Today marks day 12 of the AVUELO campaign, and what a whirlwind it has been! It feels like just yesterday we were kicking things off, but with so many moving parts, time has flown by. Between the flight team, field crew, and lab team, we’ve had two major components to manage: terrestrial and coastal operations.
What makes this campaign particularly exciting for me is my deep connection to Panama. Having spent a large part of my childhood in the area we are sampling, it feels almost surreal to be back here working on such an important project.
Every day begins early, around 6:30 a.m., to check the weather to determine if the airplane will fly. I then jump on a teleconference to discuss with the flight team and project members whether the conditions are right for the day’s flight. So far, we’ve had four flight days in Panama, although unfortunately, the weather has been challenging, with heavy cloud cover over most of our area of interest. This year has been one of the wettest dry seasons in recent memory in Panama, but despite the weather, we’ve managed to secure some great data not just over our primary sites but also over secondary sites of interest.
The field teams are truly a well-oiled machine at this point. They leave at the crack of dawn, ready to collect leaf samples. The sites vary, so some teams hike to their sites, while others take boats or even use cranes to access the canopy. The goal is to collect samples from the very top of the trees, which can be a tricky task when the trees are tall. For the canopy team, it’s a breeze—they simply sample from the top. For others, the process involves creative methods like using long poles, slingshots to throw ropes around branches, or other creative means! In one memorable moment, a group of parrots inadvertently helped out by knocking down a few leaves as they flew off a tree. Once the samples are collected, they’re stored in bags, carefully noting the species and location. The team then returns to the lab, typically past noon, where the lab work begins.
In the lab, the samples undergo various analyses. Different stations process the samples, one measuring the spectra of the leaves (including transmittance and reflectance), another measuring leaf mass area, and yet another focusing on the stomata. Some samples are ground up to be analyzed later for their composition. It’s an intricate process, but every bit of data we gather is important to better characterize the plant.
Though these past two weeks have been exhausting, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how dedicated everyone is. The energy, teamwork, and commitment of the crew to ensure the success of this campaign have been truly inspiring. Each day, we’re making progress, and I can’t wait to see where the next days will take us.
Stay tuned as we continue our journey with the AVUELO campaign!
Tags: AVUELO 2025, tropical ecosystems
