We arrived at our study site at Las Cruces Field Station just over two weeks ago, excited to start another field season. What questions are we asking this year? We continue to find out more about how the fragmentation of tropical forest affects the diversity and movements of hummingbirds. We now know that our focal plant species – Heliconia tortuosa is not reproducing itself well in small fragmented patches of tropical forest. The next question is how the decline of this species will influence the rest of the hummingbird community and the flowers they pollinate? Will we see a collapse of the whole pollination web, or will birds and plants be able to adapt?

Over the coming weeks I’ll introduce you to the researchers involved with this exciting work, and will also tell you more about the day-to-day adventures experienced by the field team. Will we find out why hummingbirds, but not humans can pollinate heliconia? How will hummingbirds respond to experimental ‘extinction’ of common plant species? Will one of us get eaten by a jaguar? (unlikely, but our team did see one last week!) Stay tuned for more exciting OSU research news.

… This blog is really meant to be a two-way communication, so please feel free to ask questions about anything you see posted here – and things you don’t see posted! We’d be happy to answer. – Prof. Matt Betts, OSU