Last push

The weather turned today. Cold, cold and wet. Chilly rain dripping from the forest and mudpuddles forming along the trails. Luckily we spent all day indoors on this most rainy of rainy days. One last push of foul weather before the cloud break of summer and one last push in the course.

Our final lab this afternoon. Microscope gazing the bizarre micro-world of the forest leaf litter. Forest mites and springtails, roving ants to tiny spuedoscorpions. Comparing the community of these creatures between forests in different stages of succession. A lesson in biodiversity and disturbance. My specialty.

Trapezeing around the fishes laboratory, grateful for a heater, answering questions and doing my best to ID these creatures. In between I snapped this shot of some of the fish regalia posted along the walls. I love finding art in unexpected places.