| Back in Palo Verde, my fence has held up fairly well and the wetland has filled. Only one fence post as rotted and broke, although it’s a corner post and somewhat important in maintaining the fences structure… When I examined the breaking point of the post, I was bitten by a Belastomatid in the finger, which is still numb from the digestive enzymes that it secreted as it bit. |  |
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| I’ve collected a bunch of these gigantic ostracods which cruise around, perhaps preying on grazing cladocerans. |  |
I’m returned to Costa Rica today…
Eastern Garter Snake
As the sun set at the mouth of Rio Sirena, the moon came up from behind us.
From a few years ago, in La Selva.
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I’ve probably already posted this shot somewhere, but I like this place.
I study decomposition in aquatic systems, and most research in this area focuses on leaves as the major source of outside input of organic matter into these systems. However, in tropical systems, flower and fruit material can make up a substantial portion of OM input in streams, as discuss in Tropical Steam Ecology and evidenced in this photograph.
While sampling, flower parts rained into Rio Camarones in Sirena, completely covering the surface. And, just like in Ohio, the stream was filled with abundant crustaceans, probably acting as shredders!
