The first project ideas Gabby and Juliet found interesting involved dissecting the pseudothelphusid crabs found in the streams in Las Cruces. While Gabby’s project has since changed dramatically from diet composition of the crabs to testing sex and heterochelae effects on agonistic behavior, Juliet is exploring trematode (Paragonomus spp.) parasite prevalence in the hepatopancreas (the yellowish tissue) in the crabs.
Macy, an REU student this summer (not pictured), discovered a large male Common Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus – aka Jesus Christ Lizard) under a rock while surveying for spiders. They get their name from “running” on water to escape, but this individual seemed to be too cold and wedged in hiding. I pulled it from the rock and we took some photos—only Juliet, my student, and another research mentor, Patricia, braved holding it.
A few more images of the tiger beetle (Carabidae, Cicindelinae, Pseudoxycheila tarsalis) commonly found in Las Cruces.
Cristian braves handling it—the serrated jaws pierce his skin. There is a horn extending from the labrum that is also serrated.
The “before” photograph at the large fig of field mentors, coordinators, and students working in this summer’s REU at Las Cruces.
Mike, Kevin, and Amos enjoy the fog over Tybee Creek and Bull River.
On a foggy, January morning, Kevin, Mike and I took off from the south side of Tybee Island to camp a night on Little Tybee, an uninhabited barrier island and nature preserve.
I’ve not been able to identify what entity manages the preserve, but it seems that camping is allowed, which suggests that it’s not a national refuge like the nearby Wassaw Island or under an easement and privately owned like Ossabaw Island.
In 2013, Sean and Morgan offered to host a Friends-Giving dinner at their home in Savannah. The following year, I travelled to Merida, Mexico where two other friends, Ryan and Camilla, invited friends to enjoy a week in their new home and a lobster-based Thanksgiving dinner. Today, we’re enjoying another gracious dinner in Buena Vista, Colorado, hosted by Libby and Casey.
I wish to share some photographs from the 2013 friends-giving event, and I’m thankful that I’ve met and can share company with these friends, who now live throughout the US (and Mexico…). Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
When Hurricane Matthew was forecasted to hit Savannah in October 2016, Mike and I made plans to hit up a section hike of the Appalachian Trail—my first. We headed out just before the mandatory evacuation and spent two nights hiking from Springer Mountain, which is the southern terminal of the trail, to Woody Gap.
All together, it was about a 21 mile hike with wonderful weather, two exhausted dogs, and some surprisingly delicious ramen.
