Luquillo LTER

Visit us with our new Virtual Site Visit!

For important safety information see our Field Safety Guide / Guía de Seguridad (in spanish)

We have new visitor maps to help navigate El Verde / mapa en español

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“I’m told scientists should not anthropomorphi

“I’m told scientists should not anthropomorphize the organisms we study, but if we’re honest with ourselves, most of us grew up on tales of talking animals and plants that defy imagination such as Little Shop of Horrors, Jungle Book, and Paw Patrol. So today, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to some of the remarkable flora and fauna who call the Chihuahuan desert home—I hope you’ll meet their smug, elitist, shy, anxious selves in person one day.”

Check out one of our most recent SSALTER blog posts by ASU PhD student Madeline Bahman who does work at the Jornada Basin LTER! @m_buhman

https://lternet.edu/stories/anxious-elitist-and-eccentric-species-of-the-chihuahuan-desert/

Photo 1: Mesquite shrubs invading a previously black grama dominated grassland.
Photo 2: A young, friendly criollo calf.
Photo 3: A tenacious mesquite takes root in a wash.
Photo 4: Sunset after a particularly brutal summer heatwave.

Continuing our seasonal changes theme, PhD student

Continuing our seasonal changes theme, PhD student Tommy Shannon shares from a prospective at the @fcelter:

“The seasons of the Florida Coastal Everglades are “Wet” and “Dry”. In the Everglades’ shallow coastal marshes, this leads to massive differences for the periphyton (the white fluffy / crusty algae) that dominates the landscape. These photos were taken in the same place, at the same height, in August (rainy season) and January (dry season). In the wet season, periphyton grows to cover nearly every underwater surface; in the dry season, the water level drops over a foot, and the periphyton becomes a crusty layer that helps retain moisture in the soil below. When the water comes back, these algae do an amazing job of re-hydrating and coming right back to life!”

Photo credit: Tommy Shannon @wow_small_world

We’re featuring seasonal changes at our LTER sit

We’re featuring seasonal changes at our LTER sites!

“My name is Rachel Badzioch and I am a PhD Student working on the "Fire in the Arctic Landscape" Collaborating Project at the Arctic LTER. I took these photos during this summer's field season at a fire scar recovering from a 2007 tundra fire. The photos show the extremely short growing season in the Arctic (Photos taken May 26, June 11, July 20, and September 3).”
@rachelbadzioch @rochalab

A six-year pilot study from the @sbc_lter on Santa

A six-year pilot study from the @sbc_lter on Santa Monica Beach shows how seeding of native flora can restore habitats for threatened species and protect against climate change-driven sea level rise.

This story by Emily Ortega plus more in this month's Network News!

LTER Network News | October, 2023

Snow is the defining control on Niwot’s ecology.

Snow is the defining control on Niwot’s ecology. The annual snow survey lays the groundwork for Niwot’s research and lets volunteers play in the alpine ecosystem each spring.

Read the full story in this month's Network News! There's tons of other good stuff in there too, like:
- New LTER community platform!
- Interview with Diane McKnight!
- Introduction to the APEAL project for science engagment!
- LTER is now on Bluesky

Plus much, much more!

Photo: @gabedela

LTER Network News | September 2023

Next to be featured during our critters and beasti

Next to be featured during our critters and beasties themed month are photos from @kbslter graduate student Stephanie Clark. “It was a great butterfly and caterpillar season at KBS! Stephanie’s research identifies challenges that Lepidoptera face in the Anthropocene - particularly in agricultural landscapes. Feel free to say hello if you see them running around with their butterfly net!”

And check out all their awesome eco-art while you’re at it! @steph_clarks_art

Acoustically tagged and released! Pictured here is

Acoustically tagged and released! Pictured here is PhD student Mack White in action with a Common Snook in the Rookery Branch, Everglades National Park (Florida Coastal Everglades LTER). The acoustic tagging program is one of the few long-term movement databases out there! The FCE LTER has been monitoring Common Snook movement in the coastal everglades since 2011.
@mackwhite1994 @fce_studentgroup @fcelter

A recent paper from researchers at the University

A recent paper from researchers at the University of Georgia, in collaboration with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, uses oxygen isotope analysis of mollusk shells found at archaeological sites to show how ancestral Muskogean villages collectively, and sustainably, managed shellfish harvest.

You can read all about it in this month's Network News!

Lots of funding in this month's Network News, including a job at the LNO, opportunities for graduate writing fellows, two RFP's and more.

Plus, stories on oyster barrens, KBS's partnerships, papers, resources, and more!

LTER Network News | August 2023

"The NGA’s recently launched virtual field trip

"The NGA’s recently launched virtual field trip lets students near and far interact with the hard-to-reach site. After two years of concerted development, the field trip materials were released this winter, and teachers began using the curriculum this spring. And while the benefits of a successful LTER education project are clear—students are taught how to think like an ecologist, crucial training for the next generation of scientists—the media developed for the project remains useful in unexpected ways."

Read more about the @nga.lter's virtual field trip in this month's LTER Network News!

Also included: the LTER at ESA, a call for Science Council topics, stories on mosquitos, urban parks in Baltimore, marshland modeling on the Eastern Seaboard, plus jobs, funding, updates, and more.

LTER Network News | July 2023

"As I find myself in the dog days of an Alaskan su

"As I find myself in the dog days of an Alaskan summer – powerless to change my bug-infested situation – there is no choice but acceptance."

A meditation on mosquitos from parts unknown of the Alaskan Bush by graduate student Nick Link in his new SSALTER blog post from the Bonanza Creek LTER.

https://lternet.edu/stories/a-meditation-on-mosquitos/

Kyle Runion, a graduate student researcher at the

Kyle Runion, a graduate student researcher at the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER, breaks down what it means to be a “salt marsh modeler” in a recent SSALTER blog. Kyle’s research and the models he builds will ultimately help us understand salt marsh stressors and health, and lead to smarter management actions like conservation and restoration.

Check out the full blog post at https://lternet.edu/stories/modeling-provides-clues-for-salt-marsh-health/

Need some reading material for the long weekend? F

Need some reading material for the long weekend? FOUR stories in this months newsletter. Find out how desert grasslands are linked to the Pacific, how trees respond when their neighbors die, how wildfire is central to the Andrews Forest, and why Gelata are critical to the California Current. Plus, jobs, funding, ESA, etc!

LTER Network News | June 2023

“A lotta gelata in the California Current Ecosys

“A lotta gelata in the California Current Ecosystem!” is our latest SSALTER blog by Scripps Institute of Oceanography graduate student Dante Capone. Capone describes what gelatinous zooplankton are and why the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) LTER uses these organisms to answer ecologically important questions.

Read the full blog @ https://lternet.edu/stories/a-lotta-gelata-in-the-california-current-ecosystem/

Check out Marquette University graduate student Co

Check out Marquette University graduate student Cole Doolittle’s SSALTER blog post, “The lessons wildfire can teach: destruction and resiliency after disaster.” Cole conducts his research at H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest LTER located in the Cascades Mountains of Oregon.

Read the full blog @ https://lternet.edu/stories/the-lessons-wildfire-can-teach-destruction-and-resiliency-after-disaster/

How does changing precipitation affect small speci

How does changing precipitation affect small species in the desert? An experimental approach takes a ground-level look at the ecological winners and losers of desert soil communities under shifting precipitation regimes in the Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER.

Read the full story in this month's LTER Network News. Also in this newsletter: EDI turns 10, recap from the Science Council, recent papers, funding, jobs, and more.

Image credit: Dr. Rebecca Ball, CC BY-SA 4.0.

LTER Network News | May 2023

Traveling around the @kelloggbiostn & the @kbslter

Traveling around the @kelloggbiostn & the @kbslter means tractor rides, long walks between row crops, and a lot of standing in fields.

We had a great field trip at our annual Science Council meeting earlier this month, and learned all about the long-term, ag-driven research at the KBS LTER. Ag covers a huge swath of the US and has large scale influences on carbon storage, nutrient cycling, food production, insect and other animal communities, and more—and the KBS studies the ecosystems created when we plant crops!

Thanks KBS for hosting the meeting—it's the only time of year when LTER leadership convenes in person to exchange ideas and so important to keep the network moving!

Litterfall is the stuff that falls from trees, but

Litterfall is the stuff that falls from trees, but what is it really made of? When does it fall? A new paper pays close attention, using tons of previously unanalyzed litterfall data from NEON and the LTER. Read the story and more in this month's Network News!

LTER Network News | April 2023

Some great new stories in the March Network News!

Some great new stories in the March Network News!

Read about how an LTER cross site synthesis effort reveals that soil carbon controls the nitrogen cycle across wide diversity of terrestrial ecosystems.

Not a biogeochemist? Explore how small differences in habitat preference across years allow for two similar invading species to coexist while native species decline.

More tech-minded? Explore new sensor technology in a new DataBits article! LTER Network News | March 2023

LTER Network News | March 2023

“What are people excited about? What should we c

“What are people excited about? What should we create together?”

Considerable work happens behind the scenes as Sarah Garlick, Hubbard Brook’s Director of Science Engagement, brings together researchers and forest managers to identify shared research priorities in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.

Read the full story in this month's LTER Network News!

LTER Network News | February 2023

A new study in the Journal Ecology finds that nutr

A new study in the Journal Ecology finds that nutrient addition increases aboveground plant growth more than it increases belowground plant growth, suggesting that belowground ecology cannot be predicted from studies conducted only aboveground.

Read Spare A Thought For The Roots in this month's newsletter, and find tons of jobs, events, funding, and more inside!

LTER Network News | January 2023

Image: Jacob Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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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?

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

On behalf of the GSRC: Leave your likes and commen

On behalf of the GSRC: Leave your likes and comments for Master's student Alicia Dixon. Learn about her work at the LEF.

"Hi everyone!

My name is Alicia Dixon, and I am studying freshwater ecology within the Luquillo Experimental Forest.

Specifically, I am looking at carbon cycling and stream metabolism before, during, and after severe hurricanes and droughts in a tropical stream ecosystem.

I am currently pursuing my Master's degree at the University of New Hampshire (@unhnren and @unhgraduateschool) under the mentorship of Dr. Bill McDowell. I primarily use dissolved oxygen and leaf litter/leachate data, among other stream chemistry data.

I love working in the LUQ-LTER because I have gotten the chance to collaborate on and learn about so many different research projects occurring across such a variety of scientific fields through my own.

Feel free to reach out with questions at alicia.dixon@unh.edu, or visit my lab's Twitter account at @unhwaterquality"

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #research #fieldwork

Watch Ph.D. candidate Carol Miron perform root sca

Watch Ph.D. candidate Carol Miron perform root scans in the lab.

"Hey there! I’m Carol Miron (@carolmiron_), a Brazilian Ph.D. candidate at the University of Hamburg in Germany.
I’m studying the effects of experimental warming and drought on the growth of fine roots and soil fungal hyphae at the forests of Luquillo"

On behalf of the GSRC: Join us for our first stude

On behalf of the GSRC: Join us for our first student highlight! Learn about the fantastic work of Ph.D. candidate Carol Miron!

"Hey there! I’m Carol Miron, I’m 26 years old, Brazilian from the Amazon region, and a PhD candidate at the University of Hamburg in Germany.

I have been studying tropical forests since my undergrad and my master’s, in which I studied the above and belowground phenology of the Amazon forest.

Recently, I’ve found a new passion in the mountain forests of Luquillo, where I’m studying the effects of climatic changes on the growth of fine roots and soil fungal hyphae in a warming and in a drought experiment.

These super important components of the forest functioning are hidden belowground, which makes the work of measuring them quite challenging and muddy. It involves soil cores collections and a long time in the lab sorting, cleaning, and scanning roots.

Another technique I’m using in my research is the minirhizotron: a camera that we put in a transparent tube buried in the soil to take pictures and observe the belowground life by sequential imaging.

Last January I was at the LUQ LTER sites, doing my favorite part of the scientific work: getting full of mud in the field work, collecting data, installing equipment, and having fun in the forest.

I’m looking forward to going back to the PR and getting inspired by the beauty of this forest again.

Twitter: @carolmiron_"

@carolmironesa

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo #research #fieldwork

On behalf of the GSRC: They are back! Follow ou

On behalf of the GSRC:

They are back!

Follow our socials on Thursdays for our student highlights.

Engage with our Luquillo students and their fascinating work.

#lter #luquillolter #studentsofluquillo

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