Luquillo LTER

Visit our FAQ. Visit us with our Virtual Site Visit or see our brochure for a quick look at who we are and what we do (en Español).

For important safety information see our Field Safety Guide / Guía de Seguridad (en Español)

We have new visitor maps to help navigate El Verde / mapa en Español; El Verde tree species guide

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Continuously funded and now forty-four years old,

Continuously funded and now forty-four years old, the Long-Term Ecological Research Network is a one of a kind organization in the world of ecology. Our work revolves around long-term inquiry, relying on experiments and monitoring in tandem to answer big questions about natural systems.

“There’s always a chance you’ll see somethin

“There’s always a chance you’ll see something amazing when you cross the Santa Barbara Channel. A few months ago, on a particularly windy and chaotic crossing back from a long day of diving at Santa Cruz Island, graduate student Billie Beckley at the helm said, ‘I think I see a whale!’”

Read more about the three most memorable wildlife encounters Frankie Puerzer has had in the channel while working for the @sbc_lter in our latest SSALTER blog “There’s always a chance something amazing will happen”. Frankie is an Assistant Specialist in the Miller Lab. She runs field operations, manages the lab and supervises undergraduate interns and visiting students. When she’s not underwater diving for research or fun, she’s on the surface paddling, kiting or surfing.

https://lternet.edu/stories/theres-always-a-chance-something-amazing-will-happen/

“Virginia Tech researchers collecting data as pa

“Virginia Tech researchers collecting data as part of a long-term study on migratory shorebird foraging ecology in the Virginia Coast Reserve.

This study seeks to understand patterns of migratory shorebird habitat use and prey selection on barrier island beaches and mudflats during spring migration at this important staging site.

Current research focuses on imperiled species such as the Red Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, and Semipalmated Sandpiper that are increasingly threatened by climate change across their range.” #resilience #disturbance #crittersandbeasties #seasonalchanges #diversity

Caption and photos submitted by Kristy Lapenta, a graduate student at Virginia Tech.

Photo credits 📸 - Virginia Tech researchers

Want us to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

“The Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER (CAP LTER) has

“The Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER (CAP LTER) has monitored nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and human activity in this accidental wetland since 2012, revealing this ecosystem is in some ways a happy accident–a rare occurrence in the age of climate change.”

Read more from our latest SSALTER blog “Unintentional oasis - An accidental urban wetland in the Sonoran Desert” by graduate student Luke Ramsey-Wiegmann and undergraduate Raisa Mahmud, both at Arizona State University! https://lternet.edu/stories/unintentional-oasis-an-accidental-urban-wetland-in-the-sonoran-desert/

Photo credits 📸 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 - Luke Ramsey-Wiegmann and 2 and 5 - Raisa Mahmud

Great 2024 LTER Science Council meeting at the @bn

Great 2024 LTER Science Council meeting at the @bnz_lter! We all loved the face to face collaboration, and there was tons of productive talk about how to take a great network and have it do better science, be more inclusive, and have a positive effect on people. Until next year!

The Adelie penguin population suffered as a result

The Adelie penguin population suffered as a result of climate change induced krill shortages, new Palmer LTER research finds. Read the story to find out how climate change magnifies natural variability to dramatic effect in this month's Network News.

LTER Network News | May 2024

The Rainfall Exclusion eXperiment, or REX as we ca

The Rainfall Exclusion eXperiment, or REX as we call it, started within the KBS LTER in 2021, and just like the name suggests, this experiment manipulates drought! This has been a highly collaborative experiment that uses rainout shelters to exclude rainfall from the plots. Participating labs have measured the effects of this disturbance on various different communities, from ants, nematodes, soil microbes, and plants of course! You might also notice the structures underneath or next to the shelters that are highlighted in these photos - those are open top chambers that simulate warming. My lab specifically focuses on the effects of multiple climate stressors on below and above ground communities. These are some of my favorite photos captured in the field since the experiment started. #resilience #diversity #disturbance

Caption by Moriah Young, a graduate student at Michigan State University in Dr. Phoebe Zarnetske’s Spacial and Community Ecology Lab.

📷 #4 by Emily Parker
📷 #7 by Phoebe Zarnetske

Want us to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

During our summer at Cedar Creek, helping with the

During our summer at Cedar Creek, helping with the LTER experiments, we pursued an independent project that initially aimed to monitor phenology in a nearby bog, using ArcGIS to analyze vegetation distribution and mark species of high priority. However, we ended up focusing our project on the round-leafed sundew, Drosera rotundifolia. One day while wandering in the bog, immersed in the sensation of sinking sphagnum and the tangy scent of tamarack, we noticed differences between the morphology of some of the sundews. Upon closer inspection, we realized there were two distinct sundew species. This species, Drosera intermedia, had never been recorded before at Cedar Creek! With the help of Rebekah Mohn of UMN and our mentor Katrina Freund, we collected specimens for the UMN Bell Herbarium and presented them at our summer conference. This was such an exciting find, and we learned a lot about bog ecology by mucking around and exploring the incredible populations of rare, enthralling wetland plants. #hiddenworld #diversity

Caption by Ariel Schwartzman Miles and Julia Franey, photos by Katrina Freund. Both Ariel (Vassar College) and Julia (UMass Lowell) were undergraduate researchers at the CDR LTER last summer!

Want us to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

Watch the LTER's new video about Synthesis Science

Watch the LTER's new video about Synthesis Science and check out our open RFP in this edition of the LTER Network News!

Plus, stories, jobs, funding opps, and more.

LTER Network News | April 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/lternet/lter-network-news-march-17967547

Dreaming of some flower covered meadows and the bu

Dreaming of some flower covered meadows and the buzz of bees! The meadows are an important source of diversity in the Andrews Experimental Forest. They represent less than 2.5% of the area yet they are packed with flowering plant species and a diversity of pollinators. These meadows are surrounded mainly my conifer forest, thus they serve as critical habitat for pollinators in the system. #diversity @andrewsforest

Caption and photos submitted by Nicole Martínez-Llaurador @nito0917 a graduate student at the University of Oregon. Nicole adds, “The project I am working on is part of the long-term monitoring of pollinators in the Andrews. The project has been on going for more than 10 years and it is thanks to the hard work of many REU and graduate students that it continues.”

Photo credit for photos 1 & 2: Dave Cappeart

Want us to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

“Over the last 23 years, divers have surveyed co

“Over the last 23 years, divers have surveyed communities at 11 local reefs to assess how these dynamic systems change in response to environmental variability, disturbance, fishing, and shifts in the abundance of our major foundation species, giant kelp. Though we have learned a lot about what drives changes in kelp forest community structure, there is still much to learn about most of the organisms that inhabit this ecosystem.”

Read more from our latest SSALTER blog “A picturesque study system - notes from the SBC LTER” by graduate student Kristen Michaud! https://lternet.edu/stories/a-picturesque-study-system-notes-from-the-sbc-lter/

Kristen is a PhD candidate in Robert Miller’s lab at UC Santa Barbara and has been working with the SBC LTER since she was an REU student in 2017. Her research focuses on the abiotic and biotic factors that influence benthic community dynamics in Santa Barbara Channel kelp forests. She is particularly interested in the effects of warming, food availability, and competition on sessile suspension feeding invertebrates and how these communities have shifted over time.

Throwing it back to the warmer months with summer

Throwing it back to the warmer months with summer flicks from Konza’s LTER team 🌾 #crittersandbeasties #artandscience

Photos and caption by Syd Walker. Syd works as an undergraduate researcher in a lab at Kanses State University and loves the community that they’ve built!

Want us to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

Virginia’s barrier islands are moving. No need t

Virginia’s barrier islands are moving. No need to worry though, they’re supposed to. Experts think these islands have been marching landward for about 6,000 years.

Barrier islands, as the name implies, provide shelter for coastal wetlands from crashing ocean waves. The protected wetlands, like salt marshes and unvegetated lagoons, harbor sizable stores of blue carbon – the name for carbon in marine ecosystems – and support many important ecosystem and cultural services. However, with rapid sea level rise, barrier islands are retreating faster than ever, exposing the ecosystems and blue carbon they once defended to the choppy surf. So maybe worry a little bit.

Read the full story, from Nick Link, in this month's LTER Network News (link in bio!). Also included—our 2024 Competition for Synthesis Proposals, a new grad course, two great workshops in prep for field season, and much more.

Photo credit: Gordon Campbell, used with permission.

A dock in the Virginia Coast Reserve brings two pe

A dock in the Virginia Coast Reserve brings two people together, both with questions weighing heaving on their minds. With the help of singing along to Taylor Swift songs together and the vulnerability that good conversation can bring, they part the dock with a sense of belonging.

“The Dock” by Paul Leoni and Jess Liu is our latest SSALTER blog and can be read here:
https://lternet.edu/stories/the-dock/

Paul Leoni (he/him) is an undergraduate junior at The George Washington University studying Environmental and Sustainability Science. He is a research volunteer in the Gedan Lab, where he designs graphic abstracts and conceptual figures for the lab’s ongoing publications and projects at the Virginia Coast Reserve LTER.

Jess Liu (they/them) is a research technician in Dr. Keryn Gedan’s lab at The George Washington University. They assist in projects investigating the transition of upland forests to marshes in the face of coastal sea level rise at the Virginia Coast Reserve LTER. See https://www.gedanlab.com/ for more information!

Photos by Paula Leoni @pfl.photos

Sea level rise is eroding Virginia’s barrier isl

Sea level rise is eroding Virginia’s barrier islands, potentially flipping carbon rich coastal ecosystems from sinks to sources.

Mary Bryan Barksdale, a PhD student at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, wanted to understand the impact of migrating barrier islands on blue carbon storage. To do so, Barksdale and co-authors Christopher Hein and Matt Kirwan monitored rates of barrier island movement and carbon flux along Virginia’s barrier islands, which fall within the Virginia Coast Reserve LTER (VCR) @vcrlter. Their findings, which were recently published in Nature Communications, show that sea level rise has significantly weakened their functioning as a carbon sink. The work upends our understanding of the stability of carbon storage in these ecosystems.

Read the full story about the work at https://lternet.edu/stories/barrier-island-retreat-drives-blue-carbon-losses/, or follow the link in bio.

Story by Graduate Writing Fellow Nick Link
Photos: Mary Bryan Barksdale

As the cold autumn air sweeps its way across the b

As the cold autumn air sweeps its way across the bog, tiny sphagnum moss becomes frozen in place, tamarack needles turn a brilliant golden yellow, and the mosquitos take their leave for the winter. Nothing matches the serenity of a bog on a crisp, fall morning. @bnz_lter #InteriorAlaska #AlaskaPeatlandExperiment #seasonalchanges

Photos and caption by Hailey Webb, a graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Want to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

“The communal living has given participants a ch

“The communal living has given participants a chance to consider not only the impact of doing Antarctic science on global resources, but the environmental cost of simply being alive between working hours. Water needs are met by obtaining ice chipped from the frozen lake or carried back to camp from nearby calving glaciers, and passively melted by bringing into the hut and letting sit atop a diesel-fueled Kuma stove. Passive melting, while more efficient, is a slow process, and requires full participation by all field crew members to maintain a supply before liquid water runs out. And run out it does; Water obtained by this method is used for all household purposes. Supply must support drinking water, cooking, washing hands, washing dishes, and brushing teeth.”

Read more about living and doing research @mcm_lter in our latest SSALTER blog “Success stories in sustainability from the southernmost site” by Emily Reynebeau. Emily has been at the McMurdo LTER since 2018, first as a Master’s student and now as a PhD student at the University of New Mexico, and has gone down to the Dry Valleys four times. When she’s home, she loves hanging out with her husband and their three dogs.

https://lternet.edu/stories/success-stories-in-sustainability-from-the-southernmost-site/

In the duel between the sun’s glare and the snow

In the duel between the sun’s glare and the snow’s soft glow, nature crafts a masterpiece of contrasting radiance. The second photo was taken in a control plot of SGS-LTER, Colorado (as we can see the rainout shelter beside). After brushing the surface snow, intact soil cores were collected to analyze soil pore structure. It was one of those days of Colorado when they had surprise snow storm in 2023.

Photos and caption by Michigan State University graduate student Goutham Thotakuri.

The Shortgrass Steppe (SGS) LTER project is no longer active, but was funded by NSF from 1982-2014 as one of the first sites in the US LTER Network!

#seasonalchanges

Want to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

Mentorship is a hot topic as we prepare for the fi

Mentorship is a hot topic as we prepare for the field season. Read about a lab studying Fungi and the mentoring relationships cultured by a common interest. Or, prepare for the coming field season with mentoring and bystander intervention trainings. Plus, jobs, news, and much more.

LTER Network News | January 2024

The @KBSLTER hosted their second Artist in Residen

The @KBSLTER hosted their second Artist in Residence this past summer, @eco_genome. Callie shared their passion for plants and the art-science connection through a #cyanotype sun-printing event for #REUs, undergrads, and their mentors. The art created at this event was presented alongside research posters at the Undergraduate Research Symposium the following day! #artandscience

Photos and caption by Liz Schultheis, KBS LTER’s Education & Outreach Coordinator.

Want to feature your LTER photos? Follow this link: https://forms.gle/Da2YqH9uQs3FKbGf8 or find it in our bio to have your LTER photos featured on our Instagram!

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🔊 Job Position! 🚨 Attention senior undergr

🔊 Job Position!

🚨 Attention senior undergraduate or recent graduate students in biology, ecology, or environmental science. Up to 6 full-time interns will be hired to assist with the 2024 seedling census.

⏳ The deadline for application submissions is February 2, 2024.

📝 Applications and inquiries should be sent to nelson.bonilla@upr.edu.

See the images for more details.

🔊 ¡Puesto de trabajo!

🚨 Atención a estudiantes de último año o recién graduados en biología, ecología o ciencias ambientales. Se llenarán hasta 6 posiciones de pasantía a tiempo completo para asistir en el censo de plántulas de 2024.

⏳ La fecha límite para enviar solicitudes es el 2 de febrero de 2024.

📝 Envíen sus solicitudes y consultas a nelson.bonilla@upr.edu.

Vean las imágenes para más detalles.

#lter #luqlter #studentsofluquillo

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students. T

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students.

Today we highlight University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras student Pablo Andres Arce Benitez.

“Sediments are small particles that settle at the bottom of streams and are essential for many ecosystem processes. These materials carry nutrients and contaminants, are formed by organic and inorganic particles, and are introduced into the streams by water runoff during a rain episode, organic matter inputs, and human activities.
(photo 1)

🦐Atya lanipes is one of nine species of freshwater shrimp found in high-elevation streams in Puerto Rico. They reach high densities when fish are not present. A. lanipes plays an important role in resuspending deposited sediments, essentially cleaning the streams. A. lanipes is so effective at resuspending fine sediments that after a rain episode, they can completely remove the sediments in 24 hours. The reason they are so good is because they are constantly foraging for food on the surface of the benthos.
(photo 2)

🌡As temperatures are expected to rise in streams in the future, this summer we are studying the effect of temperature on A. lanipes ability to remove sediments. To achieve this we collected benthic deposited sediment and dried it out (photo 3 y 4) and then we made a close irrigation system with 20 containers to house 10 shrimps at a time (photo 5). After preparing the close irrigation system we went fishing for shrimp using traps and dog food as bait, once captured the shrimp were measured to determine if they were the correct size for the experiment (photo6). For the experiment, each container will be filled with water with the desired temperature, a sand substrate base, recollected benthic sediment, and housing for the shrimps and the shrimps. The water in the container will be recirculated constantly to eliminate the sediments resuspended by the shrimp. Then after 24 hours of activity, the sediment left in the container will be used to determine the amount of resuspended sediment”.

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students. T

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students.

Today we highlight Wesleyan University student Matthew J. Gilbert.

"What comes to mind when you think of animals living in streams? Fish? Shrimp? What about aquatic insects? While they might be tiny, hard to see, and a little scary-looking, aquatic insects are a very important part of stream ecosystems.

My research this summer is focused on a particular aquatic insect called a mayfly (order Ephemeroptera). As of right now, it is unclear how their in-stream resource use differs between the different genera of mayflies found in Puerto Rico, so to address this gap in knowledge, I'm working with three different genera of mayfly larvae.

There are two habitats I’m observing: leaf litter and rocks. To answer the question of which of these resources is preferred by each mayfly genus, I divided my project into two sections, survey sampling and experimental sampling. For survey sampling, I am going to Quebrada Sonadora, a stream in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, and using a specialized net (called a Surber net) I collect mayflies within 15x15cm plots across a range of all rock to all leaf habitats. For experimental sampling, I find plots without rocks and introduce them, and plots without leaves and introduce them to see if there is a change in the proportion of mayfly genera. I also sample plots before introducing the new resource and once a week for 3 more weeks to allow for mayflies to start inhabiting the leaves and rocks.

Disturbances, like hurricanes, alter the resource availability in streams. Climate change predictions show an increase in hurricane frequency and severity in the coming years, making this work particularly important for understanding modern stream ecology.

Picture 1: Sampling a riffle with a Surber net

Picture 2: Transferring mayflies from trays to vials

Picture 3: Neohagenulus sp. under a microscope

Picture 4: Washing out leaf bags to remove mayflies holding on"

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students. T

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students.

Today we highlight Joaquin Hemstreet of California State University, Northridge.

"Wendilgarda clara is a web-building spider commonly found along the edges of streams in Puerto Rico.

This ray spider is a generalist predator that primarily captures aquatic insects using a longline fishing web, similar to those on ships. However, it shares its habitat with three species
of Anolis lizards. Anolis are generalist predators that eat a wide variety of small prey, including spiders. Studies have shown that both Anolis and spiders are fairly reliant on aquatic insects as a food resource.

As climate change progresses, drought frequency in the tropics is expected to
increase, which will lead to an increased lack of connectivity and shrinking of aquatic habitat, which will likely change food web assembly.

My mentor is Dr. Jesús E. Gómez, and he has assisted me on my project to determine how these two groups of predators will interact with each other under drought conditions.

I am working at a stream called Quebrada Prieta in the Luquillo Mountains, which is divided into two tributaries: Prieta A and Prieta B. The first of these two tributaries is unmodified, and the second
subject to a baseline flow manipulation in which part of the water is diverted to simulate stream conditions during a drought year.

We expect to see stronger pressure of Anolis on stream arthropods in the stream under flow manipulation" (1/2)

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students. T

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students.

Today we highlight University of South Florida student Gabriel Rodriguez-Vazquez.

"Niche overlap among native and non-native freshwater fish in Puerto Rico.

The effects of non-native species can be seen everywhere in Puerto Rico. From trees, to flowers, non-natives are everywhere on the island. Of these, there are dozens of non-native freshwater fish species in Puerto Rico. Many of which were introduced through the pet trade as aquarium pets. Understanding how they affect the native fish species can help us identify which species are becoming invasive and causing damage.

This summer, I am working with Dr. Josue Santiago-Vera, to determine the degree of niche overlap or competition for food between native and non-native freshwater fish. Using nets, we cornered and caught fish at a stream known as El Señorial. The majority of fish present at this location were the bright orange non-native Red Devil (Amphilophus labiatus). Other species we were able to catch were non-native Convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) and native big mouth sleepers (Gobiomorus dormitor). Once caught, we flush their stomach contents out and examine them under a microscope. From there we quantify the species’ presence and abundance in their diets and compare them. Lab space and gear were provided by the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras Fish and Shrimp Laboratory, managed by Dr. Omar Perez.

So far, we have found many exciting things inside the fish. Chironomidae larvae are quite prevalent in most fish. Red Devils in particular are quite vigorous omnivores. Everything from larvae, to germinated seeds, to algae, to a whole micro wasp have been found! We hope to identify any severe competition between fish species during the final weeks of the summer."

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students. T

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students.

Today we highlight Portland State University student Cecilia Sahnow

"🌱I am working with a small but mighty group of plants called bryophytes! The most commonly known bryophytes are mosses, however, there are two other groups within bryophytes: hornworts and liverworts. These tiny plants are generally dispersed by spores and do not produce flowers or seeds. Although small in size, these organisms are vast! We’ve collected over 180 samples, and identified 57 different species of bryophytes! Some bryophytes have leaves, and others have a thalloid flat body. These plants have amazing microscopic structures, which makes them awesome study organisms. They grow as colonies and are able to act as a sponge, absorbing the water and nutrients that surround them. This allows for other organisms to soak up their benefits- overall providing great contributions to the ecosystem.
🪨These little friends are found in most ecosystems. They grow on a variety of substrates including soil, rocks, branches, or even on top of other bryophytes! In our sampling we found that they most commonly grow on rocks. My mentor, Dr. Amelia Merced, and I are working in Quebrada Prieta, a small stream in El Yunque National Forest. We are identifying and collecting bryophytes from different areas along the stream to understand what bryophytes are present and what substrates they grow on.
🔬After the samples are collected in the field, we identify the species in the herbarium at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. The areas around streams are important to study because they provide protection from extreme elements such as strong winds and droughts. If bryophytes in these environments can act as a buffer against weather events, their small but mighty nutrient and energy-producing prowess may aid their surrounding neighbors. In this project, I'm interested in investigating how stream structure influences bryophyte communities to gain a deeper understanding of the role of stream bryophytes in this tropical ecosystem".

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab.

We invite you to join the 11th BIOGEOMON conferenc

We invite you to join the 11th BIOGEOMON conference, the first to be held in a tropical setting.

When: Sunday (evening), 7 January through Thursday, 11 January, 2024

Where: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sponsors: Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research (LUQ-LTER) and the International Institute for Tropical Forestry and the University of New Hampshire.

For more see the BIOGEOMON website https://biogeomon2024.lter.network/

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students To

GCSR: Follow the work of the 2023 REU students

Today we highlight UF student Alyssa Cabrera

“Goals:
* Create maps depicting where Ravenala currently is and predict where it may spread based on different climatic variables
* Determine possible dispersers of Ravenala

Why:
Traveler's Palm is a palm-like native herb of Madagascar. As an adult, it forms a large fan of interlocking leaves held up by a palm-like trunk. In this stage, it may or may not produce inflorescences. When pollinated, these flowers produce fruits that dry and pop open, revealing seeds covered in bright blue hairs. In Madagascar, it is pollinated by lemurs, birds, and bats. However, it has quickly spread outside of this area, due to the horticulture trade. It has become a problematic species in multiple countries. In Mauritius, it is classified as an invasive species that outcompetes and displaces many natives. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, Dr. Ackerman noticed it rapidly spread throughout his neighborhood in the Luquillo Mountains. Currently, there are no published studies of the plant in Puerto Rico and very few from its native range. Our research focuses on predicting where it may spread on the island, the relationship between plant size and reproductive effort, and identifying possible dispersers on the island. Future studies are needed on the invasion impacts(whether positive or negative) that Ravenala may have on ecosystem function and the native flora and fauna of Puerto Rico.

How:
After finding locations of current Ravenala populations, Dr. Ackerman and I drove around the island to collect vegetative and reproductive data. This includes the height of the plants, number of inflorescences, life stage the plant is currently in, and more. Afterwards, we will be running the data through R to determine the significance of any relationships and visualize future distribution. We are also drying inflorescences in large herbarium dryers to stimulate the popping open of fruits. They are then set up in the field with GoPro cameras scheduled to take timelapse photos with the goal of capturing potential seed dispersers”.

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab.

On behalf of the GSRC: Follow the work of the 2023

On behalf of the GSRC: Follow the work of the 2023 Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) students. They worked on a broad range of topics within the LEF and the metropolitan area of P.R.

Today we highlight UPRM student Alis N. Ramírez Soto.

"🌿 Organisms, from microorganisms to insects, use leaves as an important source of energy and depend on them for growth, development, and protection. Therefore, leaves have important functions in the ecosystem. Microorganisms are first to arrive when leaves fall into the rivers and this is how the process of organic matter decomposition begins. Once this starts, other organisms can start taking advantage of these leaves.

🍂 Understanding how leaves decompose is an important step to understanding how stream ecosystems work. However, using leaves to study this process is complicated because of the differences that exist between leaves’ types. That's why me and my mentor, Vamery González Hernández, decided to use an alternative way of studying this process. We substituted the leaves with pieces of cotton fabric. This allows decomposition mainly by microorganisms, while reducing the differences that would exist if we used leaves.

🏞️ This summer we are placing these cotton strips (first photo) in two sites at Quebrada Prieta, a small stream in El Yunque National Forest, known as Prieta A and Prieta B. Prieta B is currently under a stream flow reduction experiment, which means part of its water is redirected to reduce the flow through it. For this reason, I am able to study the flow reduction effects in the decomposition rate of the cotton strips. I will remove cotton strips on 3 different dates and from each cotton strip, I will measure respiration data which will give me an idea of how many microorganisms are present (fourth photo). Finally, we will measure how much the cotton strips decomposed over time.

🌎 Organic matter decomposition is a key ecosystem process and a great indicator of stream health. With droughts becoming more and more frequent, it’s crucial we understand all of its consequences, including stream flow reduction."

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab.

Starting this Fall, join the Luquillo Forest Dynam

Starting this Fall, join the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP) team as a lead technician for the tree census at El Verde Field Station, UPR-RP.

Star date: October 2023 - May 2024, exact dates TBD.

For further questions, please email lfdp@ites.upr.edu

#luquillolter

Starting this Fall, join the Luquillo Forest Dynam

Starting this Fall, join the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP) team as a tree census intern at El Verde Field Station, UPR-RP.

Star date: Early October 2023 - December 22nd 2023, exact dates TBD.

For further questions, please email lfdp@ites.upr.edu

#luquillolter

Starting this Fall, join the Luquillo Forest Dynam

Starting this Fall, join the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP) team in a Project Management position at El Verde Field Station, UPR-RP.

Star date: November 2023, exact dates TBD.

For further questions, please email monique.picon@upr.edu or mopicon@gmail.com.

#luquillolter

On behalf of the GSRC: Follow the exciting work of

On behalf of the GSRC: Follow the exciting work of our summer 2023 Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) students. They worked on a broad range of topics within the LEF and the metropolitan area of P.R.

Starting with NCSU student Alexandra Casiano-Rivera.

"Effects of Flow Reduction On Native Leaf Litter Breakdown in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico

Leaves that fall into streams and rivers provide an important source of energy and nutrients that cycle throughout the ecosystem. To provide their energy source, leaves need to decompose or break down. Fungi, bacteria, aquatic insects, and other organisms interact with the leaves to help them break down. When leaves fall into a stream, the flow of the stream can also affect how quickly the leaves break down.

This summer, I am studying leaf litter decomposition in rivers. We will be working in Quebrada Prieta to compare how stream flow affects leaf decomposition using a low-flow stream and a normal stream. In each stream, four pools, the part of the stream where there is very little flow, will have six mesh bags of leaves and six bunches of leaves connected by paper clips. Each week, I will collect a random bag and a single bunch of leaves, clean the leaves with water, and add them into paper bags to dry inside an oven for twenty-four hours. The oven-dried leaves will have their weight taken to measure the rate of decomposition. Along with working on the leaves, I will also collect aquatic insects found with them to identify them up to their family name. They also affect how quickly leaves break down. Finally, we will run statistical tests to compare the rate of decomposition from each study stream.

In Puerto Rico, droughts are predicted to occur more frequently and become more intense. Weather events such as droughts and low-flow conditions can affect how quickly leaves cycle their nutrients into the ecosystem. We hope that our research can help others understand the effects of low-flow conditions in streams and how they could affect ecosystems like El Yunque National Forest".

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #research #fieldwork

Follow the @aramirezlab.

On behalf of the GSRC: Lovely to see this update f

On behalf of the GSRC: Lovely to see this update from 2022 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) student Viktoria Stallings and her continued interest in freshwater research. REU program at the LEF has been paramount for introducing many students to field research in tropical ecology and evolution.

"Mi nombre es Vikky y soy estudiante de último año en la Universidad de Northeastern State (NSU) en Oklahoma, donde estoy realizando una carrera en ecosistemas de agua dulce y en psicología. Tengo una certificación en manejo de ríos de la River Management Society (RMS). El año pasado, tuve la oportunidad de estudiar la aptitud biológica de la especie Chironomus "florida" de hábitats urbanos (San Juan) y hábitats boscosos (El Yunque). Para lograr este objetivo, investigamos las características de oviposición de la especie, contando la cantidad de masas de huevos cada día. Recaudamos masas de huevos y anotamos la cantidad de huevos en cada masa, la eficiencia de salida de las larvas y las dimensiones de los huevos (altura y anchura). Nuestros resultados apuntaron a que la aptitud biológica fue mayor para las larvas del hábitat boscoso en comparación con las del hábitat urbano. Diferencias en la disponibilidad de recursos entre hábitats podrían estar guiando estas diferencias entre hábitats.

Me encanta mi trabajo porque disfruto del agua y puedo concientizar al público sobre la belleza del agua y sobre por qué necesitamos protegerla. Me encanta que siempre hay algo nuevo por aprender en mi carrera"

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #research #fieldwork

On behalf of the GSRC: Learn about the valuable wo

On behalf of the GSRC: Learn about the valuable work of master's student
Francesc Borràs Sayas

"Hola everyone, my name is Cesc, and I am working on my master's thesis in environmental DNA.

I am originally from Barcelona but moved to Sweden two years ago to start a MSc degree in Evolutionary Biology at Uppsala University.

During my studies I have developed a keen interest in tropical plants and ecosystems, despite Sweden not being famous for their palm diversity.

Unlike Scandinavian countries, plants in the forest of PR burgeon from every possible corner. Most of those species are well documented, but little is known about how techniques such as metabarcoding can help us to quickly assess the richness in a given area in the tropics.

This gap in knowledge prompted an opportunity for me to join LUQ-LTER.

Under the supervision of Bob Muscarella from Uppsala University and Glenn Dunshea from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology I flew to PR last January to census several forests across the island and work on my thesis at the same time.

More specifically, I collected leaves from all arborescent species from the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot. You would think leaf sampling to be an easy task, after most trees are sessile organisms, right? Well, some were very elusive and often had me walking in circles for more time I would like to admit. What is more, certain species were too tall for me to simply grab a couple of nice leaves. Luckily, to reach those trees I used probably the second largest slingshot I have ever seen in my life.

On a later trip to the island, I also collected soil samples from the same area. This second part of the field work was a bit less glamorous than the first one. I took soil cores from different parts of plot and avoided interacting with the mongoose as much as possible (1/2)".

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #research #fieldwork

Can you identify any of the rainforest sounds?

Can you identify any of the rainforest sounds?

For 35 years the Luquillo LTER has conducted biann

For 35 years the Luquillo LTER has conducted biannual shrimp surveys in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. This data collected helps researchers learn about shrimp populations and understand the ways that environmental and anthropogenic disturbances affect the stream community. Yesterday, an enthusiastic group gathered to continue this longterm dataset by surveying Preita Stream. Thousands of shrimp were counted and measured!

Thank you to all the students, volunteers, and employees over the years who have participated in this effort!

#elyunque #shrimp #biannualsurvey #freshwaterresearch #aquaticscience #streamcommunity #lter

@lter_community @aramirezlab

On behalf of the Ramirez Lab: As our summer comes

On behalf of the Ramirez Lab: As our summer comes to an end, we invite you all to join us in El Verde REU 2023 Symposium!

Our REU students will be presenting their research findings for this summer.

If you're interested in joining us via Zoom, please send us a message and we will share the Zoom link.

#ElVerde_REU
#nsf_reu

💗✨What can’t Barbie do?! 💗✨ 🦐🌿E

💗✨What can’t Barbie do?! 💗✨

🦐🌿Ecologists Barbie and Ken can certainly do freshwater research! 🦐🌿

Today the heavy rains in El Yunque created the per

Today the heavy rains in El Yunque created the perfect conditions for some top-notch slug watching! 🤓

Meet the arboreal 🌿 Puerto Rican Semi-slug, Gaeotis flavolineata. This slug is endemic to Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 meaning that it’s native and restricted to the island. It sports a tiny green vestigial shell 🐚 inside its larger translucent mantle, hence the semi-slugness and semi-snailness 🐌and not the commitment to full slug mode. Cool, right?!

@fiucase @shrimpfishecologylab @fiuinstagram @fiuenvironment

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