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| View of Thiaki Creek Rainforest |
This week involved a lot of time in the field and work spent writing the paper for "Principles of Forest Management". We spent long hours hiking around in the brush at Thiaki Creek Rainforest, measuring the trunk width and height and determining the mortality rate of trees planted by TREAT several years ago. For my project I compared our data with data taken from the Dry Season (back in September) and found that the trees that exhibited higher vertical growth rates and diametrical growth rates at the base of the trunk were destined to be high canopy trees while those that exhibited higher diametrical growth rates around the trunk at 30 cm height were understory and sub-canopy species. The most shocking realization to me was that I actually could and did correctly determine which species would become canopy trees when I looked them up, all based on which of the growth rates a species tended towards (nerd moment, had to do it).
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| Setting up the plots |
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| Scoping out the landscape |
Unfortunately I had to pull an all-nighter to finish the paper, perhaps in part due to our 2 hour and 15 minute hike on Sunday. It was kind of a spur of the moment idea that led Greg, Rob and I to wander off in pursuit of the infamous Cathedral Fig. So we set off, traipsing across pastures and the old access road until we hit the main road. From there we walked about a mile and a half before we stumbled upon the sign announcing our arrival at the tree.
Amazing large and incredibly tempting to climb, the Cathedral Fig truly inspired awe, not just because of its great size but also because of its beauty. We gaped at it for a few minutes before realizing that we could even go inside. I've walked through Sequoia trees, but standing in the Cathedral Fig may trump that experience. Just looking up you can tell that this one tree is its own ecosystem, with all its symbionts making up dense foliage at the top and from the mosaic of vine-like branches that would make it an ideal home or resting area for animals looking to evade predators. My picture does not do it justice. After admiring the Cathedral Fig for a good 20 minutes, we headed back and made it just in time for dinner and long before our TA (I know that's not his actual title, but I can't think what else to call him) had predicted. A well-worth-it journey I would say.
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| A Hercules Beetle that keeps me company as I write papers |
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| As promised, a picture of a Carpet Python |
Unfortunately I had to pull an all-nighter to finish the paper, perhaps in part due to our 2 hour and 15 minute hike on Sunday. It was kind of a spur of the moment idea that led Greg, Rob and I to wander off in pursuit of the infamous Cathedral Fig. So we set off, traipsing across pastures and the old access road until we hit the main road. From there we walked about a mile and a half before we stumbled upon the sign announcing our arrival at the tree. 
Amazing large and incredibly tempting to climb, the Cathedral Fig truly inspired awe, not just because of its great size but also because of its beauty. We gaped at it for a few minutes before realizing that we could even go inside. I've walked through Sequoia trees, but standing in the Cathedral Fig may trump that experience. Just looking up you can tell that this one tree is its own ecosystem, with all its symbionts making up dense foliage at the top and from the mosaic of vine-like branches that would make it an ideal home or resting area for animals looking to evade predators. My picture does not do it justice. After admiring the Cathedral Fig for a good 20 minutes, we headed back and made it just in time for dinner and long before our TA (I know that's not his actual title, but I can't think what else to call him) had predicted. A well-worth-it journey I would say.
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