The field exercise report went well. I am actually really proud of myself for receiving such a great mark for only having the limited amount of time (about four days??) to collect data, compile and use the data to figure out what statistical test to use and research relevant literature as well as connect it to what I was actually using the cane toads for. Although I only had to write an intro and methods chapter, it was still a lot of work trying to find out how to connect relevant literature with what I was conducting; this really prepares me for DR (Directed Research)...I guess that is research.
The weather seems to get nicer everyday while here at CRS. However, its still bloody cold at night, up in the Tablelands. This week (Tuesday October 1st) myself and the rest of the students at CRS left the Atherton Tablelands and headed up north to the Daintree area.
As the vans drove along the Mulligan Highway toward Daintree, I noticed an ever changing landscape dominated by fire. Certain parts of the highway were actually on fire and white plumes of smoke rose over the road as we drove by. I couldn't believe that fire was actually part of this landscape, it dominated and ruled it, and although I learned about this in classes here, to see it first hand like this was beyond words. The white SFS vans soon drove into the lowlands down along the Mossman-Mt Molloy road. I was surprised on how quickly the landscape changed from a pyropyilic landscape into a pyrophobic landscape. Lust, dark green vegetation encased the road as the vans drove deeper and deeper into the rainforest dominated landscape. As the drive continued all I could think about was what Arthor Boyd said about Australia. "I stress the uniqueness of the Australian landscape and its metaphysical and mythic content."
Daintree is a completely different than the area that I have been living in for the last month. Its nowhere as near developed as Atherton Tablelands are, most of the original lowland rainforest is still intact and the lack of modern necessities is apparent. Since declaration of a World Heritage area, most of the buildings and development that does exist in Daintree runs on a minimalist setting using solar power, gas generators and an obvious non-existent access to the outside world. An interesting thing to note about the Daintree area is that the only way to get into this area is by a ferry that crosses the croc infested waters of the Daintree river. I stayed for 4 days in a local hostel and learned quiet a bit about mangrove ecosystems. Through one of the field exercises, I learned about visitors attitudes toward the Daintree area and its attachment to the World Heritage Listing. This was prompted by questionnaires which were written out and used. Interestingly enough many international people from European countries knew about Daintree and its unsurpassed beauty and significance. Id like to think that most Americans know about this being the largest, most intact continuous piece of rainforest in Australia but unfortunately most people back in the states did not even know that rainforests existed in Australia.
Its been a while since that last happened and as I update this, I just spent the last four days collecting more data for another field exercise (Natural Resource Management). Its started to rain more often as October nears its end and the rainy season starts. Tomorrow is the start of mid semester break; its been a long time coming...
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