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Welcome to this edition of e-Canopy — a curated collection of stories that reflect the vibrant spirit of our OTS community across Costa Rica, South Africa, and beyond. From groundbreaking research in tropical restoration and freshwater ecology to life-changing student journeys and citizen science efforts, each article celebrates the deep connections between people, place, and purpose. These narratives are more than updates; they are windows into how collaboration, education, and shared discovery continue to shape a more sustainable future. Thank you for being part of this global network of scientists, students, and nature lovers. |
Together, we are connecting human ingenuity with nature. |
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| A hidden ally supporting tropical research |
Over 40 years ago, researchers from La Selva and the Costa Rican Government established a unique altitudinal transect linking La Selva Research Station with Braulio Carrillo National Park. Spanning 51 kilometers and reaching nearly 2,900 m.a.s.l. at the Barva Volcano, the transect and the shelters (such as “Refugio 2000”) are designed to facilitate long-term research.
Nowadays this scientific facility is at a crossroads.
Long-term studies from the 1980’s, such as research on bird community changes and forest dynamics, urgently need to continue, as does the restoration of the infrastructure that makes them possible.
Orlando Vargas, a botanist and naturalist with La Selva Research Station's scientific-academic department, reminds us of the historical and scientific significance of the connection between La Selva and the Braulio Carrillo National Park.
A recent visit to Refugio 2000 aimed to assess the shelter and trail conditions in preparation for installing acoustic recorders that will allow long-term bird monitoring and forest plots.
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| Data Rescue: From degraded pasture to model system |
Preface by Dr. Deedra McClearn, Scientific Advisor to OTS.
Research projects often expand in new and unanticipated ways. That has certainly been the case with the data rescue effort for the La Selva CANADA PLOT native tree initiative. Phase 1 was to put the original seedling data from 35 years ago into a permanent data repository. After considerable time and effort, that phase was successfully completed in 2021.
Phase 2 was prompted by the questions “Can we still find the original trees 35 years later?” and “If so, can we tag and remeasure the trees with the goal of looking at survival and growth rates?”
This report is a quick look at the successful completion of Phase 2 and a look ahead to Phase 3. A comprehensive treatment of the entire project is underway for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. | |
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At the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), curiosity leads the way, whether it's through bobbing arachnids, forest plots, parasitic networks, or electrified flower mites. If you are intrigued, make sure to read the full article.
With this piece, we share some of the fascinating research conducted across our field stations, from the depths of La Selva’s rainforest to the highlands of Las Cruces.
Read the full article by Elizabeth Braker, OTS's President and CEO, and dive into the world of tropical science. |
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| Birds and Community: La Selva takes part in Global Big Day 2025 |
On May 10, 2025, La Selva Research Station joined thousands around the globe in celebrating birds and biodiversity through the Global Big Day. Thanks to a detailed field report by Génesis Castro, we can now share how a team of local guides and staff braved the elements to document over 150 species in just one day. Their work highlights the power of citizen science, collaboration, and the forest’s enduring call to listen, observe, and protect. |
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| OTS on the Move: Science, Students, and Strategy at 2025 Conferences
June was an exciting month for OTS academic teams across continents, as staff and collaborators shared their latest research and educational initiatives at three major scientific gatherings. From savanna trees and elephant impacts in South Africa, to urban water bodies and freshwater biodiversity, to policy, education, and conservation dialogues in Mexico, OTS researchers demonstrated how field-based science can inform real-world challenges.
Whether through presentations, workshops, or student-led collaborations, these contributions highlighted OTS’s commitment to advancing tropical research, connecting science with practice, and training the next generation of conservation leaders.
Stay tuned: OTS is heading to the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Annual Conference in Baltimore this week. We will be in booth 306 in the exhibition hall.
Join us for our OTS ESA meetup today at Blackwall Hitch Restaurant in Baltimore, MD at 6:30pm EST and hear how we’re shaping the future of tropical science, on and beyond our field stations. |
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| The Power of an Annual Institutional Representatives Workshop |
The Institutional Representatives workshop created an ideal space for imagining and building cross-institutional partnerships, laying the foundation for future research collaborations, study abroad programs, and faculty exchanges. These in-person connections are vital to strengthening our global network of scientists and educators, and to keep the OTS community vibrant and evolving.
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| OTS voices from the field: How “Tracks & Trajectories” is capturing the heart of the OTS experience |
Have you ever wondered what happens to OTS students after they return home from their OTS field experiences? What career paths do they pursue? How do those weeks spent in the African savanna or Costa Rican rainforest continue to shape their lives years later?
These are the questions that inspired the launch of OTS’s first official podcast series.
Since November 2024, “On the Trail of Science: Tracks & Trajectories” has been exploring the incredible journeys of our OTS community, one conversation at a time. No insect repellent required.
What started as a simple idea born from countless memorable conversations with students has evolved into something much more profound: a platform that reveals OTS not just as an extraordinary study abroad opportunity, but as a catalyst for lifelong transformation and a network that extends far beyond any single semester. |
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OTS Experiences 2026 are where travel meets lifelong learning!
Express your interest and join OTS in an educational travel experience of a lifetime where you will have the invaluable opportunity to interact with local based naturalists from our team and likeminded travelers like you in a program that offers you travel with purpose to learn and grow as you explore different landscapes.
In Costa Rica, you will learn about the fauna and flora through guided walks and visits to all of our stations, morning birding, night walks, boat experiences and more. While in South Africa, you will have daily game drives while you live and learn in Kruger National Park as well as fireside chats about research and conservation as you dive into the history, culture, and science South Africa has to offer in Kruger National Park and Cape Town, with local knowledge at the forefront of your experience.
Dates: OTS Experiences South Africa trip from August 17-29, 2026 OTS Experiences Costa Rica trip from April 12-26, 2026
For more details on pricing, logistics, and activities, please contact Julissa Larios, our Coordinator of Special Programs and Initiatives, at julissa.larios@tropicalstudies.org or at (323)-621-9167.
Please contact Julissa before moving forward with any flight bookings to confirm logistics. Space is limited. No deposit required at this time. |
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| Rebecca Cole returns to lead OTS’s Tropical Center for Restoration Science |
Raised among the forests of Las Cruces, Dr. Rebecca Cole returns to OTS to lead a bold new initiative: the Tropical Center for Restoration Science (TCRS). With deep roots in the region and decades of expertise in tropical ecology and forest restoration, Rebecca brings a global vision to a local legacy.
As the world races to restore ecosystems and build climate resilience, the TCRS will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, education, and capacity building. From collaborative networks like GEN to hands-on learning in Costa Rica and South Africa, this new center reflects OTS’s commitment to applied science with real-world impact. |
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| Our secret wild neighbors: a wake up call from the urban tropics |
We believe that science should connect deeply with the world we live in, especially with the species we unknowingly share it with. In this piece, we are proud to feature the perspective of Alexia Pereira-Casal, a consultant at OTS who recently attended the International Urban Wildlife Conference in Atlanta.
Alexia invites us to reimagine our cities not as separate from nature, but as ecosystems in which wild animals such as bats, coyotes, opossums are not intruders, but rightful co-inhabitants. Her piece reminds us that conservation begins at home, and that the way we treat “invisible” neighbors reveals how much we understand our place in the web of life. |
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| Do urban communities care about conservation? This story proves they do. |
Conservation in Costa Rica has long been associated with national parks and rural landscapes. But today, urban neighborhoods are leading local transformations in their own cities.
In this article, Jossy Esteban Calvo, TEVU Project Coordinator at OTS, shares how community leaders are restoring rivers, reclaiming public spaces, and building greener futures, one city park at a time. |
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| A greener urban tropic: Nature-based solutions |
When we think of tropical conservation, we often imagine dense forests, remote research stations, and field boots deep in the mud. But what happens when we bring those same principles of resilience, regeneration, and biodiversity into the heart of a city?
At the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), we believe that protecting the tropics doesn't end where the pavement begins.
This article explores how OTS is expanding its legacy beyond natural reserves and into the urban fabric of Costa Rica using Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to support healthier, greener, and more equitable cities. |
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| Investigating the welfare of wild fish in dammed and free-flowing rivers |
As global interest in animal welfare deepens, science is beginning to listen more closely to the lives of less-visible creatures, including wild fish.
In a groundbreaking new study led by Dr. Josephine Pegg, lecturer with the Organization for Tropical Studies South Africa, researchers are investigating how damming impacts the growth and stress of fish populations in the Mekong Basin.
With support from WWF Laos and the active involvement of local student Siphelele “Jobe” Sithole, this collaborative project uses fish scales to unlock stories of resilience and vulnerability. The goal? To inform future freshwater policy, reconnect river ecosystems, and highlight the welfare of aquatic life in a rapidly changing world. |
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| One frond at a time: The transformative journey of an OTS Ambassador |
From a fern workshop in the Dominican Republic to the trails of La Selva and Las Cruces, Cristopher Jiménez-Orozco’s story is one of resilience, passion, and the red threads of fate that tie us to the tropics.
As a rising plant systematist and a proud OTS Ambassador, Cristopher shares how OTS courses not only deepened his love for ferns and bryophytes but also expanded his understanding of tropical biology, research, and human connection. Through mud, rain, laughter, and discovery, he reminds us that to study nature is to feel it deeply and to be transformed by it.
Read the full article and follow Cristopher’s incredible path through science, friendship, and frond-filled wonder. |
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Beyond endangered: A new look at the “Guayacán Real”
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While the Guayacán Real (Guaiacum sanctum) is considered endangered across much of its native range, a recent undergraduate field course in Palo Verde uncovered several individuals of this rare tree species.
What began as a simple GPS training exercise became a journey into the quiet resilience of a forest rarely seen so clearly.
In this reflection, Orlando Jimenez from the OTS GIS team, shares an unexpected discovery made during a student workshop in Palo Verde where more than 400 individuals of the endangered Guaiacum sanctum were recorded in just over a kilometer of trail.
This unexpected finding raises questions about its actual conservation status in the region and highlights the importance of field-based learning in uncovering new ecological insights. Could Palo Verde be a stronghold for this iconic tree? |
| From student to coordinator:
A story of transformation at OTS |
Some decisions mark a turning point. For Pablo Muñoz applying to the 2018 Tropical Ecology and Conservation course wasn't just an academic adventure, it became the beginning of a journey that would lead him to become OTS’s Education Coordinator.
In this personal reflection, Pablo shares how he moved from self-doubt and imposter syndrome to profound personal and professional growth, thanks to the transformative power of field-based education. More than a story, it’s a love letter to the OTS model, a model built on science, connection, and the kind of learning that stays with you for life. Read the full story and discover how one course can change everything. |
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Announcing an upcoming art and photography section
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Join our OTS art and photography initiative and share your field photos taken at OTS stations. Get a shoutout in our next newsletter, where we can feature you and your photography or artwork.
If you are interested, please complete the interest form below and we will reach out with next steps. |
| Science can also be drawn! |
In June 2025, thanks to the support of a special grant, the OTS Scientific Illustration Internship strengthened its commitment to the intersection of science and art. Under the guidance of official instructor Ana Sepúlveda, young illustrators immersed themselves in a process of detailed observation, ecological analysis, and visual creation inspired by the vibrant landscapes of our OTS stations.
This edition also featured the special participation of visual artist Florencia Urbina, a recognized ambassador of the organization, who shared her sensitive perspective on the role of art in conservation.
In this article, we invite you to learn about Ana Sepúlveda’s educational approach, the transformative experiences of the interns, and the inspiration sparked by Florencia Urbina’s artistic intervention.
This piece is a demonstration of how, when science and art meet, new ways of caring for the natural world bloom. |
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Wandering with wonder: A first-time OTS Experiences traveler |
Not everyone who visits OTS field stations is a scientist, and that’s the beauty of it. For Nancy Bilello, a retired health care professional and first-time OTS traveler, the journey became a life-changing dive into the living classroom of tropical nature. From misty cloud forests to chocolate-making under the canopy, her story is a reminder that wonder belongs to everyone. Nancy is already considering joining us for another OTS Experiences trip soon.
Read the full article and travel through Nancy's eyes.
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Joyous experiences with OTS | Ever wonder how a childhood spent chasing chipmunks and picking wild berries in Minnesota leads to hyenas, penguins, elephants and more in South Africa?
Dr. Joy Schochet, a retired biologist, did just that. In the process, she rediscovered what so many are missing, a deep connection with the natural world.
Her recent trip with OTS was more than a safari; it was an eye-opening adventure into conservation, ecology, and community.
Joy traveled with us to South Africa in August 2024 and recently traveled with us to Costa Rica in April 2025. She is a two-time OTS Experiences Alumni! |
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