On March 16, Al Gore will be visiting Costa Rica as a guest speaker in conjunction with the Business Forum on Sustainability and Environment. The forum is held throughout the day and will host a large number of exhibitors, including OTS. Al Gore is scheduled to deliver a speech focusing on climate change at a gala dinner that evening. 

OTS president and CEO, Elizabeth C. Losos, is the first speaker of the day and will present the latest results relating to the impact of climate change on tropical forests at the opening session. OTS will also have a presence in the exhibition hall and host a roundtable discussion the following day at La Selva.  

Other presenters include companies such as HSBC, Dole Food Company, and Kimberly Clark, who will present their success stories in implementing environmental policies as part of their business strategy. The event is sponsored by HSBC and La Nación.  

The search for the next OTS AMIGO t-shirt is on!  

 VOTE NOW 

Vote today for your favorite design -- this survey will be open until midnight on March 27, 2011.  

The OTS calendar is an annual tradition. Each year, we have highlighted various images of fauna and flora representing our programs and the areas in which we work.  

For 2012, we plan to select photos which represent the people of OTS -- students, researchers, and faculty who share our values. If you would like to submit your photos for possible inclusion in the 2012 OTS calendar, please send your images to cathleen.lemoine@duke.edu and luis.ulloa@ots.ac.cr.

Images must have the following qualities to be considered:

Resolution:  300 dpi minimum

Size: 8 inch base minimum

Content: Images of students, faculty or researchers working at one of the OTS sites. Please provide names of the individuals in the photograph, name of photographer, date photograph taken, and a brief description of what is happening in the photo. 

Please submit your images by June 1, 2011. If your image is selected for inclusion, you will receive one night of accommodations at one of our stations (meals included) for each image used.  

Rodrigo Cajade, an alumnus of the OTS 2008 Ecología tropical y conservación graduate course, has just published his research, examining the microhabitat and trophic niche relationships of the  Strawberry Dart Frog and the Green-and-Black Poison Dart frogs. His research was completed at La Selva with support from the OTS Research Fellowship Program, specifically the GlaxoWellcome Endowment. This fund was established by GlaxoWellcome Centro América to provide funding for Latin American graduate students.

Trophic and microhabitat niche overlap in two Sympatric Dendrobatids from La Selva, Costa Rica. 2010. Rodrigo Cajade; Eduardo Federico Schaefer; Marta Inés Duré y Arturo Ignacio Kehr. Cuadernos de Herpetología, v.24, n.2, p.81-92.

Abstract:

We studied the trophic ecology of Dendrobates auratus and Oophaga pumilio in La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. At this site, both dendrobatids are sympatric due to the introduction and naturalization of D. auratus in the last 24 years. Diets of both dendrobatids were recorded by the analysed stomach flushing technique. Microhabitats uses were defined as the site where each individual was captured. The influence of microhabitat on diets was evaluated by the dietary (prey proportions and volume) and microhabitat overlaps using Pianka's (Ojk) overlap index calculated with EcoSim software. Diets of both dendrobatids were principally characterized by the preference of hymenopterans (ants), acarines and collembolans, resulted in a high overlapping in prey proportions and prey volume. However, diets overlaps were not significant, suggesting the absence of negative feeding interactions.

Microhabitat use was low overlapped and also not significant, suggesting a differentiation on the use of spatial resource. The absence of negative feeding interactions between Dendrobates auratus and Oophaga pumilio could be due to segregation in microhabitat use and possible by the abundance of trophic resource in the area. The great large volumes of formicids and acarines in the diet of this dendrobatids are in agreement with the hypothesis of these arthropods as a dietary source of alkaloids.

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is seeking applicants for the position of Resident Professor with the OTS-Duke University Undergraduate Semester Abroad Program in Costa Rica.  This is a field-based program designed to provide undergraduate students with outstanding training in tropical ecology, field research, environmental science and policy, and Spanish language and culture.  Successful applicants will work closely with the Education Director, Deputy Director and other Resident Professors in design and implementation, and will be responsible for team teaching field-based courses in tropical ecology, field research and environmental science and policy, including the supervision of student independent research projects. The position is based in Costa Rica, and requires extensive in-country travel.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biology, ecology, sciences conservation biology, environmental policy, environmental sciences,environmental economics or a related field.
• Professional research experience in the tropics.
• A strong interest in and disposition for team teaching and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience in field-based education, group learning and interactive, experiential teaching techniques.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).
• Highly organized with ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Exemplifies OTS's core values.

Application deadline: April 15, 2011

Anticipated Start Date: August 1, 2011

Click here for additional information

To apply: Submit résumé or CV with cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy and research interests, a list of references and salary expectationto the Education Director to rechum@ots.ac.cr 

OTS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.