There’s a reason they call if the rainforest. Huddled next to the campfire with a hot mug of ranon’apango (Malagasy rice tea), I hear the raindrops beat rhythmically against the tarp that shelters me and my fearless team. After a soggy day hiking in the depths of the forest to collect samples and measure hundreds of trees, we are tired enough to retire to our tents before the usual bedtime of 7pm. Yet something about the magic of the moment keeps me alert.
Every day was a new adventure and a new challenge. I spent my summer on my second field season studying the spread of the invasive strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) in Madagascar. For the first couple of weeks, I lived in Sakaroa forest, a site in Ranomafana National Park, where I collected data on lemur-mediated seed dispersal and faunal community diversity. The fieldwork included tree watches, lemur follows, a germination experiment, and animal transects. After I trained the the field technicians, I left Sakaroa to begin the second phase of the project while the technicians remained in Ranomafana to collect additional data.
The second phase of the project entailed travelling to various other remote field sites throughout Madagascar to collect guava leaf samples (for genetic analysis) and conduct botanical surveys in invaded and non-invaded areas. I traveled throughout the country to collect data at 8 additional field sites: Kianjavato, St. Luce, Analamazoatra, Mantadia, Ihofa, Maromizaha, Ivoloina, and Betampona. I was struck by the diverse ways in which Psidium cattleianum interacted with these forests. At each field site, I determined the necessary equipment, where to stay, what local guide(s) to hire, what cook to hire and where we can acquire food, necessary permits, and finances for all of the aforementioned matters. Permits have been particularly challenging, since there are a many different documents and approvals required for each field site. Managing the logistics of the project is an excellent experience in understanding all the important processes that are behind-the-scenes in executing a field biology project. Also, I have learned a fantastic amount from the Malagasy people with whom I work. My Malagasy language skills improved greatly throughout the summer and I formed some incredibly valuable friendships. Both academically and personally, this project has thus far been exceedingly rewarding, challenging, and inspiring.
Every day was a new adventure and a new challenge. I spent my summer on my second field season studying the spread of the invasive strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) in Madagascar. For the first couple of weeks, I lived in Sakaroa forest, a site in Ranomafana National Park, where I collected data on lemur-mediated seed dispersal and faunal community diversity. The fieldwork included tree watches, lemur follows, a germination experiment, and animal transects. After I trained the the field technicians, I left Sakaroa to begin the second phase of the project while the technicians remained in Ranomafana to collect additional data.
The second phase of the project entailed travelling to various other remote field sites throughout Madagascar to collect guava leaf samples (for genetic analysis) and conduct botanical surveys in invaded and non-invaded areas. I traveled throughout the country to collect data at 8 additional field sites: Kianjavato, St. Luce, Analamazoatra, Mantadia, Ihofa, Maromizaha, Ivoloina, and Betampona. I was struck by the diverse ways in which Psidium cattleianum interacted with these forests. At each field site, I determined the necessary equipment, where to stay, what local guide(s) to hire, what cook to hire and where we can acquire food, necessary permits, and finances for all of the aforementioned matters. Permits have been particularly challenging, since there are a many different documents and approvals required for each field site. Managing the logistics of the project is an excellent experience in understanding all the important processes that are behind-the-scenes in executing a field biology project. Also, I have learned a fantastic amount from the Malagasy people with whom I work. My Malagasy language skills improved greatly throughout the summer and I formed some incredibly valuable friendships. Both academically and personally, this project has thus far been exceedingly rewarding, challenging, and inspiring.
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