La Selva is an internationally recognized Biological Station used for rain forest research and education.  This lowland rain forest is located in North Central Costa Rica near the border town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapique, at the confluence of the Sarapiqui and Puerto Viejo Rivers.

I was looking forward to our stop at La Selva Biological Station because I knew I was in for a great adventure in such an unspoiled oasis of tropical rain forest.  As I crossed the suspension bridge over the Puerto Viejo River I could already detect the vegetative layering from forest floor to canopy.  Gigantic emergent trees towered above the forest floor and the canopy looked like an interlocking mass of greenery.  One of the resident scientists mentioned that the canopy supports the largest number of forest species because it receives the most energy from the sun.  In the understory I observed layerings of smaller trees and shrubs which provided mini ecosystems for micro and macro organisms.

Walking the trails at La Selva was a thrilling experience.  Just a short hike from the main compound I was able to witness an incredible array of wildlife.  In fact, on my first day I caught a glimpse of a vibrant red poison dart frog perched precariously on a leaf, a caiman sunning itself on the muddy banks of the river, a black river turtle swimming downstream, giant iguanas lounging in the tree tops munching on succulent leaves, agouti foraging near the laboratory, and the shimmering iridescence of hummingbirds flitting from flower to flower. Many questions came to mind as I first surveyed the beautiful tropical paradise before my eyes.  The foremost question was how we could preserve other species rich environments like La Selva? What animal and plant life has already been lost to the deforestation of the rain forests in other areas?  Will the conservationists, researchers and scientists ever beable to educate the public enough to make a difference?  I am able to see first hand the complex and fragile ecosystem whose destruction may have a devastating global impact on the earth's biosphere.

Poison Dart Frog	Veil Mushroom	Butterfly

Palo Verde National Park is a diverse patchwork of habitats located in the heart of the Tempisque basin near the mouth of the Rio Tempisque River.  The area is comprised of both deciduous and evergreen tropical dry forest, brackish and fresh water wetlands, mangrove swamps, and the tidal estuarine ecosystem of the lower Tempisque River.

As we turned into the Palo Verde National Park it was evident that we would be exposed to an environment dramatically different from La Selva.  The dry deciduous and evergreen forest seemed somewhat more familiar to me - more like what I experienced growing up in Western New York.  Well, that is what I thought until I saw the spiny palm trees, Sendero cactus, and mangrove swamps.

Driving up to the Palo Verde Hacienda was thrilling.  It was like taking a trip back in time.  The hacienda is the center of a small cattle operation and houses the living quarters for the park guards.  While unloading my bags from the bus I suddenly had the feeling that I was being watched.  I turned to find ten to twelve large green iguanas sunning themselves on the limestone rocks that dotted the area around the bunk house.  The iguanas would be the first of many fascinating animals and insects I would see in the coming days at Palo Verde.

On our hikes, boat rides down the Rio Tempisque River, and horseback riding trips up to the pasture we observed the varied and abundant wildlife reticently greeting us.  On the river boat ride alone I was fortunate to see crocodiles, howler monkeys, herons, ibises, egrets and even a magnificent stork.

In the bunk house our beds were covered with mosquito nets to keep the myriad of insects and other creepy crawly things out of our beds.  The importance of the nets quickly became evident after several encounters with snakes, scorpions, and a large hairy tarantula that one of the park guards insisted upon showing us.  I found it amusing that the program participants seemed to be the only ones using the mosquito nets at night.  We certainly are spoiled in the United States.  We take so much for granted.

In each area we visited reoccurring questions came to mind.  "How much of these wonderful forests will be left when my children have children?"  "What strategies would be best for trying to preserve these shrinking oasis of biodiversity?"  I guess only time will tell!

What is more gentle than a wind in summer?
What is more soothing than the pretty hummer
That stays one moment in an open flower,
And buzzes cheerily from bower to bower?

John Keats

Las Cruces

The Robert and Catherine Wilson Botanical Garden is an internationally known collection of tropical plants.  It is located in a mid elevation tropical rain forest along a spur ridge of coastal range 187 miles from San Jose.  As we drove through the picturesque mountain village of San Vito we didn't realize the diverse botanical paradise we would soon encounter.

The most incredible experience I've had during this environmental expedition took place at Las Cruces.  My research group had the opportunity to work with a field scientist studying birds. Cagan Sekercioglu, scientist from Turkey, graciously allowed us to join him in his research.  Cagan and Randy, his Costa Rican field assistant, are studying the effect of fragmentation on insect eating birds.

Cagan and Randy rise at 4:30 a.m. to set the mist nets in the dense understory of the nearby forests.  Once the mist nets are in place they settle in for a little snooze while waiting for the first unsuspecting winged travelers to tangle themselves in the nets.  Every thirty minutes Cagan and Randy check the mist nets.  Cagan then meticulously removes the trapped birds - carefully slipping the entangling net from the weary winged traveler's feet and wings.  The birds are gently slipped into a canvas bag and rushed back to a makeshift research site near the nets.  Cagan then painstakingly collects a variety of data - for example, wing and tail length, weight, brooding status etc.  I was particularly impressed with the care Cagan took when handling the birds.  When one of our hermit hummingbirds began to falter, he was visibly shaken.

Being able to participate in Cagan's research was the absolute highlight of my trip to Costa Rica.  Being able to hold these fragile creatures in my hand was thrilling.   Birds are truly the masterpieces of the natural world - created with a kaleidoscope of colors from the mother earth's paint palette.

Once again the question that comes to mind is "What can we do to help save the habitats of these magnificent creatures?"  After holding a fragile creature like a hummingbird in your hand you soon realize the importance of developing strategies for conserving and preserving the delicate balance of their ecosystems.
 

Who:       Patricia  Ann Argetsinger

What:      Middle School Science Teacher

Where:    Allison Traditional Middle Magnet School in Wichita, Kansas

Why:       I came to Costa Rica to experience the thrill of on-site field research.  This
              Environmental Climate Institute allowed me the opportunity to experience
              inquiry based learning from the student's perspective.  My time in Costa
              Rica has been an invaluable experience that will help enrich my classroom
              instruction.

How:      Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation Participant

Acknowledgments:   I would like to thank the WWNFF, the OTS  and the NSF for the field oriented learning
                                         opportunity and instructional research experience made possible during this
                                         Environmental Science Institute.  In addition, I would like to express my appreciation
                                         to the field scientists and technical support expert for their tireless effort and
                                         unending patience with all participants.