LSUS biology students explore island biodiversity with trip to Puerto Rico

LSUS biology students explore island biodiversity with trip to Puerto Rico

SHREVEPORT - The idea of experiential learning is to get up close and personal with the subject one is studying.

For five LSU Shreveport students in the class "Biology of Islands," that meant intense study on campus for two weeks before a two-week excursion to Puerto Rico.

From snorkeling in coral reefs on Culebrita to traversing diverse terrain like the El Yunque rain forest and the dry forest of Guanica, students observed and interacted with a host of unique flora and fauna.

Bossier City native Summer Cremeans received more than an out-of-the-box experience, she actually set foot outside for long stretches of time.

"Growing up in a family of geeks who never went outside much, I have never had many experiences being out in nature to explore my interests in biology," said Cremeans, a biological sciences major with a concentration in field, organismal and environmental science. "I have been out in nature more in those two weeks than I have in my entire life.

"The large plants growing in the rainforest, the strange and unique insects, and the prickly flora of the dry regions were unlike anything I have ever seen before."

Students were more than just metaphorically thrown into the deep end.

Shreveport native April George said she never learned to swim, but with a little courage and assistance from "Captain Bill," George said she overcame her fear and snorkeled to see the marine life around the reef.

"The fear of water was particularly tied to the thought of all the 'what ifs' like drowning, being attacked by marine life, or not being able to see what's below," said George, who was wearing a life jacket along with her snorkeling gear. "But Captain Bill gave me step-by-step guidance on how to swim while looking through the water.

"I struggled for a bit until I saw fish and coral, which made me think about the possibility of not freaking out. I never thought I could swim without thinking, and I was completely amazed by the marine life like sea turtles and parrotfish. That experience gives me a lot of confidence to try new things like scuba diving, and overcoming this hurdle showed me that I am capable of doing more things that are challenging, even when fear takes over."

George said the trip broadened her biological sciences scope.

"I thought my field was just about identifying species and data work, but it's really about understanding how organisms interact with each other and how the environment influences those relationships," said George, who is seeking a graduate program for reptiles and amphibians. "It changed how I look at biogeography now.

"Being on the island of Culebra helped me understand how isolation and island conditions can affect species like the giant anole. The experience pointed me toward field research and conservation projects involving reptiles and amphibians."

George and Cremeans were joined by classmates Kristin Williams, Sadie Lyons, and Shaelah Holmes.

This is the second class that assistant professor Dr. Stuart Nielsen has led to Puerto Rico, the first coming in 2023.

Nielsen called islands "living laboratories" where students can easily see critical biodiversity issues, such as species invasions, extinction, and climate change.

"Students saw firsthand the effect of warming ocean temperatures on coral reefs," said Nielsen, who specializes in the study of reptiles and amphibians. "We hiked wet and dry forests, swam in a bioluminescent bay, toured a university lab and talked with students and biologists, explored two caves with bats and boa constrictors, and caught lots of insects and lizards.

"When you're studying Biology of Islands, a student really can't get the full experience without getting to an island. My job is to make sure they get outside, get sweaty, see some of the native creatures and habitats, interact with the locals, and eat great food."

Students traveled at no expense to themselves (other than normal tuition) thanks to the generous support of the LSUS Foundation.

"This trip provided some of the most valuable and memorable hands-on learning experiences I've ever had, and that wouldn't have been possible if not for the generosity and the people behind the LSUS Foundation," said Shreveport native Sadie Lyons, a biological sciences major with a cellular and molecular concentration. "Having never traveled outside the continental United States before this, I can confidently say this experience was truly life-changing."