"Great decision, the plants where you are going are sure to be interesting. That was wise thinking to narrow your research that way," Jack comments. You are in the airport waiting for a local guide to pick you up. This may be your last chance to communicate with Jack until you are back at the airport, ready to come home and you know that all of the details need to be ironed out before you are out of range of contact.

       The flight went well, although you are tired. Being tired cannot take away the exitement that you feel as your journey is just beginning. Ben is over at the customer service counter getting the supplies you have sent ahead, when you spy a local holding a sign with your name on it.

     "Hi, I'm Sam," grins your guide. " Are you ready to take off? I'll help you load the jeep."

     As you leave the airport and take off on a road that doesn't look like it is travelled much, you begin to realize how important it will be to capture all of the information you can about the plants you encounter. Most of your readers will never have the chance to visit this place. You want them to know as much as they can.

      Setting up camp goes very smoothly and before you know it, it is getting dark and you are drifting off to the unfamiliar sounds of the animals and insects around you. The next morning you awake with the sun, determined to make this a productive day.

     Use the Research Guide 1 to record what you find out about the plants that are native to this area. Pay specific attention to the way that these plants have adapted to their environment. What makes them well suited to this environment? Once you have researched at least five varieties of plants, choose one to study the ecosystem of. Use the research guide to show other plants and animals that are involved in this ecosystem and how they interact with each other. You want to include enough information so that you can show the food/energy web in detail to your readers later.