Introducing the 2018 Field Team: Matti Bradshaw

Our final assistant for this portion of sampling is Matti Bradshaw! Matti has been a great leader in our team so far and I am so glad to have her with us.

Matti Bradshaw, tough as nails!

My name is Matti Bradshaw and I am a senior Wildlife and Fisheries major at Texas A&M University. I have been primarily interested in wildlife research. I have experience with the husbandry of grackles, crows, and peacocks. In 2017, I was a part of a study abroad program on the island of Dominica in which I held an independent project studying the acoustic patterns of yellow warblers, Dendroica petecia. 

The species that Matti has worked with, yellow warblers.

I was also a part of a group project focusing on the association of streblids and various species of bats and their gender. I will also be traveling to Mexico this summer to work with research involving echolocation emissions in bats. 

Matti working with bats in Dominica.

I am currently a part of the Applied Biodiversity Conservation Scholars Program that has provided funding for me to be a part of Brie’s project in Costa Rica. My interest in international research, specifically in areas with diverse tropical biology, has drawn me to Brie’s project. I do not have any experience working with non-avian reptiles, so I am excited to learn more about olive ridley sea turtles and to rack Brie’s brain on the physiology of various reptile species. I previously had a class involving some of the physiology of mammals, so being able to compare their behavior and reproductive profile with olive ridleys will be very amusing. I am also looking forward to gaining experience with field work abroad and researching in an area with a different culture. 

Matti holding a millipede in Nosara, Costa Rica.

Matti was commandeered by a giant walking stick in Dominica.

After leaving Costa Rica, I am excited to continue working with Brie and analyzing data from this project. In the future I would like to continue my education and pursue a masters degree and eventually a PhD involving research in wildlife community ecology or a related field. Experience with this project will help me sharpen what I would like to do in the future. I am passionate about providing education and awareness into the field of conservation. 

Matti accidentally photobombing a friend and taking it all in.

Matti working hard in Dominica.

Matti is an excellent swimmer and has been invaluable for her assistance capturing post-mating couples.

Introducing the 2018 Field Team: Ryota Masuko

Ryota Masuko, working hard on a summer assignment in Liberia on an off day.

 Ryota was born and grew up in Saitama, Japan. He is the youngest member of my team came to the United States to study at Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, Iowa. Ryota has a younger brother, Shota, and a Shiba-Inu dog named Ryu that he misses back home.

Ryota (right) and his little brother, Shota.

Ryota began swimming at the age of 3, and sarted playing water polo at the age of 10. He also did two years of synchronized swimming in which he was the only male on the team. Because of his excellent talent in the water, we chose him to assist with in-water boat work.

Ryota, bottom photo, third from the right on his synchronized swimming team.

Ryota (left) and Matti (see future blog post) capturing a post-mating couple for sampling.

Ryota came to the U.S. in the fall of 2017 because he wanted flexibility in choosing his future, as universities in Japan require students to choose a major prior to their application and they are unable to change a major once they begin studies. He was searching for additional opportunities and to explore more possibilities for his career while improving his English language skills. Ryota is currently researching larger universities to transfer into to pursue further education in business and science.

Ryota playing with members of his host family.

Ryota joined the lab of Dr. Danielle Kness in spring 2018, working in husbandry of goldfish, frogs, snakes, lizards, cockroaches, tortoises and Mississippi green turtles. Additionally, he began training on molecular techniques such as DNA extractions. Ryota applied to work with Brie in order to have hands-on experience with endangered species, and has been invaluable in capturing post-mating couples. Ryota looks forward to seeing the mass-nesting events and assisting with blood sampling and ultrasound image collection. Ryota struggled at first with culture shock and eating new food, but he has enjoyed talking with his host mom and living so close to nature. Ryota hopes to stay in the United States when he finishes his education and start a family someday.

Ryota restraining an olive ridley sea turtle prior to ultrasound measurements.

Welcome, Ryota, thanks for your hard work and perseverance through seasickness!

Introducing the 2018 Field Team: Alexis High

Alexis High, general handyperson.

Howdy! My name is Alexis High and I am a Junior Wildlife and Fisheries major from Georgetown, Texas. I am super excited to be part of this amazing experience here in Costa Rica working with Brie on her research with Olive Ridley sea turtles. 

Alexis (left) with her sister, Shawna and her brother Travis.

I am trading in my experience of working with creatures with four legs at the Premier Animal Hospital and Pet Resort for creatures with four flippers here in Costa Rica. I have always had a desire for learning and exploring the unknown, so when I heard about this opportunity I knew it was something I had to do.

Alexis posing with Reveille herself, Texas A&M's mascot and highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets.

From this experience I wish to build strong connections among my peers and advisors in the field I wish to pursue in the future. Also, I wish to gain experience in different scientific techniques such as using an ultrasound and processing blood samples. Then, hopefully, I will continue with Brie and help her in the fall semester analyzing the information we received in the field to generate conclusions for her research. Along with gaining experience in techniques, this is also a fantastic experience to witness how scientific research is done firsthand to give me a solid foundation for my future.

Alexis, restraining an Olive Ridley sea turtle while her markings dry.

After I graduate my undergrad, I wish to continue my education at Texas A&M in the school of veterinary medicine. With my doctorate in veterinary medicine, I wish to either go into research or become an exotic veterinarian, either working at a private practice or at a zoo. The future is scary and undefined but with this amazing experience in working with Brie I can know for certain that working with animals is what I am meant to do.

Alexis with her characteristic "Gig 'Em" and a gorgeous moth she gently captured in Costa Rica.

Alexis has brought an enthusiastic and sunny attitude to our work and we are grateful to have them. Thanks, Alexis and Gig 'Em Ags!

Matti (see future blog, left) and Alexis processing blood after boat work.

Introducing the 2018 Field Team: Nicole Guentzel

 My intrepid field assistants and I have been working for the last two weeks in Costa Rica with initial sampling. To get our summer fieldwork series blog posts off the ground, I'm going to start with a few blogs about each of the students who are working with me so that you know who is being featured in our photos!

Nicole Guentzel, Class of 2019 at Texas A&M University

Howdy! My name is Nicole Guentzel, I was born in Lake Jackson, TX and I am a Senior Biology major and Spanish and Genetics minor at Texas A&M University. I am in the University and Biology honors programs, and am an undergraduate research ambassador. 

Nicole, 2 years old.

Last summer, I did research on Xiphophorus birchmanni and Xiphophorus malinche hybrids (swordtail fish) in Calnali, Mexico for a month. We studied mating preference and the genetic structure of different hybrid populations in the region. This trip was my introduction into how actual research is conducted and renewed my passion for international travel. I learned many skills and as a result of my experience working on this project Dr. MacKenzie introduced me to Brie who convinced me that physiology, hormones, and Olive Ridley sea turtles are extremely interesting. 

Nicole near Huejutla de Reyes in Mexico where she was sampling fish in a hybrid zone.

Working with Brie and the other research assistants in Costa Rica has been very exciting. This was my first time seeing a wild sea turtle and it was amazing. (They are so much bigger in person). I have been helping Brie analyze ultrasound images since January, and am hoping to see how data is collected in the field and later analyzed. I hope to pursue a PhD of my own, so seeing Brie format her project and adapt to field conditions is really beneficial to me. I also love living with host families because they challenge me to practice my Spanish and learn more about Costa Rican culture. 

Nicole being silly on Ostional Beach, Costa Rica.

All of my students and I greatly enjoyed staying with local host families. In the background is great-grandson, Juro.

After a busy summer of sea turtle research, I will be taking the GRE and applying to PhD programs. I absolutely love field research and hope to incorpoarate it into my project. I also hope to eventually be bilingual or even trilingual. My dream career would be to help mold the next generation by being a college professor. 

Good luck and great work so far, Nicole!

Nicole and Ryota (see future blog post) processing blood samples.

Nicole and Alexis (see future blog post) taking data on captured turtles.