Arriving in Palo Verde
Our trek to Liberia, Costa Rica began today as we all met up at the Atlanta airport. We had a couple close calls from short connections, but luckily everyone made it onto the flight (some sweaty from sprinting across the airport). When we finally made it to Costa Rica the class, including Dr. Quinn, filed into the long line for customs while Dr. Allen waltzed up to the line for residents and went straight into the country.
After some confusion with the customs agents about where exactly we were heading the class made it through customs. We then piled onto a bus and headed to lunch at the first restaurant from the airport. The restaurant, while delicious, was set up in a very touristy manner; with traditional outfits to stand behind for photo opportunities.
After lunch, the class jumped backed onto the bus and began our approach to the Palo Verde research station; located in Palo Verde national park. Dr. Allen explained how this region is referred to as Guanacaste, which is a local tree. The Guanacaste tree has ear-shaped seed pods which contain seeds used in jewelry. Additionally, this region is very dry and arid at this time since the rainy season has not yet begun. Since the western half of Costa Rica is in a rain shadow from the mountain range that runs through the country, Palo Verde gets rain later than the eastern half of the country. Due to this, the land cover looks as if a wildfire as recently come through and spots of dirt appear to be burnt from the hot and dry air.
During our drive in we saw a couple of white-throated capuchin monkeys on the side of the road as well as many herds of cows; little did we know, these monkeys would soon be commonplace.
Once we got to the Palo Verde research station, we got settled into our bunks for the next three days. While here, we are sleeping under bug nets to protect ourselves from mosquitoes and scorpions; however, the mosquitoes are very mild right now since it has not rained yet. After getting settled in, the class walked down to the pier on the wetlands. From the pier, we could spot a multitude of bird species, including whistling ducks, wood storks, and a bare-throated tiger heron; as well as grazing cows. Many of us sat at the pier and enjoyed the beautiful nature we now live in until dinner. It is amazing to think that just 12 hours ago we were at our homes and now we sit in Costa Rica surrounded by this breathtaking scenery.
After an amazing dinner we spotted some frogs outside the kitchen. There are also tons of spiny-tail iguanas all over the station. According to Gustavo from OTS (Organization of Tropical Studies), a woman from the University of Northern Colorado is doing a study on the movement patterns of these iguanas and has placed trackers on many of them. Something that we are slowly beginning to realize is that iguanas are the squirrels Costa Rica.
That’s all for today! Overall, we are all already having a blast living amongst gorgeous scenery and animal species. See you tomorrow!
-Sarah Grace and Elise
After some confusion with the customs agents about where exactly we were heading the class made it through customs. We then piled onto a bus and headed to lunch at the first restaurant from the airport. The restaurant, while delicious, was set up in a very touristy manner; with traditional outfits to stand behind for photo opportunities.
After lunch, the class jumped backed onto the bus and began our approach to the Palo Verde research station; located in Palo Verde national park. Dr. Allen explained how this region is referred to as Guanacaste, which is a local tree. The Guanacaste tree has ear-shaped seed pods which contain seeds used in jewelry. Additionally, this region is very dry and arid at this time since the rainy season has not yet begun. Since the western half of Costa Rica is in a rain shadow from the mountain range that runs through the country, Palo Verde gets rain later than the eastern half of the country. Due to this, the land cover looks as if a wildfire as recently come through and spots of dirt appear to be burnt from the hot and dry air.
During our drive in we saw a couple of white-throated capuchin monkeys on the side of the road as well as many herds of cows; little did we know, these monkeys would soon be commonplace.
Once we got to the Palo Verde research station, we got settled into our bunks for the next three days. While here, we are sleeping under bug nets to protect ourselves from mosquitoes and scorpions; however, the mosquitoes are very mild right now since it has not rained yet. After getting settled in, the class walked down to the pier on the wetlands. From the pier, we could spot a multitude of bird species, including whistling ducks, wood storks, and a bare-throated tiger heron; as well as grazing cows. Many of us sat at the pier and enjoyed the beautiful nature we now live in until dinner. It is amazing to think that just 12 hours ago we were at our homes and now we sit in Costa Rica surrounded by this breathtaking scenery.
After an amazing dinner we spotted some frogs outside the kitchen. There are also tons of spiny-tail iguanas all over the station. According to Gustavo from OTS (Organization of Tropical Studies), a woman from the University of Northern Colorado is doing a study on the movement patterns of these iguanas and has placed trackers on many of them. Something that we are slowly beginning to realize is that iguanas are the squirrels Costa Rica.
That’s all for today! Overall, we are all already having a blast living amongst gorgeous scenery and animal species. See you tomorrow!
-Sarah Grace and Elise
Just Monkeying Around
The rumors are true, rice and beans are eaten for almost every meal. Today we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of rice and beans alongside fresh mango, avocado, and hard-boiled eggs…at 6:30 in the morning, not exactly ideal for those of us who are not morning people.
After breakfast, the group spilt up, some went on walks and explored the area while others remained at the station to enjoy the amazing views and sneak in some iguana observation time. Out by the pier, there was a sighting of white-throated capuchin monkeys. These monkeys, who were joined by a few mantled-howler monkeys, eventually made their way to the research station where the group gathered around for photos.
At 8:30, the group climbed aboard the bus and headed over to the Rio Tempisque. This is a large river that flows through the Guanacaste region. At some points it can get almost as wide as the Mississippi River; although it was only about 20 meters across where we visited. The group climbed aboard a river boat to start a river tour. As we were pulling away from the dock, we were warned that there have been several crocodile attacks recently.
During the tour, we saw lots of birds, monkeys and iguanas. A list of the species we have seen so far can be found here. We also spotted vast quantities of American crocodiles. Julia was great at spotting them as they sunned themselves along the river bank or swam nearby. Due to the heat of the day, many of the crocodiles were spotted buried underneath mud to regulate their body temperatures. Some students tended to confuse sticks or other objects as crocodiles; including an old tire.
Once we got back to the dock, we piled back onto the bus and returned to the research station. Upon arrival many students made a b-line for the bathrooms and/or food.
After lunch, we met up as a class and went over our research projects. Elise and I (Sarah Grace) went on a walk with Elena down to the pier to do work on field notes. While on the walk we spotted the elusive Costa Rican variegated squirrel. We have been informed that squirrels are a rare sighting here in Costa Rica. While excitement comes from a monkey sighting from our group, Costa Ricans view them as commonplace. This reaction is opposite for how we view squirrels.
The afternoon was spent doing many different activities. Some of the highlights were a hike out in the marsh and a soccer game with the OTS workers. After dinner, the group gathered together for a Spanish lesson from Dr. Allen.
The night ended with a night hike. While we had little success in spotting larger animals, there were lots of lighting bugs out presenting us with a breathtaking show.
-Elise and Sarah Grace
After breakfast, the group spilt up, some went on walks and explored the area while others remained at the station to enjoy the amazing views and sneak in some iguana observation time. Out by the pier, there was a sighting of white-throated capuchin monkeys. These monkeys, who were joined by a few mantled-howler monkeys, eventually made their way to the research station where the group gathered around for photos.
At 8:30, the group climbed aboard the bus and headed over to the Rio Tempisque. This is a large river that flows through the Guanacaste region. At some points it can get almost as wide as the Mississippi River; although it was only about 20 meters across where we visited. The group climbed aboard a river boat to start a river tour. As we were pulling away from the dock, we were warned that there have been several crocodile attacks recently.
During the tour, we saw lots of birds, monkeys and iguanas. A list of the species we have seen so far can be found here. We also spotted vast quantities of American crocodiles. Julia was great at spotting them as they sunned themselves along the river bank or swam nearby. Due to the heat of the day, many of the crocodiles were spotted buried underneath mud to regulate their body temperatures. Some students tended to confuse sticks or other objects as crocodiles; including an old tire.
Once we got back to the dock, we piled back onto the bus and returned to the research station. Upon arrival many students made a b-line for the bathrooms and/or food.
After lunch, we met up as a class and went over our research projects. Elise and I (Sarah Grace) went on a walk with Elena down to the pier to do work on field notes. While on the walk we spotted the elusive Costa Rican variegated squirrel. We have been informed that squirrels are a rare sighting here in Costa Rica. While excitement comes from a monkey sighting from our group, Costa Ricans view them as commonplace. This reaction is opposite for how we view squirrels.
The afternoon was spent doing many different activities. Some of the highlights were a hike out in the marsh and a soccer game with the OTS workers. After dinner, the group gathered together for a Spanish lesson from Dr. Allen.
The night ended with a night hike. While we had little success in spotting larger animals, there were lots of lighting bugs out presenting us with a breathtaking show.
-Elise and Sarah Grace
La Roca Rocked
We started off our second morning in Palo Verde with another early breakfast and free time to work on individual research projects and explore the area. I (Amelia) had a great start to the day by finding some crop wild relatives of potatoes that I'm collecting data on for my individual research project. Elena got close to the bare-throated tiger heron that has been hanging out in almost the exact same spot near the marsh ever since we arrived. Others went on a hike, and many worked on research paper reading assignments. We're looking forward to the first group discussion tomorrow, which will be about protected areas and poverty.
After lunch, we had a bit more free time until we went on an amazing hike with Gustavo, the OTS staff member here who has been helping us get oriented in Palo Verde. Our destination was La Roca, a large rock outcrop at a high elevation, giving us plenty of views of the marsh and surrounding forest. Before making our way to the top, Gustavo taught us about the cattails in the marsh. This is an invasive species that easily reproduces due to its high rates of seed dispersal and resilience, making it hard to get rid of the plant. The park has been using some methods to control the population of cattails, which thrive alongside the large herds of cattle in the marsh. After leaving the marsh and heading towards the trail head, Gustavo handed us some wild garlic (Allium ursinum) leaves from nearby, and they had a pleasant and savory smell of garlic.
Another exciting learning point of the hike was the acacia, which has a mutualistic relationship with ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex. The ants provide the plant with defense (they can detect predators of the plant by sensing vibrations when anything touches the acacia), and the plant provides the ants with nest sites and nutrients. We finally hit the trail and made a strenuous yet quick and rewarding hike to the top, where we were greeted by a beautiful view. On our way up, we saw a rare sighting of scarlet macaws flying close by. The large rock we arrived at was made of textures of limestone that created an interesting rock structure and a not so comfortable space to sit down. After taking plenty of pictures, we headed back down for a well deserved dinner, which consisted of a rice dish, peas, mixed veggies, and a fried dessert that was a big hit. We're going to finish off the day with a card game and plenty of rest.
- Amelia and Elena
After lunch, we had a bit more free time until we went on an amazing hike with Gustavo, the OTS staff member here who has been helping us get oriented in Palo Verde. Our destination was La Roca, a large rock outcrop at a high elevation, giving us plenty of views of the marsh and surrounding forest. Before making our way to the top, Gustavo taught us about the cattails in the marsh. This is an invasive species that easily reproduces due to its high rates of seed dispersal and resilience, making it hard to get rid of the plant. The park has been using some methods to control the population of cattails, which thrive alongside the large herds of cattle in the marsh. After leaving the marsh and heading towards the trail head, Gustavo handed us some wild garlic (Allium ursinum) leaves from nearby, and they had a pleasant and savory smell of garlic.
Another exciting learning point of the hike was the acacia, which has a mutualistic relationship with ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex. The ants provide the plant with defense (they can detect predators of the plant by sensing vibrations when anything touches the acacia), and the plant provides the ants with nest sites and nutrients. We finally hit the trail and made a strenuous yet quick and rewarding hike to the top, where we were greeted by a beautiful view. On our way up, we saw a rare sighting of scarlet macaws flying close by. The large rock we arrived at was made of textures of limestone that created an interesting rock structure and a not so comfortable space to sit down. After taking plenty of pictures, we headed back down for a well deserved dinner, which consisted of a rice dish, peas, mixed veggies, and a fried dessert that was a big hit. We're going to finish off the day with a card game and plenty of rest.
- Amelia and Elena
Monkeys at Breakfast
An unexpected 4am wakeup call was brought about by a group of howler monkeys that continued to make their loud noises throughout the morning hours. At least one person in every room woke up and made sure the doors were locked...these noises sounded too close for comfort. Our usual early morning breakfast was quite exciting today, as many of us ate outside and were greeted by four white-faced capuchins that wanted us to share. While we admired their cuteness and boldness, we weren’t so fond of them coming so close to the table. Some quick movements and hand clapping kept them away when needed, and we were able to see many defensive showings of teeth from the monkeys. Towards the end of our breakfast, the monkeys finally gave up, but we saw many more white faced capuchins throughout the day.
After breakfast, Dr. Allen lead a 2 hour hike that about half the group joined. After a challenging 20 minute hike that seemed to go straight up, the trail leveled off a bit, and we enjoyed a shady hike the rest of the way. We saw a variety of birds, some interesting mushrooms, and more than enough mosquitos.
After lunch, we gathered to work on our first group research project led by Julia, Kat, Emily, and Brandon. This project focused on how Acacia ants would react to certain stimuli like flicking to simulate wind and water to simulate precipitation. Separated by groups, we worked on Acacia trees to test the plants' defense mechanisms through the ants. Stay tuned for results!
We were then given a few hours of free time to work on field journals, do some article reviews or play a game of soccer. Many of the students really enjoyed playing a game with some of the locals at the research station. Some of us also walked around and got a good look at a Coati-mundi that was eating a coconuts, as well as a spiny-tailed iguana and a bare-throated tiger heron that can usually be found together. After a great dinner, as always, we got together in the classroom for a paper discussion led by Julia and Garrison. We all participated to talk about the effect of protected areas and conservation on local poverty levels based on two research articles. A few students got together to play a game of cards and discuss today’s events then got ready for bed.
-Amelia and Elena
After breakfast, Dr. Allen lead a 2 hour hike that about half the group joined. After a challenging 20 minute hike that seemed to go straight up, the trail leveled off a bit, and we enjoyed a shady hike the rest of the way. We saw a variety of birds, some interesting mushrooms, and more than enough mosquitos.
After lunch, we gathered to work on our first group research project led by Julia, Kat, Emily, and Brandon. This project focused on how Acacia ants would react to certain stimuli like flicking to simulate wind and water to simulate precipitation. Separated by groups, we worked on Acacia trees to test the plants' defense mechanisms through the ants. Stay tuned for results!
We were then given a few hours of free time to work on field journals, do some article reviews or play a game of soccer. Many of the students really enjoyed playing a game with some of the locals at the research station. Some of us also walked around and got a good look at a Coati-mundi that was eating a coconuts, as well as a spiny-tailed iguana and a bare-throated tiger heron that can usually be found together. After a great dinner, as always, we got together in the classroom for a paper discussion led by Julia and Garrison. We all participated to talk about the effect of protected areas and conservation on local poverty levels based on two research articles. A few students got together to play a game of cards and discuss today’s events then got ready for bed.
-Amelia and Elena
Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
We began the morning with a pancake breakfast at the field station then packed up to leave Palo Verde. We got all our items together and left around 9am to head to Arenal, and on the way out saw a Tayra, which is part of the weasel family, cross the road. About an hour from the field station we stopped in the hometown of some of Dr. Allen's family, called Cañas. This was a very beautiful city where we walked around the town center and saw a beautiful Catholic Church, kicked the soccer ball around, and enjoy a spiced vanilla milkshake called a Leche Dormida.
We continued driving for another few hours while some of us got a bit of motion sickness. The roads going up the mountain were long and winding, but we took plenty of breaks to get some fresh air and enjoy the scenery While driving around the lake we got a great look at a yellow-throated toucan and stopped to check out the views. About 30 minutes before reaching our destination, we stopped and walked down to the water to look at the Lake Arenal Dam that provides hydroelectric power for about 12% of Costa Rica.
When we arrived at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, we were all overwhelmed by the incredible views of the Arenal Volcano National Park and the beautiful landscape. The rooms were far better than we expected with patios that overlooked gardens- quite a change from the accommodations at Palo Verde. We also experienced our first rain of Costa Rica, though the afternoon shower didn't last too long. After moving in we gathered to go on a 650 meter hike to a waterfall. Most of us crawled down the rocky slope to swim in the pool and under the waterfalls. Some students hiked back across a hanging bridge and went back to our rooms. While there, Brandon found a Golden-hooded Tanager that appeared dazed on the patio. We think it flew into the clear glass and was stunned for a little while, but it eventually recovered and flew away. We then got ready for a buffet dinner at the restaurant at the resort. After dinner, some of the students got together to play ping-pong and foosball by the infinity pool and went to bed to get ready for another fun hike tomorrow!
-Amelia and Elena
We continued driving for another few hours while some of us got a bit of motion sickness. The roads going up the mountain were long and winding, but we took plenty of breaks to get some fresh air and enjoy the scenery While driving around the lake we got a great look at a yellow-throated toucan and stopped to check out the views. About 30 minutes before reaching our destination, we stopped and walked down to the water to look at the Lake Arenal Dam that provides hydroelectric power for about 12% of Costa Rica.
When we arrived at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, we were all overwhelmed by the incredible views of the Arenal Volcano National Park and the beautiful landscape. The rooms were far better than we expected with patios that overlooked gardens- quite a change from the accommodations at Palo Verde. We also experienced our first rain of Costa Rica, though the afternoon shower didn't last too long. After moving in we gathered to go on a 650 meter hike to a waterfall. Most of us crawled down the rocky slope to swim in the pool and under the waterfalls. Some students hiked back across a hanging bridge and went back to our rooms. While there, Brandon found a Golden-hooded Tanager that appeared dazed on the patio. We think it flew into the clear glass and was stunned for a little while, but it eventually recovered and flew away. We then got ready for a buffet dinner at the restaurant at the resort. After dinner, some of the students got together to play ping-pong and foosball by the infinity pool and went to bed to get ready for another fun hike tomorrow!
-Amelia and Elena
Explosive Fun at Arenal
Today we were able to sleep in until seven for a breakfast buffet at the Arenal Observatory Lodge. The summit of Arenal could be seen in the clear morning skies. The breakfast buffet had a beautiful display of fruit, homemade pastries, cinnamon pancakes, and more! After breakfast, we dispersed until the professors arrived with lunch supplies. We quickly prepared peanut butter and pineapple jelly sandwiches in the Lodge dining room and packed up for a day hike up the Cerro Chato volcano. Unfortunately the trail has been closed for over a year due to restoration. No trouble! This resort has over 500 acres of trails to be explored, so we took an alternate route that lead west then south on La Hormiga trail. We continued into the rain forest and found Danta Waterfall, a seasonal waterfall, tucked under a dense tropical canopy. Kat managed to climb a good portion of the falls and we seized the opportunity to photograph her with the Furman flag sitting up there hoping to get a shoutout on Furman’s social media. Dr. Allen and Sarah Grace took to the base of the falls to cool down and take a mid-hike, natural shower.
After lunch we continued on to another hike that led to another seasonal waterfall but this one was not flowing yet due to a lack of recent rainfall. Here we contemplated the pastoral landscape, its ecological and social history. We debated whether or not the fenced-in pastureland was still in use and what the function of a line of pine trees through the pasture was. Elena got lucky spotting leaf-cutter ants crossing the trail and she was able to collect some leaf samples for her individual research project.
After we returned from the hike, people had free time to either explore more trails in small groups, work on research data collect, or relax by the resort’s infinity pool overlooking both dense rainforest and Arenal.
At 5:30 we left for dinner at the Lava Lounge in a town called La Fortuna (The Fortune). Afterwards we got to walk around and explore the city a bit by foot... and bought some ice cream from Pops!
Nate, Kat, Ryan Lea
Viva La Selva
It started with a daily dose of caffeine or banana bread coupled a gorgeous view of Arenal- we really are so lucky that clouds did not cover it the entire time (and also that it didn't explode killing us all.) After breakfast we packed up the van and continued to La Selva Biological Station. After the sleepy two-hour ride, our first move at La Selva was to grab some lunch from the open-air cafeteria on site. We unpacked in our dorms, which are very similar to those at Palo Verde: bunk beds and fans but luckily no scorpions!
We took a short hike on the La Selva trails through both marsh and rainforest to get the lay of the land and to scout for our research projects. The first poison-dart frog of the MayX was spotted; it was a blue-jean frog. Hoping to see many more since, on average here, there is one frog per square meter during the rainy season! We also observed some strangler fig trees, which germinate near the canopy and slowly envelope host trees with their roots. Most mature strangler figs are actually hollow because their host plant dies which a cavity in the middle sometimes big enough for a Furman student. After the hike, we prepared for a discussion on papers spanning social and ecological disciplines. Since the students on this trip are from various disciplines such as Sustainability Science, Earth and Environmental science, Biology and Psychology our discussions touch on variety of topics within issues facing social and ecological integrity.
Since La Selva is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost institute for biological studies many other groups are also studying here. We met a group of UGA students who are also on a tropical ecology trip and we will be competing against one another in soccer for the Gringo Cup.
ROLL DINS!!!!!
Dr. Allen spotted a dwarf boa and a species of toucan resting near the cafeteria and a bullet ant was found on one of the trails. She also discovered a dead bat in her room. Long trails of leaf-cutter ants can be seen on many of the walking paths throughout La Selva. Diligent carrier ants transport leaf and flower fragments to support the fungus in the center of their colony. Meanwhile, large soldier ants guard the carrier ant train from attack.
At six o'clock we had dinner which mainly consisted of delicious cake. This sustained through the long discussion of globalization and the impacts it has on social and ecological systems through ecotourism. Tomorrow is a big day with banana plantation, group projects, data collections, and hopefully a siesta. Stay tuned for more adventure :)
-Nate, Ryan Lea, Kat
We took a short hike on the La Selva trails through both marsh and rainforest to get the lay of the land and to scout for our research projects. The first poison-dart frog of the MayX was spotted; it was a blue-jean frog. Hoping to see many more since, on average here, there is one frog per square meter during the rainy season! We also observed some strangler fig trees, which germinate near the canopy and slowly envelope host trees with their roots. Most mature strangler figs are actually hollow because their host plant dies which a cavity in the middle sometimes big enough for a Furman student. After the hike, we prepared for a discussion on papers spanning social and ecological disciplines. Since the students on this trip are from various disciplines such as Sustainability Science, Earth and Environmental science, Biology and Psychology our discussions touch on variety of topics within issues facing social and ecological integrity.
Since La Selva is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost institute for biological studies many other groups are also studying here. We met a group of UGA students who are also on a tropical ecology trip and we will be competing against one another in soccer for the Gringo Cup.
ROLL DINS!!!!!
Dr. Allen spotted a dwarf boa and a species of toucan resting near the cafeteria and a bullet ant was found on one of the trails. She also discovered a dead bat in her room. Long trails of leaf-cutter ants can be seen on many of the walking paths throughout La Selva. Diligent carrier ants transport leaf and flower fragments to support the fungus in the center of their colony. Meanwhile, large soldier ants guard the carrier ant train from attack.
At six o'clock we had dinner which mainly consisted of delicious cake. This sustained through the long discussion of globalization and the impacts it has on social and ecological systems through ecotourism. Tomorrow is a big day with banana plantation, group projects, data collections, and hopefully a siesta. Stay tuned for more adventure :)
-Nate, Ryan Lea, Kat
Smelling Fresh in La Selva
Bright and early 6 AM breakfast provided us with the world's finest french toast and the sweetest pineapple. Christmas came early this year as our laundry was ready for pick up before our 8 AM, pant-requiring hike. The group split into two groups so that each student may have more interaction with the guide and to reduce noise so that we will not scare off as much wildlife.
Throughout the three hours we spotted seemingly invisible wildlife with the guide's help. For example, we were able to observe a striped basilisk
that is camouflaged to look like a vine around a branch. The guide knew where to look to find us a colony of bats resting during the daylight hours as well as a bullet-ant nest, which claim the prize of having the worlds most painful insect bite. Speaking of painful bites, a yellow, baby eyelash viper was found along the path! Beautiful toucans, parakeets, and chestnut woodpeckers were spotted along with more blue-jean poison dart frogs. A little treat came at the end as we were able to stray slightly from the main path to reach the base of a giant buttress tree, which is the largest tree species in Costa Rica.
After the hike we once more had lunch at the site's dining pavilion and following that we had time to go out and collect data for our individual projects. In the late afternoon, we carried out the second replication experiment of the MayX. We examined various palm populations and densities between old-growth and secondary forests. Specific attention were given to three species of palm: the rootspine palm , the spiny palm, and walking palm. Soil samples were also collected from both study areas for analysis. The texture, color, and pH of the soil are the primary concerns of this research.
After dinner we had another session for paper discussions. Tonight's focus was on agriculture; mainly how pineapple plantations are affecting the region and how certifications (Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance) differ from one another and their true social and environmental impacts.
We polished off the night by splitting into two groups for a night hike! Tonight was the perfect night since we got the first big rain of the trip today (bringing welcomed cooler temperatures) so the frogs are going to be extremely plentiful tonight and so we are focuses most of the night hike in and around the frog pond.
Ryan Lea, Nate, and Kat
Throughout the three hours we spotted seemingly invisible wildlife with the guide's help. For example, we were able to observe a striped basilisk
that is camouflaged to look like a vine around a branch. The guide knew where to look to find us a colony of bats resting during the daylight hours as well as a bullet-ant nest, which claim the prize of having the worlds most painful insect bite. Speaking of painful bites, a yellow, baby eyelash viper was found along the path! Beautiful toucans, parakeets, and chestnut woodpeckers were spotted along with more blue-jean poison dart frogs. A little treat came at the end as we were able to stray slightly from the main path to reach the base of a giant buttress tree, which is the largest tree species in Costa Rica.
After the hike we once more had lunch at the site's dining pavilion and following that we had time to go out and collect data for our individual projects. In the late afternoon, we carried out the second replication experiment of the MayX. We examined various palm populations and densities between old-growth and secondary forests. Specific attention were given to three species of palm: the rootspine palm , the spiny palm, and walking palm. Soil samples were also collected from both study areas for analysis. The texture, color, and pH of the soil are the primary concerns of this research.
After dinner we had another session for paper discussions. Tonight's focus was on agriculture; mainly how pineapple plantations are affecting the region and how certifications (Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance) differ from one another and their true social and environmental impacts.
We polished off the night by splitting into two groups for a night hike! Tonight was the perfect night since we got the first big rain of the trip today (bringing welcomed cooler temperatures) so the frogs are going to be extremely plentiful tonight and so we are focuses most of the night hike in and around the frog pond.
Ryan Lea, Nate, and Kat
The Gringo World Cup
In the spirit of the Dole Banana tour guide who walked us through their industrial process and history, we can sum up today’s post in 3 main points: bananas, a rainy ribbon cutting, and rainforest soccer.
After another delicious breakfast La Selva, we were on our way to the Dole banana farm and processing facilities. Our very enthusiast guide gave us the history of banana farming in Costa Rica as well as of the Dole company, including demonstrations as to how the banana plant (NOT tree) is prepped for growth, harvested from the fields, the banana trains, processing of the bananas, and finally the packaging of them. During this tour we received Dole Incredibles 2 banana stickers and a shot of 60 proof banana liqueur. After the processing plant we went into town near La Selva to grab a few items for our research projects and made it back for lunch.
After lunch of the class rice and beans the students had some much-needed down time to catch up on assignments, research projects, to daydream about donuts, and for some of us, to take a nap. Later in the afternoon, the rain started, and it persisted throughout the rest of the night. In the midst of the storm, we went into the STR trail and had a small ribbon cutting ceremony for a boardwalk donated by Furman in memory of Dr. Bill Teska a former Furman biology professor.
Dr. Teska started the Tropical Ecology course and the Furman study away to La Selva. He spent years in the Furman Biology department and at Pacific Lutheran University educating student on the tropics along with working with USAID. Thanks to him, over 200 Furman students, including us, have experienced the awesome diversity, power, and beauty of La Selva.The boardwalk will be used to serve future students and researchers alike to participate in the tropical research Dr. Teska was so passionate about for years to come. After the ceremony the students rushed back and waited out the storm.
After the heavy storm conditions, the rain let up (only slightly), and many of the students and our professors (along with our new friend José) participated in a very intense soccer match. The center of the field was covered in a layer of water a couple inches deep and we all were almost completely covered in mud. Tensions were very high, and no mercy was shown. Momentum was nearly impossible to stop, so we often reverted to falling backwards in spectacular fashion to slow down. The frustration of impossible conditions only added to the fun and the feeling of running free was exhilarating. In the end, both teams won after having shared an awesome time playing rainforest soccer.
We finished up and showered off in time for dinner, which coincidentally featured the donuts some of the students had been craving earlier. Although they weren’t quite the Krispy Kreme’s we were looking for, they certainly satisfied the craving.
Despite the constant rain, we had a wonderful day in our second to last day in La Selva. One more day here then off to new adventures!
Jake and Brandon
After another delicious breakfast La Selva, we were on our way to the Dole banana farm and processing facilities. Our very enthusiast guide gave us the history of banana farming in Costa Rica as well as of the Dole company, including demonstrations as to how the banana plant (NOT tree) is prepped for growth, harvested from the fields, the banana trains, processing of the bananas, and finally the packaging of them. During this tour we received Dole Incredibles 2 banana stickers and a shot of 60 proof banana liqueur. After the processing plant we went into town near La Selva to grab a few items for our research projects and made it back for lunch.
After lunch of the class rice and beans the students had some much-needed down time to catch up on assignments, research projects, to daydream about donuts, and for some of us, to take a nap. Later in the afternoon, the rain started, and it persisted throughout the rest of the night. In the midst of the storm, we went into the STR trail and had a small ribbon cutting ceremony for a boardwalk donated by Furman in memory of Dr. Bill Teska a former Furman biology professor.
Dr. Teska started the Tropical Ecology course and the Furman study away to La Selva. He spent years in the Furman Biology department and at Pacific Lutheran University educating student on the tropics along with working with USAID. Thanks to him, over 200 Furman students, including us, have experienced the awesome diversity, power, and beauty of La Selva.The boardwalk will be used to serve future students and researchers alike to participate in the tropical research Dr. Teska was so passionate about for years to come. After the ceremony the students rushed back and waited out the storm.
After the heavy storm conditions, the rain let up (only slightly), and many of the students and our professors (along with our new friend José) participated in a very intense soccer match. The center of the field was covered in a layer of water a couple inches deep and we all were almost completely covered in mud. Tensions were very high, and no mercy was shown. Momentum was nearly impossible to stop, so we often reverted to falling backwards in spectacular fashion to slow down. The frustration of impossible conditions only added to the fun and the feeling of running free was exhilarating. In the end, both teams won after having shared an awesome time playing rainforest soccer.
We finished up and showered off in time for dinner, which coincidentally featured the donuts some of the students had been craving earlier. Although they weren’t quite the Krispy Kreme’s we were looking for, they certainly satisfied the craving.
Despite the constant rain, we had a wonderful day in our second to last day in La Selva. One more day here then off to new adventures!
Jake and Brandon
Last Day in La Selva!
Today was a much more laid-back day for students to catch up on everything.
It started out with a good breakfast and a cool frog hanging out in Eileen’s boot. Most of us worked on our individual projects and others either worked on some other homework or helped with our classmate’s projects.
For me, I (Brandon) helped Sarah Grace survey for strawberry poison dart frog abundance. While collecting this data, one hopped onto my hand for a brief moment and it was a surreal experience showing how something that looks so innocent and small (imagine a frog the size of your fingernail) can be so dangerous, but I made it out alive.
For me, I (Jake) was busy all day working on my research. Early this morning I set out insect sticky traps in varying levels of liana-dense spots along a trail, and then collected the traps from the previous day. Then I recorded various insect species richness and abundances and collected some temperature and sunlight readings to do determine lianas impact on microhabitats. Then, I spent the rest of the day doing readings, field notes, and compiling lab data for my group's palm tree project analyzing pH and count data. Basically, just doing lots of science!
For the rest of the morning, we worked on writing our field notes which includes describing a species along with describing a landscape focusing on interspecies interactions and applying our knowledge from the first part of the course. Eileen and Julia were able to find a Green and Black Poison Dart frog, which are difficult to spot.
Lunch came and went. After lunch we had our third lab experiment which was enjoyable as it gave us another chance to test new hypotheses. Our lab involved leaf cutter ants to see how they adapt to obstacles. We had difficulty finding a busy line of these ants due to the amount of rain we have received recently like yesterday at a whopping 24.8mm in just the evening. The results were interesting, as some ants chose to go around, some attempted the climb, and others were staggered in confusion.
After the Leaf Cutter Ant experiment, we went to take a class photo at the newly opened William R. Teska elevated walkway since we could not yesterday, and some of us spent some time checking out this wonderful new spot where so much research and appreciation for nature will take place for years to come.
We continued to work on our projects and homework until dinner and after dinner, we had an enlightening paper discussion. The discussion was on the importance leaf cutter ants have on the environment and economy. We also talked about how research sharing across disciplines can be improved. We enjoyed having the discussion outside on the professor’s porch, a nice change of pace from the usual classroom discussion, despite dealing with the plentiful ants that found a home in the interestingly placed outdoor couch.
Overall, it was a chill and productive day as we wrapped everything up and prepared to move on to the next spot. Next stop: Cuericí!
Jake and Brandon
It started out with a good breakfast and a cool frog hanging out in Eileen’s boot. Most of us worked on our individual projects and others either worked on some other homework or helped with our classmate’s projects.
For me, I (Brandon) helped Sarah Grace survey for strawberry poison dart frog abundance. While collecting this data, one hopped onto my hand for a brief moment and it was a surreal experience showing how something that looks so innocent and small (imagine a frog the size of your fingernail) can be so dangerous, but I made it out alive.
For me, I (Jake) was busy all day working on my research. Early this morning I set out insect sticky traps in varying levels of liana-dense spots along a trail, and then collected the traps from the previous day. Then I recorded various insect species richness and abundances and collected some temperature and sunlight readings to do determine lianas impact on microhabitats. Then, I spent the rest of the day doing readings, field notes, and compiling lab data for my group's palm tree project analyzing pH and count data. Basically, just doing lots of science!
For the rest of the morning, we worked on writing our field notes which includes describing a species along with describing a landscape focusing on interspecies interactions and applying our knowledge from the first part of the course. Eileen and Julia were able to find a Green and Black Poison Dart frog, which are difficult to spot.
Lunch came and went. After lunch we had our third lab experiment which was enjoyable as it gave us another chance to test new hypotheses. Our lab involved leaf cutter ants to see how they adapt to obstacles. We had difficulty finding a busy line of these ants due to the amount of rain we have received recently like yesterday at a whopping 24.8mm in just the evening. The results were interesting, as some ants chose to go around, some attempted the climb, and others were staggered in confusion.
After the Leaf Cutter Ant experiment, we went to take a class photo at the newly opened William R. Teska elevated walkway since we could not yesterday, and some of us spent some time checking out this wonderful new spot where so much research and appreciation for nature will take place for years to come.
We continued to work on our projects and homework until dinner and after dinner, we had an enlightening paper discussion. The discussion was on the importance leaf cutter ants have on the environment and economy. We also talked about how research sharing across disciplines can be improved. We enjoyed having the discussion outside on the professor’s porch, a nice change of pace from the usual classroom discussion, despite dealing with the plentiful ants that found a home in the interestingly placed outdoor couch.
Overall, it was a chill and productive day as we wrapped everything up and prepared to move on to the next spot. Next stop: Cuericí!
Jake and Brandon
To Home We Go
Today, after a hectic morning getting everything packed and finishing up research after our stay in La Selva, it was time to move out. Before leaving, a woman spotted a Green Parrot Snake about 15 meters above the ground. She said the only way she was able to spot it was due to how active the hummingbirds that nest in it. We were able to see the hummingbirds attacking the Green Parrot Snake. After all that, we left for Cuericí.
The bus ride was somewhat uneventful other than a quick stop at a very jam packed “supermarket,” and being able to see the elevation change as we climbed into the clouds. We arrived at our destination with some mild confusion, as the “destination” wasn’t exactly in sight. We came to the realization after talking with the station’s workers that it would be a 5 km walk/drive to the main camp, with two relatively small vans as our escort. Eventually, we decided to pack the vans into the cars and split things up into two groups. Despite all the chaos and a bumpy ride to the bottom, we finally got there at around 3 for a much-anticipated late lunch.
The whole area was rural and off the grid, and the station was rustic but very homey and peaceful. The lunch was worth the wait as we ate chicken with a sinful mushroom sauce along with an incredibly flavorful mango puree for dessert.
After lunch we explored the area a little bit and got the feel for the new altitude (around 8800 ft), the cold (around 60 degrees), and the clouds that encompassed pretty much everything. When we got back we relaxed around the furnace and warmed up, and then were served another fantastic meal of spaghetti and meat balls with homemade hot chocolate. The food at this place never disappointed.
After dinner, we enjoyed the cabin with some of us participating in a very intense poker game (Jake won) and others reading and chatting around the furnace. The station was so homie and the people working there were incredibly kind and pleasant. The coldness of the region was balanced out by the warmness we experienced from spending time with one another, as well as the unreal amount of tea that the group was able to consume...it was a ridiculous amount of tea.
We then snuggled into our bunks wrapped up in some amazing, soft blankets and slept very soundly. Many of us felt this was one of our favorite spots yet and hope to return again one day. It wasn’t a tropical volcano resort, but we thoroughly enjoyed a carefree, disconnected day at this hidden gem.
Jake and Brandon
Cuerici to Cruces
Today we went for a challenging, leg-stretching hike before our long drive to Las Cruces. The hike took 3 hours and was about 3.5 miles long and we reached an elevation of about 10,000 ft! The cloud forest lived up to its name- our guides said on an unobstructed day you should be able to see the pacific ocean, yet we saw a beautiful fluffy cloud of white (as pictured below). We stopped to see many species along the way, including lots of fungi, moss, and even a 1,000 year old oak! It was a very nice to have reprieve from all the bugs and heat that were present at our lower elevation destinations. We were also accompanied by a gorgeous dog named Adremado, which all of us enjoyed loving on a bit.
After the hike we had a nice send off lunch of trout from the local fish farm as well as potatoes and blackberry juice. We then packed up and started our 4 hour trek to Las Cruces. On the bus ride we listened to a jungle-themed spotify playlist curtesy of Caroline and Dr. Allen as well as some Shakira and The Grateful Dead. We stopped at a local grocery store for some sweet treats and other snacks. We also made a pit-stop for a bathroom break and met a cute friendly cat.
When we arrived to Las Cruces, it was raining and dark, but we were still excited, especially when we saw the awesome house that is all ours for the night, including a common room with beanbags, couch, refrigerator, and a classroom with a coffee machine just downstairs! Quite an improvement!
Dinner was family style with some salad with toppings including our favorite Costa Rican cheese, as well as rice, beans, and marinated beef strips. As usual there was fresh fruit and juice to accompany our meal. The dining hall was beautiful and we sat outside on a lovely hardwood porch. We ended the day with a group research project presentation on a palm project we conducted a few days ago. In this project, we looked at palms in primary and secondary forests and also looked at the pH of the soil in each forest type. We found more palms overall in the primary forest but more species richness in the secondary forest, and also found the soil in the secondary forest to be much more acidic- how interesting! Then we capped the night off with the plan for tomorrows hike and activities! Looking forward to four awesome days at Las Cruces!
Julia and Jen
After the hike we had a nice send off lunch of trout from the local fish farm as well as potatoes and blackberry juice. We then packed up and started our 4 hour trek to Las Cruces. On the bus ride we listened to a jungle-themed spotify playlist curtesy of Caroline and Dr. Allen as well as some Shakira and The Grateful Dead. We stopped at a local grocery store for some sweet treats and other snacks. We also made a pit-stop for a bathroom break and met a cute friendly cat.
When we arrived to Las Cruces, it was raining and dark, but we were still excited, especially when we saw the awesome house that is all ours for the night, including a common room with beanbags, couch, refrigerator, and a classroom with a coffee machine just downstairs! Quite an improvement!
Dinner was family style with some salad with toppings including our favorite Costa Rican cheese, as well as rice, beans, and marinated beef strips. As usual there was fresh fruit and juice to accompany our meal. The dining hall was beautiful and we sat outside on a lovely hardwood porch. We ended the day with a group research project presentation on a palm project we conducted a few days ago. In this project, we looked at palms in primary and secondary forests and also looked at the pH of the soil in each forest type. We found more palms overall in the primary forest but more species richness in the secondary forest, and also found the soil in the secondary forest to be much more acidic- how interesting! Then we capped the night off with the plan for tomorrows hike and activities! Looking forward to four awesome days at Las Cruces!
Julia and Jen
Big Booty Agoutis
Our first morning at Las Cruces started out with a typical Costa Rican breakfast, rice beans, fruit and juice, as well as some toast with peanut butter to appease our American tastes. After breakfast, we met our OTS guide, who took us on a guided walk of the gardens. The total botanical garden is 25 acres, while all of the grounds are around 360 acres. The botanical garden contains native species as well as species from all around the world - from Vietnam to Brazil to Africa. This botanical garden contains the second highest number of palm species in the world. Highlights from the walk were cool caterpillars that looked like they were made of jelly, the fern species with the largest leaves in the world, incredibly tall bamboo, and our favorite- a cool species called agouti! They look like large guinea pigs with longer legs... but so cute! We also went to a very tall observation tower, and had to hike up way too many stairs. At the end, the view was beautiful and worth it.
After the hike, we had a low key lunch of salad, pork chops and tropical fruit. The lovely ladies in the kitchen also whipped up some delightful coconut dessert bars that we all ate right up. This was followed by a chill afternoon where people had time to work on their individual research projects and read the articles for the reading discussion that would happen later today. For dinner we had the amazing surprise of pizza, which we all got seconds and thirds of! They kept it healthy with peppers on top and paired it with a salad bar and broccoli.
The reading discussion for the night was over two articles about the impacts of over-fishing and climate change on coral reefs. From here we veered into a heated discussion about GMOs and the future of sustainability and the world. Tomorrow we will tackle the rest of the world's problems.
Julia and Jen
After the hike, we had a low key lunch of salad, pork chops and tropical fruit. The lovely ladies in the kitchen also whipped up some delightful coconut dessert bars that we all ate right up. This was followed by a chill afternoon where people had time to work on their individual research projects and read the articles for the reading discussion that would happen later today. For dinner we had the amazing surprise of pizza, which we all got seconds and thirds of! They kept it healthy with peppers on top and paired it with a salad bar and broccoli.
The reading discussion for the night was over two articles about the impacts of over-fishing and climate change on coral reefs. From here we veered into a heated discussion about GMOs and the future of sustainability and the world. Tomorrow we will tackle the rest of the world's problems.
Julia and Jen
Caught Yellow Handed
We started off the day this morning with another traditional Costa Rican breakfast, after which we got on the bus to head to Boruca, an indigenous Costa Rican village. The bus ride was long and windy but we saw a yellow cara cara and a king vulture along the way. When we arrived we walked through a small local museum before heading over to be greeted with coffee and a delicious fried food consisting of corn and cheese, which we all devoured!
The first demonstration they showed us was how they made their cotton string and how they dyed it. We were all amazed that they made vibrant purple and blue dyes from seemingly ordinary green leaves. They did this by rubbing the leaves together in water to start a chemical reaction, changing the color. They also had orange, yellow, green, and a few other color dyes. Sarah Grace and Kat assisted in dying the yellow cotton by grinding turmeric with rock before working it into the cotton, leaving their hands neon yellow! They also showed us how they set the colors with lemon juice and salt before washing. Then we got to see the weaving process. We saw how they free-handed the styles and made different sized materials before weaving together the final product.
For lunch they served a beautiful display of squash, salad, mashed potatoes, beans and rice, pork, and eggs, all set out on banana leaves. But the star of the show was the delightful lemonade that accompanied the meal.
After lunch, they began the carving demonstration of the masks using balsa wood. He first free-handed a design in pen before showing us the rudimentary carving process. We were all amazed to see this plain piece of wood turn into a beautiful masterpiece! He also gave us a background of the masks: They were first used when the Spaniards invaded to scare off the new colonists. These were the traditional masks of just scary faces, which the Spaniards supposedly called "demons" when they first saw them, and this name stuck. They now carve animal masks as well for commercial use because the traditional ones were thought to be too scary for children. After seeing his exquisite work, we then got to witness his partner paint the mask. He showed us the demonstration on a small hand-sized mask, and we were surprised to see how quickly he produced a masterpiece. Then we got to try our hand by each painting one of these hand-sized masks as well. We had a blast and ended up covered in colorful paints!
Next to this area was a display of hand crafted bags and masks available for purchase. We all treasured the opportunity to learn about their culture and support their community by buying their vibrant and beautiful products.
Julia and Jen
The first demonstration they showed us was how they made their cotton string and how they dyed it. We were all amazed that they made vibrant purple and blue dyes from seemingly ordinary green leaves. They did this by rubbing the leaves together in water to start a chemical reaction, changing the color. They also had orange, yellow, green, and a few other color dyes. Sarah Grace and Kat assisted in dying the yellow cotton by grinding turmeric with rock before working it into the cotton, leaving their hands neon yellow! They also showed us how they set the colors with lemon juice and salt before washing. Then we got to see the weaving process. We saw how they free-handed the styles and made different sized materials before weaving together the final product.
For lunch they served a beautiful display of squash, salad, mashed potatoes, beans and rice, pork, and eggs, all set out on banana leaves. But the star of the show was the delightful lemonade that accompanied the meal.
After lunch, they began the carving demonstration of the masks using balsa wood. He first free-handed a design in pen before showing us the rudimentary carving process. We were all amazed to see this plain piece of wood turn into a beautiful masterpiece! He also gave us a background of the masks: They were first used when the Spaniards invaded to scare off the new colonists. These were the traditional masks of just scary faces, which the Spaniards supposedly called "demons" when they first saw them, and this name stuck. They now carve animal masks as well for commercial use because the traditional ones were thought to be too scary for children. After seeing his exquisite work, we then got to witness his partner paint the mask. He showed us the demonstration on a small hand-sized mask, and we were surprised to see how quickly he produced a masterpiece. Then we got to try our hand by each painting one of these hand-sized masks as well. We had a blast and ended up covered in colorful paints!
Next to this area was a display of hand crafted bags and masks available for purchase. We all treasured the opportunity to learn about their culture and support their community by buying their vibrant and beautiful products.
Julia and Jen
Are You Awake Yet?
Good morning Las Cruces
After yet another yummy breakfast on the fog enshrouded deck which we have claimed as our own against any other guests, we started our day by heading to have a tour of a nearby coffee farm.
Arrival
We visited a small coffee farm today. Upon arrival, we were greeted by happy furry friends and with fresh sugar cane to chew on.
from Guanacaste land clearer to San Vito conservationist
The farmer and his family grow more than coffee; however, other crops are for subsistence. In addition to shade and sun coffee, he grew tarro, corn, avocado, beans, among other crops.
Roberto, the farmer, considers himself a conservationist; when he came from Guanacaste province and bought this property, it was cleared and used for cattle. At home in Guanacaste good land was clear land. There was no concept of losing the forest- it just went on forever. Through hardships of poverty and growing coffee in san vito, he learned new ways of living and treating the land. The former cattle farm now is partially reforested- a project that a student helped to initiate on his farm. Other areas of the farm utilize fabaceae plants, which are nitrogen fixers, to re-nourish the soils with accessible nitrogen.
Processing
Instead of using machinery, Roberto uses the traditional process which requires use of hand tools to break the skin off ripe, red berries. Prior to breaking the exterior off, the berries sit for ~ 60 days. After breaking of shells process, the beans are dried in the sun. After drying in the sun, the beans are roasted
Citizen Science
While we were at the farm we also all partook in some citizen science for Kat’s research project. We spread ourselves out and observe the plants to look for damaged berries or any fungus that could be growing on them.
After we finished hiking around his farm, he brought us back to his house and gave us all fresh bananas, pineapple, papaya, and more sugar cane. He then showed us how he roasted them by hand and we met his very nice wife. They talked to us for a long while and some of us bought fresh ground coffee to take home. Then we said our thanks and patted the animals one more time before heading back to Las Cruces.
Farming Knowledge
Students and agronomists from local extensions give Roberto advice on regulating shade and sun exposure on his fields. Our friend, Roberto, uses living barriers to runoff from storm water to control flooding. Additionally, he prefers to avoid using pesticides and herbicides, because of his new found concern for environmental and human health. He and fellow farmers on the property cut weeds back with machetes leaving behind organic fertilizers for the plants.
Dr. Quinn added that the coffee plants would outcompete weeds ultimately anyways making his methods more cost effective. Moreover, the herbaceous weeds provide rootstrcutre that holds the soils together, further preventing erosion. If one takes good care of coffee plants and the surrounding soils, plants can last upwards of 40 years. However, some farms turnover plants every 5 years.
Sales
Despite Roberto's cooperative being 1,500 members strong (both small and large producers), farmers don’t really get a good price for coffee anymore, so less people are farming coffee these days. Many will leave the coffee market and clear their land for cattle.
If you’re going to San Francisco….. Or rather, California (broken) dreams
A trip to California revealed the cruel realities of the market to our dear friend, Roberto.There, he learned that he, as a farmer, made half (30c per Kilo) that a coffee roaster makes (50c per Kilo). A visit to starbucks made starker realities apparent. A kilo of coffee, 30c to the farmer, would make starbucks $180. Roberto was definitely handed the short end of the stick.
Rural hospitality & Textbook celebrities
With humility and grace , Roberto told us of his experiences in the third person, as is commonly done in rural Costa Rica.
In the tradition of rural Costa Rica, in response to a tip for the tour, we were greeted with extensive gifts of coffee and bananas from his farm.
At the end of our tour and snacks, we learned that on the cover of one of our textbooks was Roberto's wife as she proudly brought out a copy to show us.
Rest of the day
The rest of the day was spent working hard on our projects after a delicious lunch of spaghetti. Both professors were asked endless amounts of questions about our projects all day long. However we did get to have a nice break midday as we celebrated RYAN LEA’S BIRTHDAY!!! The professors got a big cake and ice cream and we overtook the dining hall for our festivities! We worked before and after dinner and then had more birthday celebrations by playing cards before bed. Overall a very interesting day and can’t wait to see Las Alturas tomorrow!
Caroline and Emily
After yet another yummy breakfast on the fog enshrouded deck which we have claimed as our own against any other guests, we started our day by heading to have a tour of a nearby coffee farm.
Arrival
We visited a small coffee farm today. Upon arrival, we were greeted by happy furry friends and with fresh sugar cane to chew on.
from Guanacaste land clearer to San Vito conservationist
The farmer and his family grow more than coffee; however, other crops are for subsistence. In addition to shade and sun coffee, he grew tarro, corn, avocado, beans, among other crops.
Roberto, the farmer, considers himself a conservationist; when he came from Guanacaste province and bought this property, it was cleared and used for cattle. At home in Guanacaste good land was clear land. There was no concept of losing the forest- it just went on forever. Through hardships of poverty and growing coffee in san vito, he learned new ways of living and treating the land. The former cattle farm now is partially reforested- a project that a student helped to initiate on his farm. Other areas of the farm utilize fabaceae plants, which are nitrogen fixers, to re-nourish the soils with accessible nitrogen.
Processing
Instead of using machinery, Roberto uses the traditional process which requires use of hand tools to break the skin off ripe, red berries. Prior to breaking the exterior off, the berries sit for ~ 60 days. After breaking of shells process, the beans are dried in the sun. After drying in the sun, the beans are roasted
Citizen Science
While we were at the farm we also all partook in some citizen science for Kat’s research project. We spread ourselves out and observe the plants to look for damaged berries or any fungus that could be growing on them.
After we finished hiking around his farm, he brought us back to his house and gave us all fresh bananas, pineapple, papaya, and more sugar cane. He then showed us how he roasted them by hand and we met his very nice wife. They talked to us for a long while and some of us bought fresh ground coffee to take home. Then we said our thanks and patted the animals one more time before heading back to Las Cruces.
Farming Knowledge
Students and agronomists from local extensions give Roberto advice on regulating shade and sun exposure on his fields. Our friend, Roberto, uses living barriers to runoff from storm water to control flooding. Additionally, he prefers to avoid using pesticides and herbicides, because of his new found concern for environmental and human health. He and fellow farmers on the property cut weeds back with machetes leaving behind organic fertilizers for the plants.
Dr. Quinn added that the coffee plants would outcompete weeds ultimately anyways making his methods more cost effective. Moreover, the herbaceous weeds provide rootstrcutre that holds the soils together, further preventing erosion. If one takes good care of coffee plants and the surrounding soils, plants can last upwards of 40 years. However, some farms turnover plants every 5 years.
Sales
Despite Roberto's cooperative being 1,500 members strong (both small and large producers), farmers don’t really get a good price for coffee anymore, so less people are farming coffee these days. Many will leave the coffee market and clear their land for cattle.
If you’re going to San Francisco….. Or rather, California (broken) dreams
A trip to California revealed the cruel realities of the market to our dear friend, Roberto.There, he learned that he, as a farmer, made half (30c per Kilo) that a coffee roaster makes (50c per Kilo). A visit to starbucks made starker realities apparent. A kilo of coffee, 30c to the farmer, would make starbucks $180. Roberto was definitely handed the short end of the stick.
Rural hospitality & Textbook celebrities
With humility and grace , Roberto told us of his experiences in the third person, as is commonly done in rural Costa Rica.
In the tradition of rural Costa Rica, in response to a tip for the tour, we were greeted with extensive gifts of coffee and bananas from his farm.
At the end of our tour and snacks, we learned that on the cover of one of our textbooks was Roberto's wife as she proudly brought out a copy to show us.
Rest of the day
The rest of the day was spent working hard on our projects after a delicious lunch of spaghetti. Both professors were asked endless amounts of questions about our projects all day long. However we did get to have a nice break midday as we celebrated RYAN LEA’S BIRTHDAY!!! The professors got a big cake and ice cream and we overtook the dining hall for our festivities! We worked before and after dinner and then had more birthday celebrations by playing cards before bed. Overall a very interesting day and can’t wait to see Las Alturas tomorrow!
Caroline and Emily
Journey off the Grid
Last Morning at Las Cruces:
We woke up early this morning and had another wonderful and final breakfast at Las Cruces. We all hurried back to clean out our rooms so that the nice cleaning ladies could begin cleaning for the next group who would stay in Casa Wilson.
Replication Projects:
We then all met to finish or last replication project. Sarah Grace, Ryan Lea, Nate, and Elena split us into 4 groups to observe artificial bromeliads they had placed 3 days prior around the botanical garden. We found many different kinds of bugs, larvae, and organic debris within the cups and it was amazing how much could happen in them in such a short time.
Working hard hardly working:
For the rest of the morning before lunch we all worked hard on our research papers. We made use of the large common room in Casa Wilson that had a big couch and many beanbags. We then headed to have a last lunch at Las Cruces and a few students cleaned the reception out of this amazing ice cream cookie that Dr. Allen blessed us with the knowledge of their existence. Seriously, really good. Think really soft, graham cracker cookies with vanilla ice cream in the middle with just enough chocolate sauce in the middle. I really want another... What were we talking about again?
Las Alturas:
After a very twisty and bumpy bus ride, we arrived at the next location we would be staying. We had been warned that it was very rustic, possibly no outlets, and the power turns off at 9. This place was absolutely beautiful and nothing else mattered. Las Alturas means the heights and it lived up to its name. We had the most wonderful view of a mountain range. It had no power during the day and all the windows were kept open to allow the cool breeze all day. We were met by Jason, a representative from OTS, Luz Milda, and another women whose name we did not get unfortunately. They were two nice ladies who were our personal chefs. After settling in, we all went on walks, talked to the cows, read the articles for our discussion that night, or just enjoyed watching the toucans darting between the trees outside the porch. The ladies made a wonderful dinner and after we moved all the benches together to have a discussion lead by Sarah Grace and Brandon about forest fragmentation and its effect on neotropical birds. We played cards till the power went out and went to bed to ready ourselves for a big hike tomorrow.
Caroline and Emily
We woke up early this morning and had another wonderful and final breakfast at Las Cruces. We all hurried back to clean out our rooms so that the nice cleaning ladies could begin cleaning for the next group who would stay in Casa Wilson.
Replication Projects:
We then all met to finish or last replication project. Sarah Grace, Ryan Lea, Nate, and Elena split us into 4 groups to observe artificial bromeliads they had placed 3 days prior around the botanical garden. We found many different kinds of bugs, larvae, and organic debris within the cups and it was amazing how much could happen in them in such a short time.
Working hard hardly working:
For the rest of the morning before lunch we all worked hard on our research papers. We made use of the large common room in Casa Wilson that had a big couch and many beanbags. We then headed to have a last lunch at Las Cruces and a few students cleaned the reception out of this amazing ice cream cookie that Dr. Allen blessed us with the knowledge of their existence. Seriously, really good. Think really soft, graham cracker cookies with vanilla ice cream in the middle with just enough chocolate sauce in the middle. I really want another... What were we talking about again?
Las Alturas:
After a very twisty and bumpy bus ride, we arrived at the next location we would be staying. We had been warned that it was very rustic, possibly no outlets, and the power turns off at 9. This place was absolutely beautiful and nothing else mattered. Las Alturas means the heights and it lived up to its name. We had the most wonderful view of a mountain range. It had no power during the day and all the windows were kept open to allow the cool breeze all day. We were met by Jason, a representative from OTS, Luz Milda, and another women whose name we did not get unfortunately. They were two nice ladies who were our personal chefs. After settling in, we all went on walks, talked to the cows, read the articles for our discussion that night, or just enjoyed watching the toucans darting between the trees outside the porch. The ladies made a wonderful dinner and after we moved all the benches together to have a discussion lead by Sarah Grace and Brandon about forest fragmentation and its effect on neotropical birds. We played cards till the power went out and went to bed to ready ourselves for a big hike tomorrow.
Caroline and Emily
The Never Ending Hill
Good Morning Las Alturas:
In the night we had a big rainstorm that sounded amazing on the tin roof of the house and awoke to a damp morning. The chefs made us an amazing breakfast which included a really great sour cream like sauce to put on our rice and beans and an amazing breakfast empanada with yummy cheese inside. We ate a large breakfast as we would have a later lunch because of the long hike. We started out on the hike loaded with lots of water and snacks at around 7:40. We took a trial called Sendero Chai that lead to the top of a mountain. It took us two and half hours and a 1500 feet altitude increase to get to the top. The view made it all worth it. It was a very steep and difficult climb to the top and a very slick slide back to the bottom. While at the top, many students were wondering if we had entered into Panama yet since we were mere miles from the border. Sadly, we had not.
Afternoon:
After the hike we ate a great lunch and then had the afternoon free to walk more, work on research papers, hang out, or read the really exciting articles for the discussion this evening. Many people tried our the showers after the hike. These were colder than any we had experienced. They were faucet like in that they were just a stream of water from a pipe.
Night:
We finished a delicious dinner prepared by our wonderful chefs and then got down to business. Our discussion this evening was about no other topic other than feces. Yes that’s right we got to talk about poop in a very scientific way and no one could get through it without laughing. Especially not, Dr. Allen who had to excuse herself once. These discussions were run by Caroline, Elena, and Elise. The first article was a newly released article about HIPPO POOP! The authors studied excrement released by hippopotami that was causing fish kills in the savannah of Africa. The second article was about wastewater produced by humans and how it can be more sustainably managed. After this amusing and very intellectual discussion, many people played cards and worked on their research papers. After the lights went off some people tried to stay up a little later and fight off the bugs that were attracted to the light that was given off by our computers. Eventually everyone went to bed in their rooms. Except for Sarah Grace and Emily who decided to pull their mattresses onto the porch and brave the bugs.
Caroline and Emily
In the night we had a big rainstorm that sounded amazing on the tin roof of the house and awoke to a damp morning. The chefs made us an amazing breakfast which included a really great sour cream like sauce to put on our rice and beans and an amazing breakfast empanada with yummy cheese inside. We ate a large breakfast as we would have a later lunch because of the long hike. We started out on the hike loaded with lots of water and snacks at around 7:40. We took a trial called Sendero Chai that lead to the top of a mountain. It took us two and half hours and a 1500 feet altitude increase to get to the top. The view made it all worth it. It was a very steep and difficult climb to the top and a very slick slide back to the bottom. While at the top, many students were wondering if we had entered into Panama yet since we were mere miles from the border. Sadly, we had not.
Afternoon:
After the hike we ate a great lunch and then had the afternoon free to walk more, work on research papers, hang out, or read the really exciting articles for the discussion this evening. Many people tried our the showers after the hike. These were colder than any we had experienced. They were faucet like in that they were just a stream of water from a pipe.
Night:
We finished a delicious dinner prepared by our wonderful chefs and then got down to business. Our discussion this evening was about no other topic other than feces. Yes that’s right we got to talk about poop in a very scientific way and no one could get through it without laughing. Especially not, Dr. Allen who had to excuse herself once. These discussions were run by Caroline, Elena, and Elise. The first article was a newly released article about HIPPO POOP! The authors studied excrement released by hippopotami that was causing fish kills in the savannah of Africa. The second article was about wastewater produced by humans and how it can be more sustainably managed. After this amusing and very intellectual discussion, many people played cards and worked on their research papers. After the lights went off some people tried to stay up a little later and fight off the bugs that were attracted to the light that was given off by our computers. Eventually everyone went to bed in their rooms. Except for Sarah Grace and Emily who decided to pull their mattresses onto the porch and brave the bugs.
Caroline and Emily
Running on 'Tico Time'
Tico time is a concept that Costa Ricans use to describe their relaxed sense of timeliness (or as an excuse for tardiness). Our group seemed to adopt this philosophy pretty early on in the trip. This morning, however, with a filling Tico breakfast of scrambled eggs, rice and beans, and toast, we were able to say goodbye to Las Alturas on time (and with 26 minutes to spare). It was a little hard to say goodbye to the wonderful view that seems to only exist in the morning (because of the thick cloud cover in the afternoon), but the promise of the warm, sandy beaches soon filled that void.
Our amazing bus driver, Javier, skillfully maneuvered our bus from the twisty roads of Las Alturas to the rocky roads of Puertocito. It is a tragedy that Javier hasn't had a whole post devoted to him. If Javier was narrowed down to three adjectives, they would be: protective, caring, and professional. All in all, Javier has our best interests in heart and he is a perfect addition to our team of ecologists.
We (finally) made it to the beach and it did not disappoint. The Pacific Ocean was warm and welcoming, but, unfortunately, our time on the beach was short because we had to check into our hotel. Before we left, Costa Rica still revealed to us new wonders with the presence of a three-toed sloth barely ten steps off of the beach. Sloths are very hard to spot because our eyes are trained to spot movement and sloths move, well, sloth-like.
For the first time, our lodgings seemed to be ready to accommodate our large group. When we arrived to the Cuna del Angel, a four star, five leaf resort, there were 17 glasses full of fresh juice waiting for us. By the time we had finished, our luggage was already unloaded from the bus and we were shown to our rooms. The remainder of the afternoon we enjoyed the hotel's amenities such as, a tv to watch the Champions League final, an infinity pool, views of the Pacific Ocean, and real mattresses. The hotel also has an impressive amount of wildlife that guests can enjoy like toucans, lizards, spiders, crabs, and probably some howler monkeys judging by the relative loudness of their shouts that make it to the hotel grounds.
We went into town to Fuego for dinner. I don't know what it is about our group and fire-related dinner destinations, but after going to the Lava Lounge in Arenal, you start to wonder. While the food served here didn't please Javier's refined Costa Rican palette, it was perfect for a group of tourists from the States who may be a little homesick (or sick of rice and beans). No one left Fuego still hungry, and our full stomachs made for a very sleepy return to the hotel.
Garrison and Eileen
Our amazing bus driver, Javier, skillfully maneuvered our bus from the twisty roads of Las Alturas to the rocky roads of Puertocito. It is a tragedy that Javier hasn't had a whole post devoted to him. If Javier was narrowed down to three adjectives, they would be: protective, caring, and professional. All in all, Javier has our best interests in heart and he is a perfect addition to our team of ecologists.
We (finally) made it to the beach and it did not disappoint. The Pacific Ocean was warm and welcoming, but, unfortunately, our time on the beach was short because we had to check into our hotel. Before we left, Costa Rica still revealed to us new wonders with the presence of a three-toed sloth barely ten steps off of the beach. Sloths are very hard to spot because our eyes are trained to spot movement and sloths move, well, sloth-like.
For the first time, our lodgings seemed to be ready to accommodate our large group. When we arrived to the Cuna del Angel, a four star, five leaf resort, there were 17 glasses full of fresh juice waiting for us. By the time we had finished, our luggage was already unloaded from the bus and we were shown to our rooms. The remainder of the afternoon we enjoyed the hotel's amenities such as, a tv to watch the Champions League final, an infinity pool, views of the Pacific Ocean, and real mattresses. The hotel also has an impressive amount of wildlife that guests can enjoy like toucans, lizards, spiders, crabs, and probably some howler monkeys judging by the relative loudness of their shouts that make it to the hotel grounds.
We went into town to Fuego for dinner. I don't know what it is about our group and fire-related dinner destinations, but after going to the Lava Lounge in Arenal, you start to wonder. While the food served here didn't please Javier's refined Costa Rican palette, it was perfect for a group of tourists from the States who may be a little homesick (or sick of rice and beans). No one left Fuego still hungry, and our full stomachs made for a very sleepy return to the hotel.
Garrison and Eileen
A Whale's Tail
This morning we woke up here at Hotel Cuna del Angel and surprisingly had nothing to do and nowhere to be, at least immediately. Most of us started off the day by having breakfast downstairs in the hotel restaurant or sleeping in past seven which now seems unusual. We then left for the beach at 8:30 in pursuit of seeing what is called the Whale's Tail. The Whale's Tail is pretty much a huge sandbar that is in the shape of, yes, a Whale's Tail. Because of the shape of the sandbar, and it being low tide at the time that we got there, pretty much the entire sandbar was exposed and you could walk out all the way to the tail end of it. Most of us did this, and found when we were walking out there to be no water, and yet walking back we had to walk through water. The tides had changed that quickly, and now the Whale's Tail was under water. After we walked out on the sandbar, everyone then hung out on the beach for a while, either reading a book or trying to ride the waves which were occasionally pretty good size. One thing the group could have used more today of was definitely sun block. All that time on the beach we spent, a lot of us got fried.
After we had enough time at the beach and were sufficently burned, we headed into the nearby town for lunch. It has become very apparent throughout this trip that you cannot eat anywhere quickly when you have a group of seventeen people, and lunch today was no exception. There was one person working in the kitchen, and he had all of our orders plus the other peoples' in the restaurant. Because of this we found or food coming out one by one, and some people finished before others even got their food. The food was good though, and definitely worth waiting for. We then got back on the bus to go back to the hotel before people started wondering off to try and find ice cream. Some did find it in a supermarket right by the restaurant, others were not so lucky. We therefore had to make another stop down the road for those who didn't get ice cream. We like to eat. Now, we could actually go back to the hotel.
Once back at the hotel many of us went and relaxed by the pool, or tried to get some work done. We had free time until we left for dinner at 5:30, which is when the main event of the day would begin. The dinner tonight would be for our good friend Jake's 20th birthday. What better way to spend your 20th birthday than with 16 (including professors) of your new best friends??? I sure don't know. Anyways, we went to a beach side restaurant called Coco's. It was just a normal style restaurant with all the the typical Costa Rican foods (rice, beans, and meat), but it also had good seafood. The staff at the restaurant were all very nice. They gave Jake a present, and had a cake for him that they had went out and bought. We were planning on eating the cake at the restaurant but a few of us needed to get back to the hotel to watch LeBron beat the Celtics in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. This was pretty important.
Back at the hotel it was now time to eat cake and watch the basketball game. Before we could do this, we quickly had to be reminded that the hotel was a gluten free hotel, and because of this we wouldn't be allowed to eat the cake in the lobby. Yes, very interesting. So we headed up to Dr. Quinn's room which now felt like a sauna with all 17 of us in it. We then all ate cake and watched LeBron win his eighth straight Eastern Conference title. All of us then went our separate ways, some to relax and some to get some work done. I'm sure none of us will be having trouble sleeping after the long day and the sunburns.
Garrison and Eileen
FU for the last (-ish) time
-It's amazing the difference a few weeks can have on someone's outlook on experiences. With many of us gathered around the breakfast table, one of the waiters pointed out a howler monkey to the few people crazy enough to be up so early in the morning. While most of the hotel guests oohed-and-aahed over the troop of monkeys, our seasoned group gave the monkeys an appreciative glance and then continued with our meals.
We said goodbye to Cuna del Angel with the bittersweet knowledge that that was our last (real) destination of this experience. We stopped for lunch at an amazing seafood restaurant at a surf town called Jacó. We got fried calamari for the table and many of us enjoyed the refreshing iced lemonades. Half of the table got wonderful views of the surf beach, complete with both experienced and novice surfers, while the other half got great views of the-- not one, not two, but seven (!) scarlet macaws that flew over the restaurant. Of course, these views were not exclusively reserved for one side of the table (much like the fried calamari). We explored the town for a bit after lunch. Many of us got some ice cream, which was a perfect complement to the balmy weather.
We finally made it to our last stop on the trip, Alajuela. Here, we had to say goodbye to our wonderful Javier. Some tears were shed (but only few would admit it, including Javier). The evening was spent taking our final exam (please see question below), finishing up the final details on our research projects, and enjoying the hotel's brownies (one of many trip highlights).
Reflecting back on this experience, all of us have found it hard to pinpoint what our favorite part of the trip was. It was even hard trying to decide what our least favorite part was because it was just such a good experience all around (but bug bites, stray scorpions, and sunburn were definitely not fun). You know that feeling where something as recent as three weeks feels like a lifetime ago? That is what this experience has felt like -- a whole lifetime of destinations, lessons, and friends. And while this trip has been amazing, it's time to end this chapter and start a new one (and to get a shower).
Garrison and Eileen
We said goodbye to Cuna del Angel with the bittersweet knowledge that that was our last (real) destination of this experience. We stopped for lunch at an amazing seafood restaurant at a surf town called Jacó. We got fried calamari for the table and many of us enjoyed the refreshing iced lemonades. Half of the table got wonderful views of the surf beach, complete with both experienced and novice surfers, while the other half got great views of the-- not one, not two, but seven (!) scarlet macaws that flew over the restaurant. Of course, these views were not exclusively reserved for one side of the table (much like the fried calamari). We explored the town for a bit after lunch. Many of us got some ice cream, which was a perfect complement to the balmy weather.
We finally made it to our last stop on the trip, Alajuela. Here, we had to say goodbye to our wonderful Javier. Some tears were shed (but only few would admit it, including Javier). The evening was spent taking our final exam (please see question below), finishing up the final details on our research projects, and enjoying the hotel's brownies (one of many trip highlights).
Reflecting back on this experience, all of us have found it hard to pinpoint what our favorite part of the trip was. It was even hard trying to decide what our least favorite part was because it was just such a good experience all around (but bug bites, stray scorpions, and sunburn were definitely not fun). You know that feeling where something as recent as three weeks feels like a lifetime ago? That is what this experience has felt like -- a whole lifetime of destinations, lessons, and friends. And while this trip has been amazing, it's time to end this chapter and start a new one (and to get a shower).
Garrison and Eileen
A Final Farewell
Today was full of sentimental goodbyes, relief of being done with our papers, and sadness from leaving Costa Rica.
Eileen headed out bright and early before many of us even woke up as she headed to Monteverde for her summer internship.
The rest of us had the morning free today to wrap up our papers and finish any field notes we let slip before we loaded the bus and headed to the airport.
This was our first trip in a car without Javier at the wheel and we discovered how much we appreciated the large bus that fit all 17 of us with comfort as we squished into two 8-person shuttles. After a bumpy ride, we made it to the San Jose Airport. We all made it through security safely, except for the soccer ball which sadly was deflated by a security officer.
Once we got through security, we all enjoyed time strolling through the shops looking for last-minute souvenirs as well as lunch. Once we all landed stateside, Kat passed around the soccer ball for us to sign as a last-minute memento. As we all got off the plane, we quickly realized that we would have to say goodbye before going through customs since all but four were catching connecting flights. After some sentimental goodbyes, we went on our ways and headed home to sleep in our own beds for the first time since we left for Costa Rica.
That's it for our amazing trip this past month. It has been an amazing experience full of memories we will never forget. Thanks for following us this past month! We're out!
- Sarah Grace and Elise
Eileen headed out bright and early before many of us even woke up as she headed to Monteverde for her summer internship.
The rest of us had the morning free today to wrap up our papers and finish any field notes we let slip before we loaded the bus and headed to the airport.
This was our first trip in a car without Javier at the wheel and we discovered how much we appreciated the large bus that fit all 17 of us with comfort as we squished into two 8-person shuttles. After a bumpy ride, we made it to the San Jose Airport. We all made it through security safely, except for the soccer ball which sadly was deflated by a security officer.
Once we got through security, we all enjoyed time strolling through the shops looking for last-minute souvenirs as well as lunch. Once we all landed stateside, Kat passed around the soccer ball for us to sign as a last-minute memento. As we all got off the plane, we quickly realized that we would have to say goodbye before going through customs since all but four were catching connecting flights. After some sentimental goodbyes, we went on our ways and headed home to sleep in our own beds for the first time since we left for Costa Rica.
That's it for our amazing trip this past month. It has been an amazing experience full of memories we will never forget. Thanks for following us this past month! We're out!
- Sarah Grace and Elise