Sharing science

Forest monitoring in the South Pacific – Blog #7

One of the best things about studying forests is that our research subjects (the trees!) are easy for other people to work with too. Measuring biomass is straight forward to explain – meaning it’s also easy to share and invite others to join in the research.

Many hands make light work – and also beautiful leaf couronnes!

I’ve been continually amazed at how quickly volunteers, often with little scientific training, pick up the methods and run with them. And who doesn’t want to tag their own tree?!

Staff and volunteers from the Atitia Center, an educational and community outreach facility associated with Gump Station, arrived in force to assist with the establishment of a demonstration plot this week. It’s so exciting to see a new group of people embrace field research.

I also gathered up lots of new ideas as they brought their experiences and knowledge to the project. For example, Ronald made the establishment of perfectly square plots on very steep slopes look easy (surveying is his thing – he’s a builder!) Others took the lead, organising the team and making sure everyone kept focused on their tasks – it practically became a tree tagging race!

Miriama and Dean comparing height measurements using a laser range finder and visual estimates

Secondary forest at our demonstration site at Gump Station

The point of measurement is ici! (

The dominant tree species at this site are hibiscus (purau) and mango (mangier)

It’s not everyday you get to work under towering mango trees – not bad at all!

Despite getting wet, dirty, tired and having to work through the challenges of this particularly steep site, everyone returned the next day and completed the plot in record time.

On Friday we were also joined by undergraduate students from the University of French Polynesia (Université de la Polynésie française or UPF), along with their lecturer Mayalen Zubia and Jean-Yves Meyer, one of our project partners (see Forest monitoring in the South Pacific). At our early morning lecture, the UPF students mingled with the University of California Berkeley (UCB) students currently here on a field course – which led to an enthusiastic exchange of ideas and friendships.

UPF and UCB students mingling!

Undergraduate students from Mayalen Zubia’s ecology class at the University of French Polynesia establishing new subplots at the demonstration plot at Gump Station. A test of teamwork, logic and field skills which the students found challenging but ultimately rewarding. 

Miriama and Heipoe then briefed the UPF students (an all girl class, what can I say, we are taking over the ecological sciences!) and they headed out to establish two new subplots at the Gump site.

Jean-Yves sharing his incredible knowledge about Moorea’s forests

Marvelling at an enormous, invasive falcatta tree

They are about as sexy as my field hat, but Jean-Yves’ socks and jelly sandals are great for fending off the mozzies and preventing the spread of invasive seeds which get stuck on conventional hiking boots.

Mape trees love water

Wild fowl are a common sight in the forests, and on the restored maraes

We ended the day with a walk along the Ara tupuna (path of the ancestors) trail in the Opunohu Valley with Jean-Yves stopping regularly to share bite sized factoids about the plants and habitats around us. Everyone was enthralled. We learnt about the plants introduced by early Polynesian explorers and their uses, as well as the clever spiral arrangement of the leaves on a ginger plant – designed to maximise the capture of light below the canopy.

Mayalen is keen for her class to return each year to learn how to monitor the forest plots. This will be a fantastic opportunity to track how the forest grows and changes, and to inspire future students in tropical forest ecology!

Amazing public fire display on Moorea

Moorean sunsets rarely disappoint

UPDATE: Mayalen Zubia has written a great article about the day on the Université de la Polynésie française website.