Kim, Corbin, and Mike

Domingo, 17 de Diciembre, 2017
Las Cruces Biological Research Station
11:28

It wouldn't be a true goodbye without a group photo. Amongst an early morning, we all regrouped to with Pedro, Norys, and Isabel to take one final last photo. Emphasis on the last photo as I've been shooting them constantly for the last week -- constantly saying "uno mas, uno mas" when completely knowing there would be far more than just one more.

President Pedro Flores writing notes during a final meeting before his departure from the Las Cruces Biological Station. Louisiana State Univeristy is looking to continue to fund programs to bridge the gap between traditional ecological knowledge (TEC) and modern science. They plan on continuing to work with the Ngöbe to ultimately build the tribe's own biological research station on Ngöbe land.

Following our photo, I got to join the final project. Mentored by Mike Heim of Lac Course Oreilles Ojibawa Community College, his two students Kim Steward and Corbin Schuster of the Yakima Nation are looking at plant diseases. Specifically, they're analyzing the susceptibility of a fungi disease at different elevations in the palm species this Palm Species. Through the collection of various leaf samples at three different sites, the group then processed images to conclude that lower elevation palms are more likely to be the victim of this fungi disease.

Kim reads off the Kestrel weather meter's readings. In addition to analyzing leaves, the team collected climatology data in each of the three elevation zones.