By Angie Rizzo
El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (BEN) is the ideal setting for any student or professional interested in conducting research in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. Covering 7 of Costa Rica’s 12 life zones (different habitat types), the BEN is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Some species area endangered and others endemic to the region.
In addition to being the perfect natural laboratory, the BEN has two rainforest field stations, San Gerardo and Pocosol, that offer lodging and three meals per day. Special rates are given to approved research projects, and all proceeds go directly towards conservation!
During my stay in the BEN, a research project was being carried out by Kyle Davis (pictured at right with a Lesson’s Motmot), a rising senior from Ohio Wesleyan University. Kyle, a microbiology and zoology major, is a member of numerous scientific associations and conservation societies. His main interest is studying microbiomes on birds — specifically, how some bacteria use birds as their host.
In his research project, “Feather-degrading Bacteria in a Tropical Environment”, Kyle focuses on a type of bacteria that lives on birds and causes their feathers to decompose. While this may sound harmful to the bird, in some cases the bacteria actually benefits its host. Some bird species, such as the blue jay in the U.S., get their bright blue color from the way their feathers are layered. When the feather-decomposing bacteria is present on a blue jay, it actually is decomposing a layer of keratin on specific feathers, thus making the blue coloration of the bird more vibrant, and (in the case of a male blue jay), potentially making the bird more desirable for mates.
Some research on feather-decomposing bacteria has been done in the U.S. and Australia, but they are yet to be studied in Costa Rica. Kyle’s work will reveal if the bacteria are present, to what extent, and provide more insight into how this complex microbiome operates. Also, if the bacteria are discovered, Kyle will be comparing the rates that this bacteria decomposes feathers as compared to the other feather-decomposing bacteria present in the U.S. and Australia. Kyle predicts that this bacteria will be present, more efficient, and, if so, this discovery will hold rather large implications for the human world as well.
As I learned from Kyle, many poultry businesses face the obstacle of what to do with the waste feathers once all of the birds (chickens, turkeys, or otherwise) have been plucked. Currently, most businesses in the industry bury the feathers (because they are chemically very stable and take a long time to decompose) or burn them. Both of these practices have negative environmental impacts; if an efficient feather-decomposing bacteria is discovered, it could provide a natural alternative for disposing of the feathers.
Kyle is grateful to the staff of BEN, who he says are extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and have facilitated the success of his project. He recommends anyone interested in doing research in Costa Rica to look into conducting their project at the BEN. “Not only did BEN provide a quick response time when I submitted my proposal,” says Kyle, “but they have also been very user-friendly during my time here.”
Are you a student or professional interested in conducting research at the BEN? If so, contact Lindsay Stallcup, or refer to the BEN’s website for research proposal forms.
Angie Rizzo successfully completed an internship with the Monteverde Conservation League and Children’s Eternal Rainforest from June to August 2018. She is a student at Lehigh University. Edited by Lindsay Stallcup.