As I mentioned in my last post, I'm currently writing these blog posts from Panama :D I began planning this trip in February 2017 with PJ and our super cool collaborator, Aaron O'Dea. Step 1 for me was applying for funds to come down here and collect samples. Aaron suggested an STRI Short-Term Fellowship since this first trip would be used to get my feet wet here in Panama (literally and figuratively), so I submitted my application materials by the April 15th deadline. |
There is an increased risk of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and zika in Panama, and one of the easiest ways to avoid these illnesses is to prevent mosquito bites. I am quite pleased with my lack of bug bites thus far. I have been using Picaridin on my exposed skin since my arrival, and all of the clothing featured in the picture on the right was treated with lotionPermethrin, an insect repellent that lasts up to 6 weeks/6 washes. |
This is rather unique to my circumstances in Panama, but I also had to decide which equipment to bring along for subsampling conch shell and tissue. I found that these diamond drill bits that I'd previously used to put a drainage hole in a tea cup work amazingly well for extracting a shell sample without destroying the whole structure (see left). I brought two electric drills with me for punching samples from shells, as well as sample bags and collection tubes, some buffer for the tissue samples, and calipers for measuring. I've posted my full packing list here so you can check it out for yourself. |