No updates here in a while, but I have been putting together simulations that I am using in classes. These simulations are at www.biologysimulations.com. Check it out and feel free to use them with classes.
Ants in the forest
Leafcutter ants, La Selva, Costa Rica
Leafcutter ants are the subject of this picture, although they aren’t really visible. I took several of these pictures because the ants were carrying fuchsia petals and it looked awesome in a way that does not fully translate to the picture. This was also our first night in Costa Rica, so I was super excited to start documenting ALL THE THINGS.
When it comes to tropical forest ecology, leafcutter ants are certainly worth documenting. There are almost 50 species of leafcutter ants belonging to one of two genera; Atta and Acromyrmex. Ants, in general, are abundant in rainforests, with a biomass exceeding the vertebrates of the ecosystem (1).
Tree Frogs and Arachnids
Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
In addition to the red-eyed tree frog, the attempted subject of the picture, there is also an Opiliones arachnid (better known as daddy longlegs or harvestmen), on the leaf to the left.
Red-eyed tree frogs, found throughout neotropical forests, are small (less than 3 inches) with red eyes, orange feet, and blue sides (3). The red-eyed tree frog is one of the most recognizable rainforest species. A Google image search for “rainforest animals” reveals multiple red-eyed tree frogs high in the results. Although they are not endangered, red-eyed tree frog numbers are decreasing, likely due to habitat loss (3).
Golden orb-weaver spider and sexual dimorphism
Spider, Costa Rica
This is a nice image of a young tree covered in moss from the Areanal area in Costa Rica. The intended subject of the picture is the dark blob with yellow patches on the legs. This is probably Nephila clavipes, commonly known as a golden orb-weaver spider (or banana spider). Based on size, this is a female; males are significantly smaller.
A field guide of nearly unidentifiable pictures
This blog is run by C.J. Arny, Jolene Pappas, and Brenda Walkenhorst. You can find more info on each of us in the Who We Are section. We met during an Earth Expeditions course through Miami University. The class included a 10-day field experience in Costa Rica. While on this adventure, the group was often attempting to identify the various organisms surrounding us. Our guide (Marco Odio Herrera) was able to identify many things for us, but sometimes the group was flipping through our many field guides to identify plants, birds, amphibians, and insects.
Dr. Mo always has multiple guidebooks within reach
Early morning birdwatching with Marco
These guidebooks had beautiful pictures, but when we compared them to what we saw, we often had trouble confirming a match. Had we found the right species but were observing natural variations? Could the differences be explained by sexual dimorphism? The solution was often to take a picture and sort it out later. It turns out, though, that many of the pictures just weren’t that good.
Catie getting a picture with Marco’s direction.
We felt like pretty awesome photographers while we were tromping around the forest, but upon later viewings, our lack of expertise was exposed. Our pictures were focused on the wrong thing or honed in on the empty branch where a bird was sitting just moments before. The idea for this blog came from those imperfect pictures.
As science educators, we also see this as an opportunity to explain and discuss concepts that are important to students and teachers. Enjoy!
Failures in Nature Photography 