Climate models predict tropical storms will grow stronger as global temperatures rise. The SOBRE Mexico team investigated the response of a tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem to Patricia, a category 5 hurricane that struck coastal Jalisco, Mexico in October 2015. In addition, the team investigated parasite/host interactions in the tropical dry forest after the storm. By knocking down trees and snapping limbs, the storm’s strong winds altered the structure of the forest, which may in turn affect how animals use habitat. Several techniques were implemented to monitor small vertebrates (amphibians, lizards, turtles) and some of their invertebrate parasites (ticks and kissing bugs) at Estacion de Biologia, Chamela, a TDF reserve struck directly by the hurricane.
17 окт 2017
