MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY
ECOLOGY GROUP
For the first time in three years the Ecology Group was able to leave Victoria and venture to the far north for a week-long experience in the world's oldest tropics. Some 46 undergraduate students attended and each were assigned to a "group" that had a special topic they had to address over the 6 days they were together.
The students were housed at the Daintree Research Observatory operated by James Cook University. Full accommodation and catering were provided and laboratory facilities were made available. You can view the site on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturenoises/albums/72157636164246673
Highlights are provided below.
Group Reports
At least two groups reported daily
Display of some insects the occurred in either the edge or within the rainfoirest
In the laboratory
Learningto "stuff" a katydid!
THE FOOD
Rachel, the Chef, is a remarkable person. She produced three meals a day for 50 people without any help and without any dramas. Wonderful.
Anyone for Eggs Benedict?
The Boss!
Prof Mike Kearney
The Big Boss
Simon Biggs, Vice Chancellor James Cook University
THE STUDENTS
DRAMA
One afternoon desperate "screaming" was heard from the rainforest. After a bit of searching a Striped Possum was discovered in the entrance of a tree-hole. A few centimetres away was the head of a large python. The possum was apparently attempting to call its mates for help, but to no avail. The pair was observed for more than 12 hours. Well after midnight the observers decided it was time to go to bed. When they returned in the morning, they found the python with the possum in its coils. There was considerable sympathy among the students on the side of the possum. Fortunately, Michele had a large number of Stripe Possum Tee-shirts in her shop and she just about sold out to sympathetic students.
You can just make out the head of the possum in the tree-hole and the python to the right. This was more than 10m from the ground.
TO BE CONTINUED
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