I wasn’t about to let bug bites get in my way.

Before this trip, I was still on the edge about what my major would be and what I wanted to do with my life, and it might sound cheesy but this class solidified that my passion is biology and I want to work on helping and studying the environment. I also met some wonderful people on this trip, and I wasn’t expecting to come back with so many people I can call close friends. We all seemed so different but were connected by our love for the environment and desire to make a difference through studying it. I feel really lucky to have met everyone and shared this experience. Finally, I realized how much I want to do to make a difference in the environment even just at home. I would always tell myself I would try and cut down on my waste, but I never stuck with it. After seeing marine debris attached to a nurse shark, and having to pick up trash off a remote island that I could never imagine having debris, I feel like not only cutting back on my waste but also educating others about the effects and of marine debris and how we can help cut back.

This trip to Belize has literally been one of the most important experiences in my life so far, and I know I will always look back and remember the things I learned and experiences I had. 

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Basically Steve Irwin pt. 2

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The sky over our last night in Belize. Once again, this photo is NOT color corrected!

Now that I’ve been back from Belize for a few days, I’ve had some time to gather my thoughts on the past two weeks. I had the privilege of visiting two of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems and witnessing their beauty firsthand. Although the rainforest and the reef seem to be completely distinct ecosystems, in reality, they have several underlying similarities.

The biggest concept I learned about these two ecosystems on my trip was that both exist in oddly nutrient-poor areas. You’d think that such diverse places would never be able to survive in environments as lacking in nutrients as the soil of the Chiquibul or the waters of Glover’s Reef. But paradoxically, they thrive here!

Upon closer inspection, the “paradoxes” of the rainforest and of the reef aren’t paradoxes at all. In both ecosystems, the efficient recycling of nutrients allows these areas to support such a large diversity of organisms. So even though the soil or the water itself may be nutrient-poor, these ecosystems are able to flourish.

Even at first glance, I noticed similarities between the rainforest and the reef. I was impressed by the sheer diversity of animals in both places. Even without going anywhere, I observed more life than I’ve ever seen back home in Texas. At Las Cuevas, hundreds of species of moths, as well as frogs, geckos, katydids, and scorpions clung to the station walls every single night. It was the same at Middle Caye at Glover’s Reef. I spotted multitudes of fish, including barracuda, sardines, lemon sharks, and nurse sharks from the dock of the island. We also shared the island with hundreds of hermit crabs, iguanas, and blue land crabs. It’s crazy how the animal life in both places came to us without us even having to seek it out.

Belize was everything I expected and more. I’m rereading my pre-trip blog now, and it’s comical to me how accurate my expectations for the trip were. Two weeks ago, I said I expected a lot of sweat and longing for air conditioning – and I was SOOO right. I don’t think I was completely dry for a single minute on the entire trip – I was always either sweaty or in the ocean.

The painfully early mornings and physical tiredness from full days of hiking or swimming were probably my least favorite aspects of the course, but even those I didn’t mind too much. (Actually, maybe finding bug bites in places where I never, EVER wanted to find bug bites was my least favorite thing. Anyway.) They were necessary for us to make the most of our time in Belize.

It’s so difficult to choose only one or a few favorite parts of the trip because I genuinely enjoyed every single day – who wouldn’t? I got to wake up in some of the most beautiful places in the world for two weeks. Like, what the heck?? But if I had to pick, my favorite moments of the trip were either checking the contents of our camera traps, collecting sea urchins, or swimming at the reef crest.

I’ll never forget the moment we saw a tapir captured in the lens, which was then followed by jaguars, pumas, armadillos, and more! We probably screamed loudly enough to wake up the whole research station. I also had a real ball finding and catching sea urchins. They were in my taxon, after all, and they were so fun to spot! It was basically iSpy, but in the name of science. And how could I not love the reef crest? I’ve never seen such extraordinary abundance of life anywhere.

In the end, believe it or not, this trip was actually a class and not a vacation. That means that I actually learned stuff and didn’t sit around drinking and eating fresh coconuts on the beach all day – although there was some of that, too. I learned a lot about the lives of real TFBs and commonly used techniques in the field. Some of these techniques include taking transects (taking measurements at set increments of distance along a straight line), using quadrats (using grids to count items of interest), and setting pitfall and camera traps. We conducted several mini-projects over the course of the trip in which we practiced using some of these techniques.

Something else that I learned about that will stick with me for a long time is not only the danger that both forests and reefs face, but also about the efforts of those who fight against these dangers. For example, the FCD, Friends for Conservation and Development, is an NGO made up of a few dozen men who patrol the forests of Belize. They also speak with the national government and mediate political conflicts that bleed over into the environment. Basically, they do jobs that seem to be meant for a government to do, and they do them well.

And finally, I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I’m not as much of a wimp as I thought I was. Sure, I’m not the most athletic person you’ll ever meet, but I can keep up on difficult hikes and I can swim through strong currents. I learned that I have a knack for spotting and catching critters, and that I’m not creeped out by creepy crawlies. In fact, I actually really enjoy them! (Unpopular opinion – millipedes are pretty cute.) And most importantly, I really, really love the TFB life. I’ll never be Steve Irwin, but now I can say that I’m a certified Tropical Field Biologist.

Feels great.

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Post-Trip: Reflection

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One day in Belize, my class and I noticed a distinct commonality between the two most biodiverse ecosystems – coral reefs and tropical rainforests. Both function in nutrient poor conditions. The two differ greatly in the causations of their low-nutrient conditions. Coral reefs demand low nutrients to hinder algae growth and allow high water clarity, a condition demanded for photosynthetic coral synergists. The trees of the tropical rainforest, however, quickly deplete the soil of nutrients as they grow. While both systems exist in low-nutrient environments, low nutrient levels can lead to coral reef formation while the high nutrient demands of tropical rainforest tree leads to poor soil nutrients.

Regardless, the two ecosystems are able to support such biodiverse systems through their creation of physical spaces. Reefs for nooks and crannies for marine organisms to reside, as well has having great surface areas to accommodate sessile organisms like anemones and sponges. Tropical trees have many layering branches and alcoves within trunks and limbs. Similarly, these create spaces to accommodate more living things. Epiphytes, commensalist plants that grow on taller trees, demand the sunlit canopy trees provide. Structurally, the two have many parallels, which likely explains their comparable biodiversity.

Rainforests and coral reefs both accommodate animals smaller than their open ocean or open grassland counterparts. Not only are these ecosystem’s spaces unable to accommodate larger animals, but also larger animals have the potential to wreak havoc on these systems by overgrazing on or causing mechanical damage to coral or trees.

Glover’s Reef

With their elaborate physical structures and densely-packed biodiverse inhabitants, the coral reef and tropical rainforest I visited in Belize filled me with similar senses of awe. There was activity or an interesting organic structure just about everywhere I would look. While I knew in advance that these ecosystems have great biodiversity, there is something about being physically present that makes these facts feel real.

I had very nebulous expectations for this trip. I wanted to learn and to have fun, but other than that, I put very little thought into identifying what I wanted to take away from this trip. This mindset turned out to be a blessing, as I could absorb my surroundings without constantly questioning whether or not my expectations are met. It was freeing to allow myself to be immersed in these beautiful locales and view them for what they are.

My memory of the trip is rich with precious moments – watching a squid jet across a reef, listening to the boisterous conversations of scarlet macaws, seeing the glistening hide of a manatee as it dive back into shallow mangrove waters, feeling the chilliness of the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, spectating the sunrise over the ocean, viewing the uninhibited star-filled sky, laying on a hammock at the end of a long day. This aggregation of serenity and excitement is what I value most about the trip. While at times I felt stressed about the grade I would make, I strove to keep an empowering mindset that allowed me to fully cherish my surroundings.

The trip left me with a wide range of new knowledge. Ethnographically, Belize has an extremely diverse human population, serving as the home of Mestizos, Creoles, Garifunas, and Mayans to name the most populous. I learned about interesting physical properties of many living, including that mantis shrimp have a grasp so strong they can hurt people, Christmas tree worms always have pairs of polychaetes, conchs’ have two projecting eyes that look like cartoon eyes, and strangling figs can overtake massive canopy-forming trees to form large and extensive woody structures. I also learned about the harmful effect human negligence can have on ecosystems, like lionfish (a nonnative species released from aquariums) overpredate juvenile reef-dwelling fish and the prevalence of Africanized bees in the New World were caused by the escape of seven queens. I’ve learned countless new things that form a mosaic as vibrant and diverse as the colors of Belize itself.

I leave Belize with new memories and knowledge. I will always remember the electric blue of the Caribbean, the stunning vibrancy of scarlet macaw plumage, and the translucence of the Caribbean reef squid. After all, all I have are these memories of Belize until I go back.

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Still Can’t Believe It’s Over… (Wrap Up Blog)

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Although our EBIO 319 class was clearly dividing into teams Surf and Turf, based on whether we had signed up predominately to go to the reef or to the rainforest, everyone was able to thoroughly enjoy themselves in both environments because there are quite a few similarities between them. The most obvious similarity is that both are hotspots for biodiversity. Both coral reefs and rainforests are (predominately) restricted to the Tropics, and both are highly dependent on water.

Additionally, nutrient input and cycling is critical to the stability and growth of both environments. Corals thrive in oligotrophic environments, and so they are dependent on nutrient-cycling symbionts. Tropical rainforests exist in nutrient-poor soils, and so the plant species are  dependent on nutrient cycling.

Another similarity that I noticed is that it is quite difficult to traverse through either of these environments. When snorkeling on the reef, there would sometimes be spots with very little accommodation space and it was difficult to pass through without bumping into the corals. In the rainforest, when we left the trail the vegetation was often very dense. There would be lots of vines hanging down between the trees, and a lot of holes in the ground.

Additionally, you had to be careful moving through both of these environments because there were so many things that could hurt you. On the coral reef, this included anemones, fire coral, some hard corals, sharp shells, and jellies. In the rain forest, this included venomous snakes, acacia thorns, fire ants, and ticks.

I had a really good time during this course. The amount of work that it involved was much more than I expected, but during the course I didn’t worry about it too much. Going into the course, I didn’t really know what to expect about my classmates, but everybody was really cool and we got along really well. The rainforest’s appearance was not really what I expected but I think the reef did look like what I was expecting, probably just because I was more familiar with reefs going in. I was expecting Glover’s Atoll to be paradise, and it truly was.

My favorite part of the course was being able to see cool species up close. There were so many, but highlights included the green turtle, the seahorse, the Queen Angelfish,  the tapir, and the scarlet macaws. Another one of my favorite things that we did was going into the caves. These sightings and experiences are things that I will never forget.

I think my least favorite part of the course was the fact that it was so windy during our time at Glover’s because as a result we never did get to go diving on the forereef or at night. My other least favorite part was probably the lionfish dissection because I just don’t like dissecting things in general.

One of the most important things I learned on this trip was that I definitely still want to try and go into marine biology and do real field work. Another thing I learned was that friendships form really quickly when a group of people are all working together on something they’re passionate about. Lastly, I learned that conservation work is really really complicated after hearing presentations from  Alex  of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Boris of Friends of Conservation. This stuck with me because I’m doing a policy internship this summer at a marine sanctuary, and as a result I’ve gotten a small glimpse of all that conservation actually involves in this particular environment.