We have learned that the REU experience is much more beneficial for both parties when the student works with a project that is closely related to our own work. The student is encouraged to design an experiment that will fall under the work we will be conducting during that field season. Previous REU students have been co-authors on papers and presentation. Stacey Smith (1997) is co-author on a poster presentation that we presented at a North American Bethological Society meeting: "Community-based conservation in the humid lowland tropics: The Water-for-Life program in Puerto Viejo de Sarapaqui, Costa Rica. Luis Enrique Molina worked with us in 1998 and is coauthor on a paper in Freshwater Biology, "Effects of stream phosphorus levels on microbial respiration" (2003). Kelly Maynard from Yale University examined the importance of leaf quality in determining the strength of top-down control by macrosonsumers in the summer (2002) and did further analysis as her honors thesis. Erin Hotchkiss from Emory University studied chironomid growth rates under different nutrient treatments (2003), and Britt Carlson from St. Olaf College examined the effects of canopy cover and nutrients on diatom communities in lowland, neotropical streams (2003). Liabeth Yohannes (Wesleyan University) and Suzy Alvarez (Princeton University) looked at breakdown dynamics in forested and pasture streams around La Selva (2004).
Pedro Torres (University of Puerto Rico) measured the exchange of nutrients in the form of insect biomass between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (2006). Matt Lettrich (University of North Carolina-Wilmington) examined the differences in growth rates by mayflies in high- and low-phosphorus streams, and Lauren Schweizer (University of New Hampshire) measured the efficiency of stream fish in consuming drifting invertebrates (2007). During the summer of 2008 David Fellers (Spring Arbor University) examined the effect of stream solute levels on the demography and fecundity of Macrobrachium spp. freshwater shrimp.
Students working with the STREAMS
project will benefit by obtaining experience in both laboratory and
field work at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, one of the leading
research stations in the tropics. Their involvement will provide
the opportunity to learn general characteristics of tropical streams in
a setting considered to be among the world's most complex biotic communities.
By working with the STREAMS project, the REU intern will learn and apply
water monitoring methods, become familiar with several common riparian
plant species and aquatic insects, and learn field ecology research skills.
Furthermore, the intern will be able to practice Spanish language skills
and learn about Costa Rican culture by working directly with on-site project coordinator Minor Hidalgo.