What's this about plants, rats, and bats?

I am a biologist. I study how plants, rats and bats are interconnected in the rainforest of Tanzania. I've created this blog especially for Ms. Kruger's class to see what the life of a field scientist is like, but anyone is welcome to follow along.

Let's start with the basics: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?

Who? My name is Carrie Seltzer. I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). This means that I have already finished college and have a Bachelor's degree in Biology. Now I am back in school for a Ph.D. When I'm finished, you can call me Dr. Seltzer, but for now you can just call me Ms. Seltzer (or Carrie).

What? I use the scientific method to learn about the relationships between plants and animals. I am especially interested in how rats and fruit bats disperse seeds.

When? I will be in Tanzania for 3 months this spring, and plan to post to the blog 2-3 times per week while I am here.

Where? Tanzania is in Africa along the coast of the Indian Ocean. The rainforest where I work is the Amani Nature Reserve in a mountain range called the East Usambara Mountains. The area is rural- about 20 miles from a paved road. Although some of the rainforest is protected, many people also live in the area. They speak Swahili and most of them are farmers. Tea, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, corn, beans, bananas, and mangos are some of the things people typically grow on their farms.

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If you go to this link, you can compare Tanzania to the United States!

Why? I study biology because I find the natural world fascinating, and science offers a way for us to understand how the world works. I care deeply about plants, animals, and people. I am studying the relationships between plants and animals so that we can better understand how to preserve those relationships when humans alter the environment.

How? You're probably wondering how scientists go about studying plant-animal relationships. Over the next several weeks, I'll introduce you to some of the questions I am trying to answer, the species plant and animal species involved, some of the dilemmas of research, and some of the people I work with. I'll ask for your advice for some of the problems I face!

I hope you enjoy following along. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and answering your questions!