Closing in

 

Potential field collaborator Alex Prieto

Thanks to the amazing support of everyone who has contributed or spread the word, I will soon have the essential equipment for undertaking my research. In the last couple days before my campaign closes, I am turning my attention to the factor that is most limiting in this study: time. Fortunately, I have several peers who are interested in assisting me in the field, which will make it much easier to finish this study before I graduate in a few months. Time will not be as much of a constraint, and I will be less limited in the number of trees in which I can sample. So I am trying to raise more money for gear that will be used by those assisting me. Having these tools available will not only allow me to expand my sampling area, but will make it easier to pursue other canopy-related studies in the future, especially where it will help to have an assistant or partner along for the climb.

Some of the Experiment team were awesome enough to come down and join me in the field a couple weeks ago. I had a great time showing them the ropes and chatting about lichens and the canopy while we were hanging in the crown of one of my study trees.