Biologists relish expedition to Honduras
At the end of the Summer term 17 pupils from Fifth Year to Upper Sixth embarked on a Biology expedition with the biodiversity research and conservation organisation, Operation Wallacea.
The group of pupils, along with Mr Allen and Miss Chandler, spent two and a half weeks in Honduras, discovering the terrestrial and marine fauna and flora of the Meso-American corridor.
Time was spent in the Cusuco National Park where pupils assisted teams of researchers as they completed mist net bat and bird sampling, transect sampling of herpetofauna, searching for reptiles and amphibians, and light trapping of invertebrates including a number of moth species and the endemic jewel scarab beetle.
Pupils were also lucky enough to assist Dr Erica McAlister in her research into wasp and bee larvae for the Natural History Museum.
The biologists continued their work on Utila, part of the Honduran Bay Islands.
For their second week, some pupils completed their PADI Open Water dive qualification, whilst others completed a Carribean Reef Ecology course with the practicals carried out either by diving or snorkelling.
Pupils were taught how to identify many of the different aquatic organisms common in the coral reefs at Utila.
During this week, the group even stumbled upon Laura Service (former SGS Biology teacher and Old Stopfordian) who was delivering the course to University research assistants.
Although the journey home had an unanticipated overnight stay in Atlanta, Georgia, the Biology students arrived home safely delighted with their adventure and eager to share their experience with friends and family.
