This summer in the month of August I along with other peers and Dr. William Eaton went to Costa Rica to conduct soil science research to contribute to the restoration effort done at The Monteverde Institue. The research I carried out this summer is an assessment of how different forest restoration strategies in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve have affected the soil fungi most associated with the vegetation. Specifically, I am focusing on changes in the soil fungal communities of many known plant pathogenic fungi, the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that attach to plant roots and the arbuscular mycorrhizal (ARM) fungi that attach and embed deeper in the plant roots. The overall goal of this research is to show how the carbon measurements and the fungal genera associated with the plant community have changed with the different restoration strategies.
unfortunately, due to the current situation with COVID-19, I was unable to complete my intended research. I was unable to receive the next-generation sequencing data from Rutgers University to complete the analysis of the samples. I was also unable to analyze the nutrient data because I don’t have access to the computer programs to do so. Despite all of these setbacks and being unable to complete the research project, it was still an overall great experience.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with friends to conduct research. It was on the best learning experiences I have had during my four years at Pace. I was able to gain more of an appreciation for the natural environment. I was also able to learn about field research and experience it myself. This opportunity has prepared me for my future goals of doing research and getting a Ph.D. in ecology.