Day 4: A Day of Science

Day four began with more science right after breakfast. In order to continue practicing the scientific method another question was given to us by Pinto: Where can Escovopsis be found in the Atta leaf cutter colonies. We were then given time to come up with a hypothesis and use predictions to design an experiment. When each group had decided on a procedure they took a trip up to the cooled lab where the leaf cutter colonies were kept. Each group then carried out their procedure.

My group the Pseudo-cephalotes tested 3 different locations in the leaf cutter colonies: the fungal garden, the waste dump, and the leaves that were entering the colony. This was then placed on culture media and are now incubating in the "super fancy fungal incubator" i.e. tupperware box. We will collect the data at a later date when the Escovopsis has had time to grow.

Before the coffee break, each person within their group presented a question and subsequent hypothesis, then these were whittled down to one or two questions per group.  Each group prepared these hypotheses into presentation

Coffee Break Mid-Afternoon:

A toucan during our coffee break:

Evening Presentations After Dinner:

Typically when presenting scientific research, the presenter is the foremost authority in the room.  This situation was flipped on its head today; presenting to Adrian Pinto was daunting, and he relentlessly offered feedback on every minor detail at the conclusion of each presentation.  This information will be invaluable going forward as we prepare for our final presentation.

Today is a much more difficult day to blog about due to the strictly scientific nature of our activities. It is safe to say that all of us are enervated from a long day of productivity determining the path of our research for the next few days here at Finca La Anita.  

- Caroline Billyard and Wyatt Fogg