After a crazy ride we arrived at Volcano Poas.  We hiked a little ways up and looked at the large caldera.  the steam and gasses rising up are very beautiful.  When you mix them with the clouds drifting in and out it makes quite a sight.

We then began our journey to a smaller caldera.  The fauna along the way was gorgeous.  It looked very similar to the Wichita Zoo Jungle area except on a larger scale.

It is amazing to see the different species of plants.  Every few meters there is a different plant that I have not seen.  I was very impressed until they told us the area we were in was very low  in diversity.  It is so completely different from anything I have ever witnessed.

It is wonderful to close my eyes and listen to the sounds.  However it is very frustrating to try to find the noises.  The animals are so well camouflaged that it takes a long time to locate them.  When you actually do it is very exciting.

We took a different trail down the volcano.  It was very rugged and not well travelled.  We looked at the mites that live in places where hummingbirds feed and use the hummingbirds for transportation.  We also saw various species of birds along the trail.
 

Journal Entry
Banana plantation

We visited a banana plantation on our way to La Selva.  This Plantation sells to Dole.  It is a very interesting process that takes place before the bananas end up at a local supermarket.  I never imagined the amount of work it takes to care for and harvest bananas.

A plantation is started by planting a banana pod into the ground.  It  grows into a tree and shoots a pod out.  This is what will eventually become the bananas.  The new bananas because of the weight are pointing down.  This is not their natural position so somehow they correct it and begin growing up.  When this starts to happen workers pull off the flowers, cut off the bud (which contains the male part of the plant),  and they pull off a couple of bunches.  They always leave one banana at the bottom to keep nutrients going to the end of the stalk.   They bag the bananas to keep them from ripening too rapidly which also contains some insecticides and then wait.

When they go to harvest they use a big machete to cut the tree down.  They then remove the bunch and hang it on a rail system.  The rail system takes them to the production line.  At this point the bunches are removed from each stalk, washed, cut into smaller bunches, packed by size, stickers are put on,  bunches are weighed, and the bananas are packed.  Eventually the bananas are placed on the shelves of fine grocery store everywhere.

Journal Entry
La Selva Biological Institute

The saying "I'm not in Kansas anymore" is a perfect phrase for my experiences at La selva.  It is amazing the number and kinds of different species that are around you at any given time.

Some of the most interesting things I have seen include:

Frogs:  There are many different kinds of frogs here.  One of the most interesting is the Poison Dart Frog.  This is an interesting species because its name is derived from people that used to use it to poison darts to kill monkeys and other animals.  We went on a night walk by a swampy area and saw several kinds and heard even more.

two and three toed Sloths:  They are very difficult to see.  I would have never found them unless someone pointed them out to me.  This animal moves very slowly and is nocturnal.  During the day it basically stays in the exact same place and does not move much or often.

Kuwaiti:  There is a resident Coati here on camp.  A Coati is a mammal which has a long nose and a long tail.  this particular Coati is very calm around people.  At one point I watched it cross a swing bridge with several other people on it.

Agouti: This too is a mammal.  It looks very much like a Guinea Pig but on a larger scale.

Ants: While there are many different types of ants there are two I find most fascinating.  The first is the Leaf Cutter Ant.  They are very easy to see because when you look down there are large pieces of leafs moving along.  The second kind is the Bullet Ant.  It is enormous.  It is about one inch long.  Apparently if one bites you, you could be in bed and in pain for a day.  If several bite you, you could be in bed for several days and run a high fever.

Birds:  There are dozens of birds.  Each of them has an interesting call.  They wake me up every morning.  I have seen a toucan which had a very yellow bill and a black body.  There are finches of all different types.  I have also seen several hummingbirds.  This is just a sample of the many that are around.

The fauna:  There are so many different trees and plants it would be impossible to name them all.  The trees that make up the canopy are very difficult to see at times because they are so high.  There are many orchids but they can usually only be seen when the tree they are residing on falls.

Fungi:  I have seen more mushrooms in a couple of days here than I ever did in the United States.  Some are very colourful such as a cup fungi that is bright red to white ones like lace fungi which puts off a horrible smell that flies really like.

Journal Entry
Palo Verde

 
The fauna and atmosphere is extraordinarily different from that of La Selva.  It is not by any means less beautiful, just very different.  Palo Verde is a Dry Tropical Forest.  It contains many different types of vegetation and animals.

When we first arrived we were greeted by a swarm of iguanas.  It was amazing how close I could get before they scattered.  They were all unique in color and size.  They would wake up and greet us every morning when we would go to breakfast.  By the last day very little notice was given to them.

The third day we were there a group of us went on a boat ride down the Tempisque River.  It was outstanding.  Right away we saw a crocodile.  It was very large and looked just like a branch floating in the water.  We also saw some howler monkeys.  It was fascinating to watch them find their way from branch to branch.  When the driver would rev the engine they would begin to howl.

There were many interesting places to explore.  Some of the group did a project on the Pochote Tree.  This tree has an interesting defense mechanism.  It has spikes growing on the trunk.  Another group did research on Wetlands.  They spent all day wading through the mud and water.  My group looked at Nuclear Trees which are older trees growing without other canopy around.  We looked at the number of different saplings, seedlings and trees growing under it.

Journal Entry
Las Cruces

Las Cruces is a part of the Wilson Botanical Garden.  They have many different types of plant species to study.  Because of the wide diversity in plants which create habitats and food many animals have come to call Las Cruces home.

The garden is extraordinary.  It contains a number of species which are native to Costa Rica.  It also has species from places all over the world.  I find it amazing how this land is able to support so many different types of fauna.  The colors combine to make the area look so lush and exotic.

We made a hike down to the river.  On the way we found some interesting sights.  The one that I enjoyed the most were the bat tents.  Bats use leaf fronds to make nesting places.  They expend a lot of energy to build these homes by chewing the leafs at an angle.  When this occurs the leaf collapses around to form a tent.  While quietly creeping under the branches I saw two bats nesting in one leaf and two bats in another.  It was an amazing sight.

We were also able to see many wild banana plants growing.  They are very different from the bananas we have come to know.  They have a reddish peel and very large seeds.  They open to attract birds to disperse their seeds.  They are not good for human consumption.

I am seeing many colorful plants called "Shampoo Ginger."  It has many different layers of leafs.  A liquid fills up each individual leaf.  This substance has an interesting odor and can be used to lather up hair.  They come in shades of red and yellow.

Biography:
Who:  Sarah A. Poe

What:  Middle School Science and Math teacher

Where:  Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School in Wichita, Kansas

Educational Background:  Graduate of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas with a BS in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Science and Math.  Currently working on a Masters Degree at Wichita State University in Counselling.

Why:  Adventure is the name of the game.  I am always ready for excitement and this was a great opportunity.   I wanted to do some good field research  and to re-associate myself with the art of investigation.

Acknowledgements:  I would like to thank WWNFF, OTS and NSF for providing me with this wonderful opportunity.  I would also like to thank all the field scientists for their tireless effort in helping us with the research projects.

If you have any questions or comments you may e-mail me at:  spoewildcat@hotmail.com