After deploying the HOBOs this morning with Hector and a small trip to Monterrey, Dr. B, Hector and I were able to spend a few hours sampling plant growth. Hector's plant project is coming along quite nicely. We covered three of the plots from 2008. I can certainly feel the difference when we are out working--two years ago we were under direct sun, and now we are feeling quite cool under the well-grown canopy. Perhaps the animals share this sentiment as well, since I almost wound up on top of the notorious fer de lance...I'm glad it was only almost. After that encounter, we weren't quite so brazen moving through the underbrush.
The insect part of my microhabitat project also got off the ground today quite nicely. Dr. Brown has been extremely helpful in identifying the Orders of insects. I can't imagine how long it would take me to sort through a single sample by myself. Or how many individuals I would lose.
Anyway, we were able to collect some interesting samples today, that I'll upload here.
First dish--Coleoptera:
The so-called "glasshopper" (Orthoptera):
And finally, a couple of pretty Hemiptera:
The insect part of my microhabitat project also got off the ground today quite nicely. Dr. Brown has been extremely helpful in identifying the Orders of insects. I can't imagine how long it would take me to sort through a single sample by myself. Or how many individuals I would lose.Anyway, we were able to collect some interesting samples today, that I'll upload here.
First dish--Coleoptera:
The so-called "glasshopper" (Orthoptera):
And finally, a couple of pretty Hemiptera:
Lucky dog! You almost ended up stuck with surveying hospital room insects for the rest of the week.
I spent a few days at a nice hotel on top of a big, misty hill near a volcano when I went to Costa Rica. But the forest was big and beautiful out there. All your hard work is inspiring me to go find a job. Thanks EcoMap!