Where the tropics speak and stories grow – from canopy to community.
Welcome to the Tropical Studies Blog that takes you behind the scenes of OTS fieldwork, told by students, researchers, staff, and communities on the front lines of discovery.
In News
Science at OTS
Science at OTS Section by Elizabeth Braker. OTS CEO. Why do large groups of harvestmen bob more frequently and longer than small groups? Aggregations of harvestmen (arachnids in order Opiolones) are often spotted on a branch or between tree buttresses...
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Data Rescue: from degraded pasture to model system
Guest Essay by Dr. Eugenio González, Director, The Soltis Center for Research and Education in Costa Rica, Texas A&M University. Preface by Dr. Deedra McClearn, scientific advisor to OTS. Research projects often expand in new and unanticipated ways. That has...
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Beyond Endangered: A New Look at the “Guayacán Real”
Beyond Endangered: A New Look at the “Guayacán Real” By Orlando Jimenez. GIS OTS team. Some trees are impossible to overlook—not because of their size or color, but because of the feeling they leave behind. During a walk with undergraduate...
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¿Le interesa la conservación y el ambiente a las comunidades urbanas?
¿Le interesa la conservación y el ambiente a las comunidades urbanas? Escrito por Jossy Esteban Calvo. English version. Costa Rica ha sido, por varias décadas, un exponente mundial en la conservación de la biodiversidad y de áreas silvestres protegidas, sin embargo, a nuestras ciudades casi siempre debemos excluirlas...
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De estudiante a Coordinador: una historia de transformación vivida en OET
De estudiante a Coordinador: una historia de transformación vivida en OET Escrito por Pablo Muñoz. Hace ya 8 años y 5 meses, mi profesora de ecología nos comentó a mí y a Georgia que la OET daba cursos de campo...
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OTS Voices from the Field: How “Tracks & Trajectories” is Capturing the Heart of the OTS Experience
OTS Voices from the Field: How “Tracks & Trajectories” is Capturing the Heart of the OTS Experience By Zingfa Wala, Host of “On the Trail of Science: Tracks & Trajectories” Have you ever wondered what happens to OTS students...
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Birds and Community: La Selva Takes Part in Global Big Day 2025
Birds and Community: La Selva Takes Part in Global Big Day 2025 Based on a report by Génesis Castro, Scientific Academic Department – OTS On May 10, 2025, bird enthusiasts across the globe took to forests, wetlands, coasts, and cities for...
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Exploring Collaboration: The Power of an Annual Institutional Representatives Workshop
The Power of an Annual Institutional Representatives Workshop By Sofía Rodríguez The idea of holding an annual Institutional Representatives (IR) Workshop is more than just a meeting—it's the beginning of something much bigger. This year the gathering served as an incubator for...
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Un Trópico Urbano más verde: Soluciones Basadas en la Naturaleza
English Version Un Trópico Urbano más verde: Soluciones Basadas en la Naturaleza Entrevista realizada a Miguel Méndez y Liana Mora. Unidad de Proyectos y Operaciones Gracias a la vinculación y las alianzas que la OET ha tenido con personas e...
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La Ciencia se dibuja
La ciencia también se dibuja By Ana Sepulveda Ciencia y arte definen lo que fui desde pequeña. Ser bióloga o artista fue el dilema existencial que viví cuando quería entrar a la universidad. Yo crecí en un pueblo muy...