Another week gone by, and I’ve completed the second week of my internship. I’ve gotten a little bit further in my tree identification and other protocol skills, and I saw more cool things in the field, including a frog in one of our toolbelts!
For tree identification, I’ve learned a few distinguishing traits. Now, all that’s left for those trees is remembering which tree the trait applies to! For example, the cacao motillo tree (Latin name: Sloanea berteroana) have swollen nodes on the ends of their petioles (the places where the leaf connects to the leafstem and where the leafstem connects to the branch are swollen).
I’m also getting more of a sense for which trees have a diameter of 1cm (and therefore are included in the census). I thought before that my pinky finger was 1cm, but this week, I’ve learned it’s a little larger than 1cm. Look at this size comparison of a 1.02cm tree next to my pinky finger!
How to Ensure Accurate Data Collection and Data Entry
We ended the week off learning how to put all of our collected census data into the database. The protocol for data entry is very particular to ensure that few, if any, mistakes make it in. Because there is so much data to enter, it is extremely easy for mistakes to happen. To help prevent this, each datasheet is put into the database by two different people. After the data is entered, a code checks to see if each datapoint is the exact same between the two people. If not, one person goes in and corrects the entered data. It is important that data is entered precisely and accurately. If there are too many mistakes, the data is useless because no one would know what is correct and what is not.
Even during data collection, we have built-in checks for accurate data. In the field, we end each day checking our collected data for the day to see if there is anything strange written down. For example, a tree from the 2016 census measuring 5.0cm cannot shrink and measure 3.0cm in 2021! Then, we also check that all the trees we measured are mapped on the correct plots. If a tree with tag 181473 was measured and identified in the datasheet, then it should also be marked down in the map to show where in the subquad it is located. This makes it easier for the next census workers to find the trees.
A Visit to a Nature Reserve
On Saturday, the research technicians took a few of us interns to the Humedal Punta Tuna Wetlands Nature Reserve! The wetland reserve consists of a few short trails going through the forested wetland and along the coastline beach and then going up to the Punta Tuna Lighthouse. There were informational signs throughout the reserve about the native species. We each brought a lot of water because we were expecting it to be hot.
What ended up happening was a day of downpours interspersed with the ever-occasional ray of sunshine. It was a nice day because we had the day to ourselves in the reserve. I got some nice views and saw many native species, including this one bright pink-red dragonfly! I would have gotten a better picture, but unfortunately, a mosquito decided to distract me at that moment, and the dragonfly flew away.
I like walking in the rain, but being in wet clothes the entire day isn’t the most enjoyable experience. I will say, though, the contrast between the dark storm clouds, the green of the forest, and the blue of the ocean made for excellent views.
Update for Blog Posting
After this second week of work, I’m realizing that I won’t have enough content to produce weekly posts about my experiences. I’ll post a Puerto Rico update at least once a month from here on, but the weekly postings will stop. In addition, I’ll start writing some science communication posts, which I wanted to prominently feature here anyway.
Alright, until next time! I’ll end with more pictures of Morpheo, the unofficial field station cat.
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