After breakfast, we headed to the toucan classroom to learn how we should proceed with our research project. In groups of three, we began brainstorming how we could utilize the activities we had done throughout the week and the unique environment of Monteverde for our research.
We went on a short hike through areas of the campus we hadn’t explored before to get ideas for what locations we could gather samples frlocations where we could gather samplesom, and we got to see coffee and banana plantations. After lunch, we all focused on gathering our samples from around the campus.
Ipek, Sophie, and Evangeline collected invertebrates from a nearby river and tested the survival times of mayflies in different environments.
Dalia, Sophia, and Nina looked through the trees in different locations to analyze and compare the epiphytes.
Tanisi, Nandita, and Danyel compared monoculture and polyculture in coffee plantations on campus to determine the role zoning plays in soil health.
Elizabeth, Rachel, and Lillian collected bromeliads in different locations and compared insect abundance and diversity.
Joann, Daniella, and Lucy observed leaf-cutter ant adaptations to obstacles and analyzed their behaviors.
Eunice, Johana, and Amna studied leaf-cutter ants and how a scent or color obstacle may affect their travel time back to the colony.
Aiden and Claire analyzed several quadrats in forest and roadside environments to observe correlations between plant diversity and the magnitude of human traffic.
Dinner was cannelloni with cheese, salad, beans, rice, watermelon juice, and cookies for dessert. The day came to an end as we did karaoke and Just Dance as a group before heading to bed.
