A cola leaf’s journey from canopy to data sheet

What are the logistics like on a field campaign to collect leaves from the canopy of a tropical forest? We collect them to profile these species’ functions – measuring things like photosynthetic capacity that help predict forest function or carbon fluxes. But where do these numbers come from? Here is a small vignette into how…

On non-charismatic wildlife and fieldwork

Most people’s imagination of doing warm tropical landscapes involves charismatic megafauna. They are there, but they are not the primary experience of fieldwork. They shape the landscape deeply, but it can be a rare even to see them, especially up close. Here in Gabon, this is especially true. Forest buffalo make tracks all over the…