Mammal Population Survey in Lowlands and Highlands of Costa Rica

Abstract 

In the deep jungles of Costa Rica, a highschool called Forman has a program we like to call Rainforest. This program has been active for the past 27 years collecting data on the ecosystem of Costa Rica and sending it to people who are using it to protect the environment. We were split into three teams but this is the Mammals team of 2020. For the past 25 years we have been going to the same location, until this year. We wanted to find the difference in ecosystems in low elevations and high elevations. And the findings were not just breathtaking but fascinating as well. We traveled to Tirimbina in the lowlands and Cuerici in the mountains and the findings were very interesting. We captured footage with our trail cameras of big cats and small mammals. This year was the year with the most findings by trail cameras in all of our 27 years of doing research. We made a plaster footprint from a rare mammal cat we found. We found scat that led to the conclusion that we had found the scat of an Oncilla. How we concluded that it was an Oncilla, you will have to read the article as to how we did it. If you would like to find out more about our research, then take a peek at our research.

 

Introduction

We need to gather more data on what is in the Sarapiqui region of the rainforest. In prior years our project has recorded signs of Leopard, Tayassu tajacu, Puma, Ossolats, Margay, Jaguars, and the Tapirus bairdii in the form of trail cameras and plaster prints. Another organization has done some studies that can be found here. Also, track large cats and their movements. We hope to have this data to share with Panthera to prevent poaching of there beautiful cats within the Costa Rican Rainforest. Our data on cats will hopefully give us a better understanding of where large cats move through and how we can prevent poaching. We share our data with Panthera, a nonprofit conservational organization dedicated to protecting larg cats. This is important because majestic hunters like Jaguars are crucial to the ecosystem and to keep the lushes rainforest alive. But it is also crucial that we protect these animals from extinction. Especially when there are so few of them left, and we don’t want yet another animal to go into the extinct section. We have also sighted non-large cat mammals such as Basyprocata punctata, Nasua nasua, Philander opossum, Tapirus bairdii, and Eira barbara. We hope to continue our data on our field study of the area where we use traps to catch small rodents for archiving. Our rodents project could reveal more data on the effect of shrinking natural habitats as logging increases within the area. Rodents account for the majority of secondary consumer’s food supply. There has been other research done by other individuals on bats in Costa Rica that can be found here. These are the hopes and goals of the Mammals Team.

 

Methods

Cameras

How to decide where

We suggest that you place the camera attached to a tree using the included strap. The camera should be placed near an area of high traffic (river bridge, trales, of water supplies). 

How to set

The camera should not be placed towards objects that may move because this will trigger false pictures (moving water, windy grass, or windy branches). When setting, use a white board to take a picture of the location and time to keep pictures in order. On the white board we would record in order the camera number, date/time (military), altitude, longitude, latitude, scientific name, and direction lens is facing.

How to retrieve/ review

When retrieving the camera make sure to bring an umbrella incase of rain. This umbrella will ad in keeping the camera dry while opening it in the rain. Make sure to use the same white board to take an ending picture. Make sure that camera is off, and that there is no damage to the camera.

What to Record

REC#

Date/ Time

TRap #

TAXA

Sex/ Age

Mark

Mass

HB

TV

EAR

HF

FA

TR

Perf

Preg

Mam

NIps

Obs

Comments

 

Bats

Mist Nets

Mist nets are set for population inventory of bats.

Where/when to set

Set bats nets following the same methods as the birds team but at nite due to bates being nocturnal. On top of birds thought you should make sure to never set nets in the rain due to this leading to hypothermia and drowning.

How to take out

Bats should be carefully taken out one my one wings first then head. After being taken out, it should be stored in a breathable bag. While taking bats out make sure to give them something to bite on.

What to record

REC#

Date/ Time

TRap #

TAXA

Sex/ Age

Mark

Mass

HB

TV

EAR

HF

FA

TR

Perf

Preg

Mam

NIps

Obs

Comments

 

Trapping 

 

Live Traps ( Terrestrial mammals)

Live traps for mammals that do not fly we use Havahart traps. 

       *When the animal’s steps on the bait pan, it will trigger doors on both sides to automatically shut without harming the animal in any way shape or form. 

        *Never use Snap traps or Sticky traps because they can cause harm to the animal. If you are trying to catch nocturnal animals then set the traps in the late afternoon then check on them first thing in the morning. 

        * Never leave traps open when the temperature drops below 10c

How to hide traps 

Put some leaves and twigs on the traps to hide them in plain sight that are on the ground. As for flying mammals like bats, the fishing line net traps are designed to go against their echolocation and trick them to be tangled but not harmed.

How to care for traps 

Check on them every few hours or so. Make sure to never set traps if it is above 24oC or below  10oC. Always set in the shade due to a fear of overheating.

How to decide where to set up 

A place where there is high traffic like on a log on a stream. Or in plain sight like on in relatively tall grass. But once placed make sure you take note or pin point where on your map your trap is placed.

What to use to bait the animals

A common bait is rolled oats mixed with peanut butter for the smell, or even fish. 

How to extract land mammals from traps

For a box trap you open one side with gloves on and encourage the animal to go into the bag. Once in the bag tie up the top and treat it with care but hold the bag with one hand on the top and the other right above it with the bag suspended in the air. The animals will most likely be terrified so it will squirm and try to fight its way out. Remember to wear gloves. 

What do you do once you have analyzed the animal?

Go back to the location that you captured the animal, make sure there is no harm to it then release it where it was captured. 

What to record

REC#

Date/ Time

TRap #

TAXA

Sex/ Age

Mark

Mass

HB

TV

EAR

HF

FA

TR

Perf

Preg

Mam

NIps

Obs

Comments

 

Results

Mist Nets( Bat species caught)

• • Tirimbina

 

• Myotis riparius

• Carollia castanea

• Artibeus phaeotis

• Ectophylla alba (3)

• Lionycteris spurrelli 

 

• • Curerici

 

• Montane oxynotus

• Sturnira lilium

 

Havahart

• • Tirimbina

 

• Potos flavus

 

Scat/Plaster

• Curerici
  • Believed Puma yagouaroundi (Based off of footprint)
  • Believed Leopardus tigrinus or Leopardus wiedii (The scat we dissected had a  Talamancan Shrew(Cryptotis gracilis)in it.  The IUCN lists this species as vulnerable.  This is listed as a common food for an Oncilla but the Margay also has a similar diet as well.)

Camera Traps

• • Tirimbina

 

• Dasyprocta punctata

• Nasua narica

• Eira barbara 

• Leopardus pardalis

• Puma concolor

 

 

Discussion

Our bat data is going to the reservations we stayed at, Tirimbina & Cuerici, it is also going to iNaturalist. Our Mammals data is going to Wildlife Insights, INaturalist, and our Cats data is going to Panthera. We had astonishing results in Tirimbina and were excited to compare it to the highlands. The lack of camera trap sightings in Cuerici we attribute to needing more time there to find the smaller population of wild cats.

All the terrestrial species caught on camera are all listed Least Concern by the IUCN.  All but the 

Central American Agouti ( Dasyprocta punctata) populations are decreasing. Dasyprocta population remain stable.

 

Literary Cites

1. Author Andrew L. Mack, Debra D. Wright, Pages 1/143, Training Manual for Field Biology Papua New Guinea 
2. Bushnell Camera Trap Guide Book 
3. Author Fiona Reid, Pages 1/334, A Field Guide To Mammals of Central America and South East Mexico

 

Appendices

Appendices

Appendix I	Appendix II	Appendix III
Puma	Tyra	Agouti
Ocelot		Coatimundi

 

Red List

Least Concerned	Near Threatened
ChestNut Short Tailed Bat	Hondorian White Bat
Riparian Mitosis Bat
Myotis Oxytus
Pygmy Fruit-Eating Bat
Little Yellow Shouldered Bat
ChestNut Long Tailed Bat

 

Acknowledgements 

Thank you to Wendy Welshans, Loren Hazard, Sean Graesser, Dr. Alex Shepack, Dr. Twan Leeneers, and Viviana Gutirrez for making this trip possible and giving us this experience that we are going to remember for the rest of our lifetime. Thank you again from the Rainforest team.

Variance in Herpetofauna populations of Costa Rica in regard to altitude: the Highlands vs. the Lowlands

Abstract

The Forman 2020 reptiles and amphibian team initial questions included what species would be found at 590 feet (180 meters) vs. 9500 feet (2895 meters) in elevation. The second question compared the concentration and deadly effect of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on amphibian species at these elevations. The team initially planned on hiking daily to collect samples and specimens and place them safely in plastic bags.. These samples would be brought back to the research station to be processed and recorded. After being measured and identified of all pertinent data the samples were returned to their habitat. In practice the team followed all of the procedures that were initially planned. Our results suggest a high level of variability in species and populations because of elevation and other environmental variables.

 

Introduction

The Reptiles and Amphibians team is part of the 2020 Forman Rainforest Project. The team is: studying populations of reptiles and amphibians, and the effects of chytrid fungus on amphibian populations as well as monitoring reptile populations in the rainforest of Costa Rica. the reptile and amphibian team will be traveling to two new locations. Both are at different elevations and will provide new data that has gone un-recorded in those regions. On March 3rd  2019  the research team will be arriving at the first field station at Tirimbina in the lowlands. The team will be running operations out of this location for four days. Then we will travel to another research station in the Montane rainforest, and stay there for seven days. For the past twenty years our tropical ecology team has been going to a location in the Pre-Montane rainforest.We hope that by going to these two new locations will provide new data to our universities, and uncover new patterns and trends to save the reptiles and amphibians. 

 

Methods

Throughout the entire  two-week period the 2020 Reps and Amps team will go on daily hikes, collecting specimens and filling out data sheets of information on the animal’s catch. We will be filling out the data sheets completely, and adding extra note worthy details and maybe pictures. Some methods of collection include capturing by hand, by using a rubber band, by noose, or by pitfall trap. Methods of observation could be but are not limited to open observation, observation through binoculars, or observation of vocalizations. These approaches are effective in several different ways. The procedures executed during the expedition, however primitive, were very effective. We spent much of the day and night hiking, in search, for herps

Using plastic ziplock bags we stored the specimens with ample air before processing.

 

Results 

Tirimbina ( Elevation 590’-721’)

In Tirimbina we caught a total of:

51 animals

37 different species

17 reptile species to 20 amphibian species

List of species in Tirimbina:

• Imantodes cenchoa (Common Blunt Headed Vine Snake)
• Ninia sebae (Red Coffee Snake)
• Incilius melanochlorus (Wet Forest Toad)
• Rana warszewitschii (Brilliant Forest Frog)
• Corytophanes cristatus (Helmeted Iguana)
• Craugastor mimus (Tilaran Robber Frog)
• Craugastor megacephalus (Broad Headed Rain Frog)
• Scinax elaeochrous (Olive Tree Frog)
• Smilisca puma (Tawny Tree Frog)
• Diasporus diastema (Common Tink Frog)
• Craugastor persimilis (Leaf Litter Frog)
• Anolis limifrons (Slender Anole)
• Oophaga pumilio (Strawberry Dart Frog)
• Rhinella horribilis (Cane toad)
• Anolis humilis (Brown Anole)
• Holcosus festivus (Central American Whiptail)
• Iguana iguana (Green Iguana)
• Basiliscus vittatus (Striped Basilisk)
• Leptodactylus melanonotus (Black Backed Frog)
• Lepidodactylus lugubris (Mourning Gecko)
• Hemidactylus Frenatus (Common House Gecko)
• Craugastor bransfordii (Bansford Litter Frog)
• Incilius melanochlorus (Atlantic Forest Toad)
• Scincella cherrie (Brown Forest Skink)
• Leptodeira septentrionalis (Northern Cat Eyed Snake)
• Pristimantis cerasinus (Clay Colored Rain Frog)
• Anolis Carpenteri (Green Slender Anole)
• Rhaebo Haematiticus (Smooth Skin Toad)
• Espadarans prosoblepon (Emerald Glass Frog)
• Porthidium nasutum (Hognose Viper)
• Anolis Capito (Pug Nose Anole)
• Enulius sclateri (Sock Headed Snake)
• Dendrobates auratus (Green and Black Poison Dart Frog)
• Anolis oxylophus (Stream Anole)
• Craugastor fitzingeri (Common Rain Frog)
• Teratohyla pulverata (Dusty Glass Frog)
• Pristimantis ridens (Pigmy Rain Frog)

 

Cuerici (Elevation 8500’)

In Cuerici we caught a total of:

7 animals

3 different species

2 reptile species and 1 amphibian species

List of species from Cuerici:

• Sceloporus malachiticus (Green Spiny Lizard)
• Anolis Alocomyos (Talamanca Cloud Forest Anole)
• Isthmohyla pictipes (Dark Footed Tree Frog)

 

Study on Sceloporus malachiticus:

We did not record enough data to yield any conclusions (having only three recorded sightings). 

On the map below, our sighting were at:

• Bottom left of Alberto’s House (in a wall)
• Between Green House and Classroom (a large decaying stump of a tree)
• Bottom right of Juvenile Trout Pond (a medium size stump of a tree)

 

Comments on Isthmohyla pictipes:

Swabs to test for Chytrid Fungus:

Not yet reported

 

Gender ratio:

 

Links:

Link to Data Sheets

List of Species 

 

Discussion 

Our decision to do night observation and collection payed off extremely in our first and second location in different ways. Our initial night doing observation and collection was extremely successful, and yielded 18 different herpetofauna alone.  Over the next four days in Tirimbina (at ~180 meters), we caught a total of 34 herpetofauna. In total, we caught 51 herpetofauna or 37 species. 

As opposed to our first location, in Cuertici (~2900 meters), we did not find that many herpetofauna. Instead, we caught and observed a total of 2 reptiles and 1 amphibian species over the course of 6 days (One of which hasn’t been reported in about 40 years!). As you can see from our results, it was very apparent that the elevation, type of rainforest, temperature, and exposure, has a huge effect on the amount and type of species. Although one of our research elements was focused on chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), we did not do any chytrid testing until Cuerici. On our 3rd night, when the Dark-Footed Tree Frog (Isthmohyla pictipes was discovered by Twan Leenders and Alex Shepack, we took swabs of the frogs to be sent back to a lab, in Florida International University, and to be tested for chytrid fungus. Results have not been made publicly available at this time. It’s important to test for chytrid fungus because it could show us possible immunities, lifestyles that prevent it, or possible areas that chytrid fungus have not affected yet.

All in all, we hope that our report, sheds a sliver of light into what is going on in the rainforests in Costa Rica. As we discovered, each location has a possibility of yielding something extraordinary. In our research team, we could have never expected our results to be so successful and exciting. 

Thank you Dr. Twan Leenders and Dr. Alex Shepack for being our group leaders! We have learned so much because of these two, so much so that there are reports on interests into similar future careers. They continuously inspired us through our long hikes, and lended their knowledge and experience, to us a successful team. As a result, we discovered and enjoyed the wonders of being a field researcher. Also thank you to Wendy Welshans for providing us with this amazing class and making this trip possible for us high school students.

 

Literature Cited

*Training Manual for field Biologists in Papua New Guinea by Andrew L. Mack and Debra D. Wright

*Reptiles and Amphibians of Costa Rica by Twan Leenders

*Amphibians of Costa Rica by Twan Leenders

*Reptiles of Costa Rica by Twan Leenders

 

Reptiles and Amphibian Team 2019-20

By Celia Stevens, Rex Mack, Jeremiah Cooney

What is the Reptile and Amphibians team?

The Reps and Amps (short for Reptiles and Amphibians) team is one of the longest running studies involving the Forman Rainforest Project, collecting data in the rainforests in Costa Rica. Hopefully, with the data that we collect about reptiles and amphibians, we can contribute to the study (and hopefully the cure) to chytrid fungus. 

What is Chytrid Fungus? 

Chytrid Fungus, more specifically Bd, is a chytrid fungus that appears to be capable of infecting most of the world’s amphibian species. Many of those species that develop the disease are linked to devastating population declines and species extinctions.

 

http://www.amphibianark.org/the-crisis/chytrid-fungus/

Bd is a very important chytrid fungus because it appears to be capable of infecting most of the world’s approximately 6,000 amphibian species and many of those species develop the disease chytridiomycosis which is linked to devastating population declines and species extinctions

In fact, infection with Bd has been called “the worst infectious disease ever recorded among vertebrates in terms of the number of species impacted, and it’s propensity to drive them to extinction (Gascon et al, 2007). Amphibian population declines due to chytridiomycosis can occur very rapidly— sometimes over a just a few weeks (Lips et al., 2006) and disproportionately eliminate species that are rare, specialized and endemic (e.g. those species that are most unique) (Smith et al., 2009).

Infection with Bd occurs inside the cells of the outer skin layers that contain large amounts of a protein called “keratin”. Keratin is the material that makes the outside of the skin tough and resistant to injury and is also what hair, feathers and claws are made of. With chytridiomycosis, the skin becomes very thick due to a microscopic change in the skin that pathologists call “hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis”. These changes in the skin are deadly to amphibians because— unlike most other animals— amphibians “drink” water and absorb important salts (electrolytes) like sodium and potassium through the skin and not through the mouth. Abnormal electrolyte levels as the result of Bd-damaged skin cause the heart to stop beating and the death of the animal (Voyles et al., 2009).

 

2020 Mammals Team

We are excited to continue the excellent work of the Forman Rainforest Project in the Costa Rican rainforest.

In 2020, we plan to gather more data on what is in the Sarapiqui region of the rainforest. In prior years our project has recorded signs of Leopard, Tayassu tajacu, Puma, Ocelots, Margay, Jaguars, and the Tapirus bairdii in the form of trail cameras and plaster prints. Another organization has done some studies that can be found here.

We will also track large cats and their movements. We hope to have this data to share with Panthera, a nonprofit conservational organization dedicated to protecting large cats, to prevent poaching of the beautiful cats within the Costa Rican Rainforest. Our data on cats will hopefully give us a better understanding of which areas large cats move through and how we can prevent poaching.  This is important because majestic hunters like Jaguars are crucial to the ecosystem and to keep the rainforest alive. But it is also crucial that we protect these animals from extinction as there are so few of them left.   

We have also sighted non-large cat mammals such as Basyprocata punctata, Nasua nasua, Philander opossum, and Eira barbara. We hope to continue collecting data on our field study of the area where we use traps to catch small rodents for archiving. Our rodents project could reveal more data on the effect of shrinking natural habitats as logging increases within the area.

Rodents account for the majority of secondary consumer’s food supply. There has been other research done by other individuals on bats in Costa Rica that can be found here. In our study, our bat findings have largely focused on Melanomys caliginous. We hope to find more data on the Melanomys caliginous bats. Our bat’s data might reveal a population census.

These are the hopes and goals of the 2020 Mammals Team.

Dissertation Day

Listen to the Rainforest Project present their findings on Friday, May 3rd from 8:30am-2:00pm. Watch it LIVE here! https://livestream.com/accounts/10616561/events/8653500

Reps + Amps Methodology

In the rainforest we will be studying Chytrid fungus and we will be using different methods to track reptiles and amphibians that have survived the major wave of the disease that has moved North from South America and is counting through Central America and into North America.

Throughout the two-week period the 2019 Reps and Amps team went on daily hikes, collecting specimens and filling out data sheets of information on the animals that we caught. The data sheets require specific information on the animals and the conditions of their capture. Some conditions that need to be recorded upon capture are country, province, locality, elevation, location description, date, weather, percent cloud cover, time, and air temperature. The information on the actual animal includes species (latin name), common name, sex, age, weight,coloration, snout-vent length, total length, and activity. Other noteworthy details are method of collection/observation, and any photographic images.Some methods of collection include capturing by hand, by using a rubber band, by noose, or by pitfall trap. Methods of observation could be but are not limited to open observation, observation through binoculars, or observation of vocalizations. These approaches are effective in several different ways. The procedures executed during the expedition, however primitive, were very effective. The team would do at least two hikes

Every day… one before noon and one after dark. The difference in temperatures and light

intensity allowed the team to observe a wider variety of species. Most species were collected by hand and put in Ziploc bags to be carried back to camp and catalogued. The more venomous species were collected using a snake hook and were put in a snake bag. Between collection and cataloguing, the specimens were kept in their Ziploc bags and hung on a clothesline (this method does not harm the animals when executed properly).This allowed for organization and easy access to the species needed. They would wait on the line until they were catalogued and photographed, then they would be released in the same spots they were collected at.

For the safety of the animals, the team tried to record and photograph each specimen within twenty-four hours of their capture. The more venomous species would be released by the team leader (Twan Leenders) at an undisclosed location. The sensitive species such as the Crowned Tree Frog would be released close to the location where they were found so that they would not be disturbed. To record the data on the species, the team would first identify it through noting key features and looking in the field guides for a match. When the species was known, the team would take notes on the conditions and characteristics listed above (data sheets). The data compiled from these individual observations is relevant to the observation of trends. This data can then be compared to the observations of past teams in order to detect long-term trends in species population, distribution, and behavior.

 

The 2019 Bird Team’s Methods

The Bird Team’s Methods

In the Costa Rican rainforest, the Birds Team uses mist nets to catch a variety of birds throughout each day. Our goal is to catch and tag local birds, as well as track migratory bird patterns. In order to set up these mist nets, we use the following: Two Stakes, Two Steel Rebars, A Mist Net, Rope, and Two poles. The nets we use are not tight, which allows the birds to fall into pockets of the net without injuring them, and the threads in the mist net is fine. They’re is a specific way to set up each net to make sure they cannot be blown away. The stakes use be driven deep enough that rain can’t wash it away with the mud, and to ensure a larger bird does not fly through the net and take off with it.

1. Hammer both steel rebar’s firmly into the ground.
2. Place the pan also on top of the poles
3. Put the poles on top of the rebar
4. Make sure the nets are not drawn taut and are not touching the ground
5. Hammer two stakes into the ground on opposite sides of the poles
6. Tie a knot between each stake to a pole to keep it in place to ensure the net does not fall over

2019 Bioacoustics Team

Methods for Bioacoustics

During the research endeavor at Costa Rica, the Bioacoustics Team will be conducting several methods and techniques to gather information of the sound which animals emit. Here are the list of the methods we will use to collect the data in the rainforest:

“Lie and Wait”

For this method, we will find a place with a lot of animal traffic and wait upon until the animals to surface out. It is crucial for the animals to be accustomed to our presence because if we do not, the sound in which the animals emit will be preferably different from what they usually produce. Additionally, most of the “lie and wait”s happen at night, meaning we would be sitting in the dark, bringing some tarps to sit on, and wait until we hear our target animal or animals making noises.

Alarm Call

Several of the sounds are to be recorded through a method called alarm call – a warning cry made by a bird or other animal when startled. For this technique, we will cooperate with the Birds Team; the Birds Team would catch the birds using their net and the Bioacoustics Team would record the birds’ alarm calls congruently.

Voice Announcements

Voice announcements are simply short disclosures at the end of every recording. Within each announcement, the recordist describes themselves and important information about the recording, such as species, current date and time, location, behavioral context of sound, weather or not playback used, number of individuals involved, prominent background species, habitat description, weather, and recording equipment. Voice announcements are crucial because they provide the most relevant information of sound identification on the spot and prevent from losing track of the essential data of the recording.

For instance, a sample voice recording, which will be made this trip, will be similar to the following: “That was a common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis). The date is the 4th of March 2018, and the time is 22:00. The location is El Plastico, Selvatica, Costa Rica. That was a night call. Playback was not used. Two people are involved in the recording, and they are Wendy Welshans and Sam Seo. Background noises are the local birds and insects. The habitat is a tropical rainforest. The recording equipment used is the shotgun mic.”

To cover and remember all of these aspects of voice announcements, we will tape a list of bullet points inside of the microphone case.

Playback

Playback is not a method we use to record, but rather, a way to induce potential recordings. For example, playbacks are exercised by playing a recording of an animal in hopes of hearing a response back from the target animal in the vicinity. Though, this is a common way to prompt responses from birds, similar to the previous year, we will not use playback because it often confuses the listeners with the sound of a playback and the sound of a new recording.

Data Entry

At the end of each day, the Bioacoustics Team will enter all of the information, including the voice announcements, into a data sheet on the Bioacoustics Team’s computer. By doing so, we will be able to organize our information in a productive manner and set an agenda, goals for the next day.

Journal entry

Besides the data entry which we organize at the end of each day, the Bioacoustics Team will also write journal entries in our Rainforest notebooks to give a further index, summary of the event, discovery, and day. The format of the journal entry is as the following: date, name, location, collaborators, habitat, weather, description of activities, and important biological observations.

A sample daily journal looks like the following: “15, June 2010, Andi Mack. Gahavasuka Provincial Park, EHP (06 °00’53’’ S, 145° 24’45’’E) 2400 m asl. Mid montane forest as described in detail on 13 April 2010. Overcast all day, temp 15~29 C, light mist in the early morning, heavy rain at 1600h. Conducted mist-netting surveys with Paul Igag and Banak Gamui. Opened 15 12, nets along the main trail at 0600 and tended them for birds until closing at 1530 prior to heavy rain. 28 birds captured and banded, noted on data sheets.”

 

2019 Mammals Team

The 2019 Mammals Team is excited about tracking mammals this year in Costa Rica.

In 2017, we were asked to conduct studies of Big Cats. We will be doing this by use of trail cameras. Approximately 20 of these cameras will be set up around our reserve to keep track of GPS locations of Ocelots, Pumas, Margays, and Jaguars to name a few. Our data will go into the database at Panthera; the largest Big Cat conservation organization.

Also we will be keeping track of rare, smaller mammals by use of havahart traps and Radio telemetry.

We will also be using plaster of paris to make solid samples of footprints of rare and endangered mammals.

Below are some instructions for our equipment:

Receiver (The unit attached to the antenna that receives signals from the transmitter the instructions)

1. Put  the cable into the ANT slot
2. Set the channel to the key number
3. Set the fine tune to 1
4. Flip switches on
5. Adjust the fine tune

Transmitter  (The unit the mammal wears as a collar)

1. Use the sound of the receiver to guide you to the transmitter

Camera traps

1. Once the camera is has batters and a SD card in it turn it on
2. Select weather you want it to take photos( down on the D pad), videos (up on the D pad) while in setup mode
3. Switch the camera to on
4. You will have a 10 second grace period to close it, put the camera in place, and leave the area
5. To set the camera in place use the straps in the back to tie it up in the desired direction
6. The camera will take photos when the motion sensor is set off
7. Mark the location of the camera

Plaster of Paris

1. Slowly mix the powder with water in a separate container
2. Stir the mixture( make sure there are no air bubbles)
3. Pour the mixture into the animal print
4. Let it settle
5. Slowly dig it up

Effects of Barometric Pressure and Temperature on the Tensile Strength of Nephila Clavipes’ Silk

ABSTRACT:

This paper focuses on the strength of Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes) silk. Furthermore, this research is dedicated to scientifically finding the root of variation in it’s incredible strength with an ultimate goal of using the silk as a sustainable resource in lue of cattle ranching.  While the research into the strength of this species silk has spanned over a decade for the Forman RainForest Project, the extreme variability lends itself to monitoring atmospheric condition such as barometric pressure and temperature at the time of silking each spider.

INTRODUCTION:

The 2018 Spider Silk Team is led by Wendy Welshans, who is assisted by Jason Epstein, a student researcher. The Spider Silk Team has a long history, which started in 1997 as an “accident” when a student silked a Golden Orb Weaver using nothing but his hands and a coke bottle! The program has since evolved to possess two groundbreaking patents to its name as well as becoming the life’s work of Wendy Welshans.

The Nephila Clavipes, common name Golden Orb Weaver, is native to the southern states in the United States of America as well as Latin America.  In fact, it is heavily present in Costa Rica, where the majority of the team’s research is done. Spider silk has many positive qualities: it does not cause immune responses when implanted in the human body– meaning the silk could be used for artificial tendons, tissue scaffolding, or even nerve regrowth; the Nephila’s silk is at least three times stronger than Kevlar, and more elastic– meaning silk could be used as ballistics protection (Cheryl Hayashi, 2010). To further attest to its strength, in 2017, the Spider Team conducted tensile strength testing of spider silk in 250 strand bundles, which are still functionally weightless but have an average of 6.21 Newtons, attesting to its strength.

The overall goal of the Spider Team, besides carefully documenting the amazing properties of one of the strongest natural fibers of the world, is to create a sustainable resource in the tropics of the rainforest that can replace cattle ranching. Harvesting spider silk would utilize land that would otherwise need to be destroyed. The Nephila spider must live in its natural habitat to produce quality silk. The flora in its home, however, is a veritable treasure trove as well. Interestingly, almost 25% of prescription drugs are made using ingredients derived from plants (James A. Duke, 1997), and yet only 1% of plants in the most biodiverse area on earth have been studied.  Preserving the rainforest allows for the study of potential life-saving drugs. Adoption of silking gives access to a valuable animal product as well as flora that can be worth more than gold.

The Forman Rainforest Project had its first official expedition in the spring of 1992. A year later in 1993, the arachnid project was introduced where student researchers studied Argiope spiders as well as the Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila Clavipes). Originally, the arachnid project focused on studying web anatomy and its construction. It was not until Bryan Sullivan (arachnid project 1997) and the “coke bottle incident” did spider silk itself pique interest: Bryan was handling a golden orb weaver when it laid a sticky disc– a sticky glob of silk that a spider drops to anchor its silk line– on Bryan’s hand and continued to let out dragline, the strongest type of silk the spider produces; Bryan started to wrap the silk around a coke bottle and noticed its incredible strength. It would not be until 2002 that the Forman Spider Team was officially founded.

METHODS & MATERIALS:

Once the team lands in Costa Rica and everything is settled, a trek to El Plastico commences. The Spider Team collects the Nephila Clavipes in transit; the Nephila clavipes is plentiful in the area. The method employed in capturing the spiders resembles the hand placement one has in order to make a shadow puppet of a crocodile. A team member swiftly closes their hands around the spider. An important note is that the researcher should not be concerned about disturbing the web when apprehending the spider. Another thing to note is when collecting the spiders, the researcher needs only target the females, which are easily identified because they are much bigger than the males, of which there is usually one on the web. After apprehending the spider, the researcher simply traps them in a bag, typically the Spider Team uses an onion bag acquired in town. One should not worry about multiple spiders in the bag cannibalizing each other. It has has occurred that in the bag, one spider has eaten another, but they have been rare occurrences.

Once the team arrives at El Plastico, it is important to immediately set the spiders in their habitat. At the El Plastico basecamp, there is a permanent habitat for the spiders constructed out of wood. It is simply open squares situated vertically. After a team member puts a spider in its own box, its instincts will take over and it should set up a web in that location without any further encouragement. A small note is that the male Nephila clavipes and smaller parasitic spiders will appear in the webs over time; however, this is normal. Mapping all the female spiders in the constructed habitat will be one of the most important tasks to set up the silking operation. Mapping allows to identify all of the spiders and where they are situated. It is important to record which spider was silked and at what time. The time of day and weather conditions at the time can greatly affect the silk quantity and quality. Also, the record is important because oversilking a spider can cause distress or even kill her, not to mention affecting the quality of silk.

 

This described method of silking should be observed closely, as this procedure has been shaped after almost two decades of the Spider Team’s trial and error.

1. The first step of silking is removing the female spider from her web. It is important not to disturb the web. The method used is affectionately called the “Welshans’ Cage Method”. The researcher hovers their hand in front of a web, slowly moving it downward towards the spider. The Nephila’s instinct is to travel upwards, which is used to our benefit. The spider should attempt to travel over the researcher’s hand, it is at this point that the hand is gently closed around the spider. The Nephila clavipes is not aggressive, and will only bite if pinched or handled roughly. That being said, if bitten, the only effect will be local redness and swelling.
2. The Nephila should be supported on the back of the hand, prompting her to lay a sticky disc– a type of silk used to anchor their dragline– in the hand of the handler. It is important to immediately place the sticky disc around the silkinator’s wheel. Using two hands, the handler should move their hands in a waterfalling motion, which tricks the spider in to thinking it is falling, thus stimulating it to continue to let out its silk.
3. A second researcher should turn the silkinator’s crank. A bike odometer is used to count the number of rotations the wheel has made, which should under no circumstances exceed 350 in order not to overtax the spider. Once 350 rotations has been reached,or the spider stops silking on its own, it is returned to its own web. It is important not to directly handle the silk on the wheel, but to use stainless steel probes so as not to leave oils from the skin on the silk. The current version of the silkinator features collapsible rods, which makes removal much easier. The silk sample should be labeled and tested for strength in current atmospheric conditions.

 

DISCUSSIONS:

RAW DATA:

Note: there are three distinct data tables from the years of 2016, 2017, 2018, this is due to the different organizational tendencies and goals specific to each team, methods and materials were not affected by this, every year tensile strength, barometric pressure, and temperature were recorded.

Date	Time	Temp.	Humidity (%)	Rainfall	Wind D.	Spider Name/ #	# of rotations	Amount Silked	Color of silk	Strength (N)	B. Press	Strand Strength
3-2	11:08	80.7	57.50%		NE LGT	TEST/Firstie	300	250	Golden Straw	5.37	28.11	0.0179
3-2	12:08	81.5	58.4		NE LGT	1/Phyllis	184	153.33	Summer time	4.407	28.1	0.023951087
3-2	12:11	81.5	57.4		NE LGT	2/ Patrica	280	233.33	Golden Straw	5.221	28.1	0.018646429
3-2	14:04	80.9	59.7		N LGHT	3/ Pricilla	296	246.66	Sunshine	13.05	28.01	0.044087838
3-2	4:18	80.6	60.4		N LGHT	4/Treasre	187	155.56	Tamed Lion	5.25	28.01	0.028074866
3-2	14:38	79.7	62.8		N LGT	5/ Spidey	227	190	Define	2.414	28	0.010634361
3-2	14:52	77.7	69		N LGT	6/Biggie Smallz	240	200	Lion	9.201	27.99	0.0383375
3-2	15:12	77.3	67.8		N LGT	7/ Carmen	70	58.33	Lemon	BOT	28
3-2	15:25	77.3	68		LGHT&VAR	8/Betsy	268	223	Neptune	5.407	28	0.020175373
3-2	15:45	76.6	70		NE LGHT &VAR	9/ Urcilla	156	130	Sunlit Mesa	BOT	28.01
3-2	16:04	76.6	70.1		N LGHT&VAR	10/Harry	321	267.5	Golden Straw	4.461	28	0.013897196
3-2	16:24	76.4	71.1		N LGT&VAR	11/Budy	162	135	Melted Caramel	6.677	28.01	0.041216049
Date	Time	Temp.	Humidity (%)	Rainfall	Wind D.	Spider Name/ #	# of rotations	Amount Silked	Color of silk	Strength (N)	B. Press
3-2	16:49	76.4	73		N LGT&VAR	12/trouble	77	64	Starlight	0.388	28.01	0.005038961
3-3	9:55	77.9	70.3		E	Agnes	283	235.8333333	School Days	9.572	28.9	0.033823322
3-3	10:00	81.6	61.9		E	Dumpling	124	103.3333333	Lemon	0.66	28.1	0.005322581
3-3	10:06	82.7	59.4		None	Marge	211	175.8333333	Sunlit Mesa	0.47	28.09	0.002227488
3-3	10:22	86.5	61.8		None	Katy	256	213.3333333	Lemon	8.36	28.09	0.03265625
3-3	10:47	83.4	58.4		None	Rose	263	219.1666667	Golden Straw	7.81	28.08	0.029695817
3-3	10:56	83.8	58.7		None	Madam	225	187.5	Golden Straw	10.21	28.08	0.040039216
3-3	11:20	84.3	58.3		None	Biggie Smallz	325	270.8333333	Neptune	9.2	28.07	0.028307692
3-3	11:38	87.6	54.5		E	Carmel	310	258.3333333	Golden Straw	6.41	28.06	0.020677419
3-3	11:43	88.8	53.7		E	Harry	215	179.1666667	Honeycomb	6.48	28.05	0.030139535
3-3	12:06	84.5	61.1		NE	Betsy	191	159.1666667	Lemon	7.93	28.04	0.041518325
3-3	13:47	83.4	61.8		E	Phoebe	0	0	n/a	0	27.99
3-3	13:49	83.4	61.8		None	Pricilla	219	182.5	Sunny	10.7	27.99	0.048858447
3-3	14:05	85.3	58.1			Patricia	233	194.1666667	Lemonade	7.03	27.99	0.036806283
3-3	14:15	84.7	59.3			Lourde	230	191.6666667	School Days	8.25	27.98	0.035869565
3-3	14:35	84.9	58.1			Valencia	220	183.3333333	Sunny	3.25	27.97	0.014772727
3-3	14:48	84.7	58			Harry	280	233.3333333	Bit of Sunshine	6.48	27.97	0.023142857
3-3	18:04	75.3	75.1			Fiona	100	83.33333333	Sunny	3.15	28.02	0.0315
3-3	18:07	75.3	75.1			Vicki	250	208.3333333	Lemonade	13.72	28.02	0.05488
3-4	9:12	79.5	70		none	Donna	180	150	Sunny	8.717	28.09	0.048427778
3-4	9:30	80.9	69.3			Wendy	170	141.6666667	Lemonade	2.986	28.09	0.017564706
3-4	9:43	81.3	65.3			Situation	87	72.5	Sunny	2.068	28.09	0.023770115
3-4	9:51	82.5	68.2	–	–	stitch	103	85.83333333	Sunny	4.027	28.09	0.039097087
3-4	10:01	82.7	64.1		–	Dish Net	40	33.33333333	MoonChina	0.232	28.09	0.0058
3-4	10:09	82	66.4		–	Sandy	347	289.1666667	Moon China	10.11	28.09	0.029135447
3-4	10:21	81.3	66.5	–	–	Black Betty	169	140.8333333	Honeycomb	5.763	28.09	0.034100592
3-4	10:30	80.6	67.5	–	–	Steve	274	228.3333333	Honey comb	3.191	28.08	0.011645985
3-4	14:26	80	72.4	–	–	Welts	228	190	Honey Comb	4.031	28.01	0.017679825
3-4	14:58	75.6	84.2	–	–	Clariz	125	104.1666667	Golden straw	3.667	28.01	0.029336
3-4	15:05	75.6	84.2	–	–	Soldier	200	166.6666667	Golden straw	3.959	27.89	0.019795
3-4	15:12	81	77.6	–	–	Staniel	260	216.6666667	Lemonade	5.329	27.89	0.020496154
3-4	15:24	85.9	71	–	–	Carmel	262	218.3333333	Lemonade	10.03	28.01	0.038282443
3-4	15:57	79.6	76.5	–	–	Patricia	250	208.3333333	Lemonade	13.29	27.91	0.05316
3-4	16:07	82.1	77.6	–	–	Betsey	250	208.3333333	School Days	BOT	27.91
3-4	16:18	82.1	77.6	–	–	Biggie Smallz	250	208.33	Golden Straw		27.91
3-5	11:55	84.6	61.3			Buddy	107	89.16666667	Lemonade	5.98	28.09	0.05588785
3-5	12:04	86.9	61.6			Biggie Smallz	245	204.1666667	Golden Straw	2.54	28.09	0.010367347
3-5	12:18	86.4	63.9			Carmel	150	125	School Days	6.17	28.08	0.041133333
3-5	12:26	87.5	61.3			Betsy	250	208.3333333	Golden Straw	9.94	28.07	0.03976
3-5	16:17	78.3	77.3	–	–	Fiona	193	160.8333333	Moon China	12.61	28.04	0.065336788
3-5	16:36	77	77.2	–	–	Donna	427	355.8333333	Honey comb	BOT	27.95
3-5	16:53	77	77.2	–	–	Pricilla	225	187.5	Banana Bunch	6.5	27.95	0.028888889
3-5	17:00	76.6	77.6	–	–	Clariz	320	266.6666667	Bone China	10.29	27.96	0.03425
3-5	7:15	76.5	77	–	–	Chocolate con leche	213	177.5	Bone China	1.439	27.96	0.005347418
								987.5	787.5	1775
Date	Time	Temp.	Humidity (%)	Rainfall	Wind D.	Spider Name/ #	# of rotations	Amount Silked	Color of silk	Strength (N)	B. Press
3-5	17:37	83.2	75.8	–	CALM	35/staniel	296	246.6666667	Honey comb		27.96
3-5	18:07	83.2	75.8		–	36/Mikey	130	108.3333333	Honey comb	1.913	27.96	0.014715385
3-6	11:48	85.3	56.2	–	–	34/ Soldier	250	208.3333333	Sunny	7.569	27.98	0.030276
3-6	11:57	85.3	56.2	–	–	33/Clariz	179	149.1666667	Sunny	5.054	27.98	0.028234637
3-6	12:06	88.8	56.2	–	–	35/Staniel	142	118.3333333	Bone China	2.486	27.98	0.017507042
3-6	12:18	88.3	59	–	–	28/Sandy	169	140.8333333	Sunny	10.01	27.98	0.059230769
3-6	15:06	82.8	66			31, Steve	118	98.33333333	Bone China	1.89	28.03	0.016016949
3-6	15:35	81.7	67.4			37, Debbie	250	208.3333333	Golden Straw	8.51	28.04	0.03404
3-6	15:37	81.9	67.4			36, Mikey	250	208.3333333	Golden Straw	4.12	28.04	0.01648
3-6	16:00	81.9	67.4			39, Becky	250	208.3333333	Boon China	6.829	28.04	0.027316
3-6	16:25	81.9	67.4			2/Patrcia	250	208.3333333	Golden Straw	6.647	28.04	0.026588
3-6	17:16	80.3	72.6			1/Phyllis	273	227.5	Golden Straw	9.044	28.05	0.033128205
3-6	17:26	81.9	72.6			3/Pricilla	36	30	Golden Straw	1.3	28.05	0.026111111
3-6	17:38	85.8	73			21/Velencia	356	296.6666667	Golden Straw	14.8	28.05	0.041573034
3-6	18:00	85.8	73			10/ Harry	103	85.83333333	Golden Straw	1.807	28.05	0.017543689
3-6	18:08	84	72			24/Wendy	136	113.3333333	Golden Straw	4.8	28.04	0.035294118
3-8	17:30					1/ RA	202	168.3333333	Golden Straw	7.159	27.48	0.035440594
3-8	18:08	73.9	83	–	–	1/Sassy Frass	215	179.1666667	Golden Straw	9.15	27.48	0.04255814
3-8	18:15	74.4	81.1			2/Kristy	223	185.8333333	Golden Straw	14.16	27.48	0.063497758
3-9	9:10	75.2	78.5	–	–	3/Dureesh	158	131.6666667	Bone China	2.506	27.54	0.015860759
3-9	10:00	77	75.5			4/Tyrome	214	178.3333333	Sunny	1.887	27.54	0.008817757
3-9	10:10	77	75.1			5/Tinky	206	171.6666667	Bone China	0.067	27.54	0.000325243
3-9	10:20	77	75.1			6/Dirty mike	371	309.1666667	Bone China	0.222	27.53	0.000598383
3-9	10:30	77	75.1			7/Adam	114	95	Bone China	0.437	27.53	0.003833333
3-9	10:40	78	74.2			8/Caroline	270	225	Bone China	1.197	27.53	0.004433333
3-9	15:38	76.6	76.3			9/Chris	250	208.3333333	Spotlight	10.5	27.44	0.042
3-9	15:51	76.6	76.3			10/SamuEL	250	208.3333333	Bone China	2.472	27.44	0.009888
3-9	16:00	77.9	77.3			11/TaiChai	250	208.3333333	Spotlight	5.692	27.43	0.022768
3-9	5:20	75.3	76.7			12/Party Pooper	427	355.8333333	Golden Straw	23.92	27.47	0.056018735
3-9	18:00	75.3	76.7			13/ Sean	333	277.5	Spotlight	7.27	27.47	0.021831832
3-9	18:15	75.3	76.7			14/ditsy	397	330.8333333	Golden Straw	10.92	27.47	0.027506297
3-10	9:05	70.3	77.9			15/ Charles (before soak)	100	83.333	Golden Straw	3.848	27.56	STOP
3-10	9:15	70.3	77.9			15/Charles (after soak)	100	83.33333333	Golden Straw	2.848	27.56
3-10	9:20	77.3	71.9			16/lindenberg (wet)	100	83.33333333	bone china	4.245	27.56
3-10	9:25	77.9	71.8			16/lindenberg(dry)	100	83.33333333	bone china	1.615	27.56
3-10	9:30	78	71.6			17/Krinky (soaked)	100	83.33333333	Golden Straw (lemonade before spray)	2.209	27.56
3-10	9:35	78.4	71.6			17/ Kinky (dry)	100	83.33333333	Spotlight	0.827	27.56
3-10	9:41	78.9	71.6			18/George (Soaked)	100	83.33333333	Sunny	3.016	27.56
3-10	9:50	79.7	68.7			18/ George (dry)	100	83.33333333	Sunny	2.48	27.56
3-10	10:00	79.7	68.7			19/Jimmy	250	208.3333333			27.56
3-10								0
3-10				JUAN	4166 feet
3-10											16788.373
3-10											19850.373
3-10
3-10											24016.373
session	timestamp	temp_c	dew_point_c	spider	location	Fiber type	Strand count	session_time	rotations	k_lux	Baro	newtons	strand_strength_newtons	outlier
1	2017-03-02 11:25:00	25.5	N/A	21				N/A	145	6.74	21.02	7	0.04827586207
3	2017-03-02 12:30:00	25.5	N/A	30				N/A	231	1.5	21.02	9.1	0.03939393939
4	2017-03-02 12:45:00	25.6	N/A	20				0:05:26	211	1.5	27.97	17.5	0.08293838863
5	2017-03-02 17:25:00	25.6	17.8	22				0:09:12	229	0.1	27.96	19.8	0.0864628821
6	2017-03-03 9:52:00	25.2	18.8	14				0:03:27	250	7	28.07	2.49	0.0092
7	2017-03-03 11:25:00	23.2	19	8				0:03:35	269	4.8	28.04	13.2	0.04795539033
9	2017-03-03 16:00:00	24.23	18.7	26				N/A		0	N/A	8		o
10	2017-03-03 17:17:00	23.5	18.6	6				0:06:20	350	0	29.97	1.5	0.02285714286
12	2017-03-04 9:16:00	23.9	20.6	10				0:02:22	130	0.1	28.09	2.1	0.01615384615
13	2017-03-04 9:57:00	25.7	20.8	4				0:03:22	258	0.2	28.09	6.9	0.02596899225
14	2017-03-04 10:30:00	25.8	19.2	21				0:03:38	244	3.6	28.09	6.4	0.0262295082
15	2017-03-04 10:50:00	25.2	21.1	17				0:03:12	250	2	28.09	6.8	0.0248
18	2017-03-04 16:56:00	27	19.9	30				0:02:51	162	0.4	27.97	8.7	0.04938271605
20	2017-03-06 11:04:00	22.8	19.5	34	B			N/A	50	1.1	27.54	2.9	0.02858
21	2017-03-06 11:39:00	24.3	19.9	44	L			N/A	75	8.7	27.51	2.8	0.03733333333
22	2017-03-06 12:10:00	23.4	19.8	38	F			N/A	72	0.1	27.51	2.769	0.03101388889
23	2017-03-06 12:22:00	23.4	19.8	38	F			N/A	72	0.1	27.51	3.34	0.03101388889
24	2017-03-06 12:31:00	23.4	19.8	38	F			N/A	72	0.1	27.51	2.248	0.03101388889
25	3/6/2017 12:50:00	23.3	19.4	39	G			N/A	60	0.1	27.51	1.2	0
26	2017-03-06 14:40:00	20.5	18.8	42	J			N/A	244	0.6	27.49	4.192	0.01668032787
27	2017-03-06 16:13:00	23.9	19.7	40	H			N/A	246	0.1	27.45	9.6	0.03902439024
28	2017-03-06 16:45:00	23.6	19	43	K			N/A	52	N/A	27.45	1.186	0.01032692308
29	2017-03-07 9:23	23.5	20.7	33	A			N/A	176	N/A	27.57	4.202
30	03-07-2017 9:51	23.5	20.7	35	C			N/A	141	N/A	27.56	3.666
31	2017-03-07 10:17	24.5	21.7	37	E			N/A	213	N/A	27.55	7.579
32	3/9/2017 15:00:00	——-	——-	——-	——-	nylon	1/6	——-	——-	——-	N/A	9.78
32	3/8/2017 12:58	——-	——-	——-	——-	wool	1/4	——-	——-	——-	N/A	4.57
32	3/8/2017 20:09	——-	——-	——-	——-	hemp	1/4	——-	——-	——-	N/A	7.435
32	3/7/2017 20:20	——-	——-	——-	——-	kevlar	1/6	——-	——-	——-	N/A	5.579
32	2017-03-08 8:34:00	25.7	20.2	45	M				232	0.2	27.55	10.95	0.04719827586
32	3/8/2017 9:30	——-	——-	——-	——-	cotton	1/33	——-	——-	——-	N/A	9.3
32	3/9/17 11:00	——-	——-	——-	——-	Nylon monofilament	1	——-	——-	——-	N/A	16.4
39	3/8/2017 10:07	26.1	20.3	38	F	cotton	1/33	N/A	250	0.2	27.56	15.07
40	3/8/2017 11:55	26.2	21.7	33,44	A,L	Hemp	1/4		250	2	27.51	24.072		No Graph
41	3/8/2017 12:21	27.4	22.3	42	J	Wool	1/4	N/A	250	0.9	27.5	10.5
43	3/8/2017 1744h	26.7	22.1	36,45	D,M	Kevlar	1/6	N/A	250	1.4	27.47	23.85
44	3/9/2017 1015	26.4	20.9	33	A	nylon	1/16	N/A	250	2.3	27.51	8.234
45	3/9/2017 1226	27.1	21.9	45,38	M,F	nylon monofilament	1	N/A	250	0.2	27.46	18.97
46	3/9/2017 1256	27.7	21.8	44,32	L,J	cotton	1/33	N/A	250	0.2	27.44	12.5
48	3/9/2017 1721	25.6	21.3	38	F	hemp	1/4	N/A	250	0.3	27.41	34.07
49	3/10/2017 0652	N/A	N/A	33, 39	A,G	hemp	1/4	N/A	250	N/A	N/A	35.75
Date	Time	Baro (inHG)	Temp (C)	Humidity	Wind	Precip	Cloud Cover	Spider Name	# of Rotations	Length Silked (cm)(Rounded to Whole #)	Color	Force to Break (N)	Comments
1-Mar-18	15:19	27.91	26.5	61.30%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Jenny	250	9974	B125	4.7	Cut line twice
1-Mar-18	16:12	27.93	25.9	61.40%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Jackie	250	9974	B114	————————	Broke while removing from wheel
1-Mar-18	17:05	27.95	24.8	63.50%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Rachel	93	3704	B115	————————	Appeared lethargic, stopped sinking at 93 rotations error with the attenuator affected tensile testing
2-Mar-18	9:00	28.07	21.5	87.10%	0	0	Cumulus	Rachel	194	7740	B114	————————	Human error
2-Mar-18	9:18	28.04	24.1	73.40%	0	0	Cumulus	Ariana	250	9974	B113	4.4
2-Mar-18	11:40	28	25.7	62.30%	0	0	Cumulus	Adriana	250	9974	B115	3.1	Tenso forward motion on accident
2-Mar-18	12:02	————————	————————	59.40%	0	0	Cumulus	Bella	125	4987	B117	————————	Broke while removing from wheel
2-Mar-18	17:26	27.95	24.2	73.90%	0	0	Cumulus	Jenny	224	8937	B127	7.3	Beautiful Gold Color
3-Mar-18	9:50	28.02	26.4	65.70%	0	0	Cumulus	Sparkles	128	5147	B124	3.2	4:50 seconds 5 cuts
3-Mar-18	10:01	28.02	26.4	70.30%	0	0	Cumulus	Angel	181	7221	B123	2.9	2 cuts
3-Mar-18	10:36	28	27	68.10%	0	0	Cumulus	Ariana	141	5625	B125	2.2	4:30 seconds
3-Mar-18	16:42	27.93	25.5	71.40%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Jane	170	6782	B123	————————Human error	no breaks
3-Mar-18	17:11	27.93	25.4	69.50%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Jackie	8	319	————————	————————	could not even remove web Jackie had not been in her web fir two days, she sat above it in the rafters
3-Mar-18	17:21	27.93	25.6	70.90%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Ariana	100	3989	B125	0.4	3:10 seconds Silked twice in one day, mistaken for Jenny Johan also broke some strands
3-Mar-18	18:00	27.95	24.8	73.60%	0	0	Stratus	Jenny	185	7381	B126	3.9	2 cuts, 4:15
3-Mar-18	20:51	28.03	22.5	82.40%	0	0	too dark to see	Rachel	148	5904	————————	————————	3 cuts, broke on removal
3-Mar-18	21:13	28.03	22.8	82.50%	0	0	too dark to see	Bella	180	7181	B125	3.9	no breaks, 3:25, lethargic afterwards
4-Mar-18	9:05	28.01	24.4	75.30%	0	0	clear sky	Adriana	100	3989	B114	1.3	cut at 100 on purpose
4-Mar-18	9:40	27.94	26.7	60.30%	0	0	clear sky	Annie	100	3984	B112	1.6	Cut once, capped at 100
4-Mar-18	17:50	27.45	23.9	74.20%	0	0	————————	Jenny	64	2553	B132	1	Cut once, she had already been silken the fourth for teleflex
4-Mar-18	18:03	27.96	23.9	74%	0	0	Cumulus	Bella	74	2952	————————	————————	Broke while removing from wheel, tough time sinking
4-Mar-18	18:14	27.96	24	73%	0	0	Cumulus	Adriana	35	1396	B114	————————	Too small to test
5-Mar-18	6:04	28	21.3	81.70%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Jane	78	3112	B125	2.5	one cut
5-Mar-18	6:20	28	20	80.60%	0	0	Cumulo Stratus	Angel	47	1875	————————	1.8	possibly put on wrong
5-Mar-18	9:15	27.94	25.6	76.80%	0	Yes, ——	Cumulus	Jenny	75	2992	B124	1	Cut once
7-Mar-18	19:05	27.55	19.2	86.60%	0	Yes. .5 cm	Heavy Stratus	Jolene	10<	————————	————————	————————	Very hard time silking, multiple cuts before even reaching ten rotations (Rara Avis)
7-Mar-18	19:13	27.55	18.2	86.60%	0	Yes. .5 cm	Heavy Stratus	Charlotte	28	1117	————————	————————	Broke while removing from wheel, very difficult to silk, multiple cuts (Rara Avis)

 

Note: Because this paper looks specifically at tensile strength, barometric pressure, and temperature, a second raw data chart was made isolating spiders, barometric pressure, and average strand strengths of those silk collections. Spiders silked three or more times are highlighted with their own specific color and used in the following data graphs

 

	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Patrica	0.018646429	27.5	28.1
Patricia	0.036806283	29.6	27.99
Patricia	0.05316	26.44	27.91
Patrcia	0.026588	27.72	28.04
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Pricilla	0.044087838	27.16	28.01
Pricilla	0.048858447	28.55	27.99
Pricilla	0.028888889	25	27.95
3/Pricilla	0.026111111	27.72	28.05
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Betsy	0.020175373	25.16	28
Betsy	0.041518325	29.16	28.04
Betsy	0.03976	30.83	28.07
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Biggie Smallz	0.0383375	25.38	27.99
Biggie Smallz	0.028307692	29.05	28.07
Biggie Smallz	0.010367347	30.5	28.09
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Carmel	0.020677419	30.88	28.06
Carmel	0.038282443	29.94	28.01
Carmel	0.041133333	30.22	28.08
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Harry	0.013897196	24.77	28
Harry	0.030139535	31.55	28.05
Harry	0.023142857	29.27	27.97
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Clariz	0.029336	24.22	28.01
Clariz	0.03425	24.77	27.96
Clariz	0.028234637	29.61	27.98
	Strand Strength	Temperature (C)	Barometric (inHG)
Jenny	0.0188	26.5	27.91
Jenny	0.032589286	24.2	27.95
Jenny	0.021081081	24.8	27.95
Jenny	0.015625	23.9	27.45
Jenny	0.013333333	25.6	27.94

 

TABLES:

 

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

Barometric pressure (inHG) values; 27.91, 27.96, 28.08, 28.04, 27.99, 27.99. 28.05, 27.95.

Barometric Pressure had a difference of .17 from the highest to the lowest value

The Mean value for highest tensile strength in this lab in regards to barometric pressure was 27.99625

 

The Temperature (celcius) values; 31.55, 26.44, 28.55, 29.16, 25.38, 30.22, 24.77, 24.2

Temperature had a difference of 7.35 degrees from the highest to lowest values

The mean value for highest tensile strength in this lab in regards to temperature was 27.5

For use in abstract??

 

CONCLUSION:

Though we used the past three years of data, based on our findings, we cannot affirmatively say that barometric pressure or temperature has any obvious effect on the tensile strength of the Nephila clavipes. It is possible that the results were influenced by 2018’s findings, in which prior to this team’s arrival, a cold snap had killed the majority of the resident spiders and presumably induced stress in the surviving ones. Again, while no obvious relationship between barometric pressure, temperature and silk tensile strength was observed, within this study; the average for optimal conditions of silk strength was a barometric pressure of 27.99625, and a temperature of 27.5 degrees Celsius.This paper’s authors used  three years, 2016, 2017 and 2018 for data. Spiders that had been silked three times or more, were graphed twice with temperature (in celsius) over strand strength (in newtons). And barometric pressure (inHG) over strength (Newtons). For each spider, we looked at the highest tensile value, and its coinciding temperature and barometric values.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

A Thank you to all the previous teams for their data gathering and construction of materials and methods,

 

Bryan Sullivan

Jerry Kersten

Danielle Odell

Brady Rose

John Small

Luke Bornheimer

Rachel Clarkin

Addison Keilty

Megan Blair

Winston Macdonald

Nick Manzella

Zachary Bitan

Ryan Lowe

Jacob Sussman

John Goldstein

Ariel Blum

Lawton Jeffords

 

Special thanks to Linus Trahair, assistance in data analysis

 

REFERENCES:

AUTHORSHIP: Wendy L. Welshans, Jason M. Epstein