Andrea Lopez

Title of Work:

Distribution and environmental characteristics of invasive plant Impatiens platypetala at Las Cruces Biological Station, Costa Rica

Abstract:

Impatiens platypetala, known in Costa Rica as "china rosada," is an invasive plant native to Indonesia. It has pink flowers, green or reddish stems, and green leaves with distinctive white veins. A popular ornamental, the flowers of Impatiens platypetala are often seen growing in gardens and along roadsides in Coto Brus, Costa Rica. Despite its beauty, however, Impatiens platypetala is a threat to local ecosystems due to its aggressive dispersal mechanisms. Although I completed my first semester abroad in Jaén, Spain at the University of Jaén, I did my internship in Coto Brus, Costa Rica, where I worked forty hours a week researching Impatiens platypetala at the Las Cruces Biological Station and the Wilson Botanical Garden. The purpose of this project was to expand the knowledge of the distribution and characteristics of Impatiens platypetala and to use this information to determine its invader potential.

Title of Work (IGP Language):

Distribución y características ambientales de la planta invasora Impatiens platypetala en la Estación Biológica Las Cruces

Abstract (IGP Language):

Impatiens platypetala, conocida como la "china rosada" en Costa Rica, es una planta invasora originaria de Indonesia. Tiene flores rosadas, tallos verdes o rojizos y hojas verdes con venas blancas distintivas. Las flores llamativas se ven a menudo crecer a lo largo de las orillas de las carreteras en Coto Brus, Costa Rica, y la gente las mantiene por su belleza. Sin embargo, son una amenaza al ecosistema por su mecanismo de dispersión agresivo. Aunque realicé mis estudios en el extranjero en Jaén, España en la Universidad de Jaén, hice mi pasantía en Coto Brus, Costa Rica, donde investigué Impatiens platypetala en la Estación Biológica Las Cruces y el Jardín Botánico Wilson. El fin de este proyecto fue expandir el conocimiento de la distribución y características de Impatiens platypetala y usar esta información para determinar su potencial como una planta invasora.

Elevator Pitch Video

Elevator Pitch Transcript:

Hello! My name is Andrea Lopez, and I am a fifth year student at NAU double majoring in Biology and Modern Languages with an emphasis in Spanish.

I started my year abroad with the Interdisciplinary Global Programs in Jaén, Spain where I took classes towards both of my majors and immersed myself in Spanish.

For my second semester, I took the leap to do my fieldwork in Costa Rica. After some pretty big bumps in the road, I was eventually fortunate enough to complete a research project at Las Cruces Biological Station in Coto Brus, Costa Rica.

My research was based around Impatiens platypetala which is an invasive plant originally from Indonesia, that was introduced to Costa Rica through its ornamental use in gardens. AT some point or at many points, this plant escaped the gardens it was growing in and is now spreading through natural areas in the south of Costa Rica as an invasive species.

My project took place at Wilson Botanical Garden, where I measured the distribution of Impatiens platypetala within the garden and examined its methods of dispersal. I also did a germination study and took data on physiological characteristics such as height, number of leaves, fruits and seeds, and the duration of flowering events.

This project was really exciting because I am the first person to study Impatiens platypetala in Costa Rica and the first person in general to study it as an invasive species. Because of this, I am hopeful that the research I completed during my fieldwork semester won’t just stand alone but will be a foundation for future work related to Impatiens platypetala.

My time at Las Cruces Biological Station and Wilson Botanical Garden was also very personally rewarding. I saw a lot of wildlife, made some great friends, I traveled a bit, and I was able to learn about the history and cultures of Coto Brus. I was also lucky enough to share my work with the local community at Wilson Botanical garden;s open house day and spread awareness about invasive species.

So if any of this sounds interesting to you and you want to learn more, please read my research poster or come to my IGP summit presentation. Thank you for listening, and have a great day.

Digital Poster