by Jessica Tasale
Hi, my name is Jessica, from Vanuatu and currently studying at the Pacific Adventist University (PAU). I have always loved Maths and Physics but since enrolling at PAU I decided to take up Biology and Environmental Science. I find these courses stimulating and challenging and have since then become interested in these fields. As part of the requirement I was attached with the New Guinea Binatang Research Centre (BRC) in Madang for three weeks.
BRC is a small but beautiful institution with lovely staff and great food. In my short period of stay not only did I enjoy the simple laid back setting but I have also acquired a lot of skills and knowledge that are relevant to my studies as well as equipping me for further research opportunities. I spent the first week working in the Botany section then the remaining weeks in the Entomology section working with sap sucking insects and beetles. It was very interesting to learn that each section within BRC was being managed by young people each highly trained in their respective particular field.
At the Botany section, I learnt the procedures of collecting leaf vouchers from sampling sites and proper storage of samples in the laboratory. I also learnt how trees were being tagged and identified. These procedures include describing trees according to their leaf arrangements; bark colour, wood colour, Latex colour..etc. weighing of leaves and giving ID number to each leaf voucher being collected. In the lab we use photoshop program to do leaf frame and leave analysis, sorted leave samples and learned a bit of data entry. The main idea is to find out the total leaf area damaged by herbivorous insects in a 1ha tropical forest. One of the highlights was the field trip to Baitabag where we actually went through the procedures of collecting leaves, identifying samples and taking pictures of each vouchers collected. The leaves were then placed inside newspapers and left in the ‘drier’ for drying. Upon drying, these leaves will be sorted out to and kept in three different locations (BRC, FRI-Lae, Uni of Minnesota) for safe keeping.
Working with the sap sucking section, I went through the steps in identifying species and adding new species to the database. We were also shown how to dissect, mount and compare specimen against the database and the reference collection. In identifying, when the specimen under identification was similar we awarded it with its ‘Accession #’ and recorded it in the database. When species were different, we dissected the genitalia segment and left it for 24 hours to allow the tissues to be properly washed so that it be easily sketched. After sketching the dissected specimen is then being photographed then photoshop program. These images are then being entered into the database, along with its morphology description. I also worked in the beetle (Order: Coleoptera) section where we classified the specimen according to their respective families and entered this information into the database for each of the specimen. We also participated in field work where we collected beetle specimen with its respective leaf in which they were being found. We put the leaf into containers with the beetle and after 24 hours a newly ficus leaf was being placed into the container. This is to observe their feeding behaviour and the type of ficus leaves in which the specimen feeds on.
All in all, I learnt a lot about research field work and I enjoyed working with the BRC team. I believe that the knowledge and skills attained would be of great help in pursuing in research field work in the near future.
BRC is a small but beautiful institution with lovely staff and great food. In my short period of stay not only did I enjoy the simple laid back setting but I have also acquired a lot of skills and knowledge that are relevant to my studies as well as equipping me for further research opportunities. I spent the first week working in the Botany section then the remaining weeks in the Entomology section working with sap sucking insects and beetles. It was very interesting to learn that each section within BRC was being managed by young people each highly trained in their respective particular field.
At the Botany section, I learnt the procedures of collecting leaf vouchers from sampling sites and proper storage of samples in the laboratory. I also learnt how trees were being tagged and identified. These procedures include describing trees according to their leaf arrangements; bark colour, wood colour, Latex colour..etc. weighing of leaves and giving ID number to each leaf voucher being collected. In the lab we use photoshop program to do leaf frame and leave analysis, sorted leave samples and learned a bit of data entry. The main idea is to find out the total leaf area damaged by herbivorous insects in a 1ha tropical forest. One of the highlights was the field trip to Baitabag where we actually went through the procedures of collecting leaves, identifying samples and taking pictures of each vouchers collected. The leaves were then placed inside newspapers and left in the ‘drier’ for drying. Upon drying, these leaves will be sorted out to and kept in three different locations (BRC, FRI-Lae, Uni of Minnesota) for safe keeping.
Working with the sap sucking section, I went through the steps in identifying species and adding new species to the database. We were also shown how to dissect, mount and compare specimen against the database and the reference collection. In identifying, when the specimen under identification was similar we awarded it with its ‘Accession #’ and recorded it in the database. When species were different, we dissected the genitalia segment and left it for 24 hours to allow the tissues to be properly washed so that it be easily sketched. After sketching the dissected specimen is then being photographed then photoshop program. These images are then being entered into the database, along with its morphology description. I also worked in the beetle (Order: Coleoptera) section where we classified the specimen according to their respective families and entered this information into the database for each of the specimen. We also participated in field work where we collected beetle specimen with its respective leaf in which they were being found. We put the leaf into containers with the beetle and after 24 hours a newly ficus leaf was being placed into the container. This is to observe their feeding behaviour and the type of ficus leaves in which the specimen feeds on.
All in all, I learnt a lot about research field work and I enjoyed working with the BRC team. I believe that the knowledge and skills attained would be of great help in pursuing in research field work in the near future.