Students explore a new culture, travel abroad, conduct research and receive course credit.
By Megan T. Spencer
Class examining invertebrates under tree log on the
slopes of Mount Tamana, Trinidad (2006).
For the third time in the past four years, students and faculty from Virginia Wesleyan College are traveling to Trinidad July 8 – 23 to conduct research on various subtopics of the natural history of tropical eco-systems.
This year, seven students and two faculty members from Virginia Wesleyan will be accompanied by scientists and students from Old Dominion University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.
Trinidad, the southern-most island in the Caribbean, is located just seven miles off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. It is an island with "great food, people, and a great location; and where the water is safe to drink," said Dr. Victor Townsend, Batten Associate Professor of Biology. Townsend is co-leading the trip with Dr. Soraya Bartol, assistant professor of marine biology.
Townsend describes Trinidad as a location with the most butterfly species, and one that is listed as the top 10 bird watching places in the world. For this trip, specifically, Trinidad will serve as a holistic opportunity for Virginia Wesleyan students to experience a new culture, travel abroad, conduct research, both independently and as a group, and obtain course credit toward graduation.
"Trinidad is truly a place where students can experience a small scale version of South America in an English speaking country, with an incredible level of biodiversity," said Townsend.
Students conducting research in Trinidad include: Bethany Adomanis '10 from Arnold, Md.; Marianne Carr '11 from Suffolk, Va.; Suzanne Lazarowitz '09 from New Market, Md.; Mallory Offner '08 from Virginia Beach, Va.; Nicholas Raiford '10 from Boston, Va.; Iran Pope '10 from Hickory, N.C.; and Christina Seibert '11 from Virginia Beach, Va.
Dr. Victor Townsend descending down the slop of Mt.
Derrick in Trinidad (2006) .
Collectively, the group is focusing on the nesting ecology of leatherback sea turtles, and the ecology and distribution of harvestmen, land crabs, frogs, and lizards along streams and beneath coconut palms on the Northern Coast. Their adventure also includes morning bird watching in Asa Wright, observation of turtles on the beach at Gran Tacarib, a hike to the summit of Mt. Tamana to observe a bat cave and a boat ride into the Nariva Swamp to observe the primates.
Students prepared for the trip by completing a comprehensive literature review on a specific topic involving topical biology. Additionally, each student is conducting independent research on a field project, which will take place during the travel portion through Trinidad.
Lazarowitz, a biology major, attended the 2006 Trinidad trip with Townsend where she conducted harvestmen research. "As soon as we got back to the states, I knew that I wanted to go back," she said.
This year, Lazarowitz is conducting research on sensory perception and post-emergence behavior of leatherback sea turtle hatchlings. With her research, she plans on composing an article for potential publication, along with presenting her research at the annual meeting of the Association of Southern Biologists.held in Birmingham, Ala., in April 2009.
"I am excited about putting all my literary research to use…to do this research as an undergraduate is really quite exciting," said Suzanne Lazarowitz '09.Raiford, another Virginia Wesleyan student majoring in biology, is researching the physiological trait of evaporative water loss in multiple gekkonid [lizard] species. "I have always had an affection for reptiles," said Raiford. In fact, he currently has two bearded dragons as pets.
This trip to Trinidad is especially exciting for Raiford because "I love being in the tropics and being exposed to all of the biodiversity that we don't get to fully appreciate here in the states," he said.
After the trip, Raiford plans on articulating his research in a published journal because upon preliminary research there was very little information on evaporative water loss in geckos. He is determined to shed some new light on these amazing creatures.
Virginia Wesleyan College is the only school in the Tidewater area that regularly leads travel/research courses in biology to tropical areas. With this leading class, it is anticipated that the students from the 2008 Trinidad trip will present the results of their research on-campus at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in spring 2009. In addition, the students look forward to presenting at the annual meeting of the Association of Southern Biologists.
The Northern Coast Beach in Trinidad.
In the past, Virginia Wesleyan students who have conducted independent research in Trinidad have also published four co-authored manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Those students have also presented a combined 13 papers and/or posters at the annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists held in the spring of 2006 and 2007.
Voucher specimens (harvestmen, frogs, and reptiles) collected by students from past trips have been deposited into major national collections including those at the Smithsonian Institute, California Academy of Sciences, American Museum of Natural History, and Louisiana State Arthropod Museum. Additionally, Virginia Wesleyan students have also discovered at least five new species of harvestmen on the island.
This much sought after trip for some brings research to life and gives students the opportunity to obtain a front row seat to Mother Nature.
"I have learned so much about the species (Dermochelys coriacea) and am excited about putting all my literary research to use…to do this research as an undergraduate is really quite exciting," said Lazarowitz.
Members of this year's expedition received financial support from several sources including a Mednick Fellowship, a Virginia Wesleyan faculty summer development grant, a grant from the Virginia Wesleyan Office of International and Intercultural Programs, a VFIC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and a Virginia Wesleyan summer undergraduate research grant.
07.16.08