Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 835

On the other side, as the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the tree canopy and fell to the ground, the team was already ready to go.

Before setting off, as usual, Professor Caldwell first gathered all members for a brief safety briefing, emphasizing again the importance of maintaining visual contact between the team and reporting positions regularly when working in the field.

Then comes a bunch of old clichés about protecting the environment, like taking your own waste in plastic bags, etc.

While Tierra was idly poking at the campfire, Caldwell had already led his team about half a kilometer into the central oasis.

Due to the dense bushes, vines, and tall trees, their movement was much slower than in the desert, not to mention the need for them to collect samples at any time.

As they ventured deeper, Professor Caldwell and his group first encountered a vast area of ​​ferns. The plants here were quite lush, but not very tall, forming a green sea beneath their feet.

These ferns have attracted the attention of researchers with their unique growth patterns and morphology. Their leaves are large with slightly wavy edges, and their smooth green surfaces shimmer with a metallic sheen under sunlight.

“It’s amazing.” Professor Caldwell bent down and gently pinched the fern leaves. “Few plant leaves develop this reflective structure, but it appears here. Professor Skylar Ashley’s paper has done research on this. The evolution of reflective structures in plants is usually related to their survival strategies, such as attracting pollinators, protecting themselves from too much direct sunlight, scaring away herbivores, or, in some cases, attracting prey.”

“Of course, in this case, it’s more likely to prevent sun damage. The specific reasons need to be analyzed in conjunction with the hydrological distribution of groundwater resources here,” Professor Caldwell added. However, he quickly realized that he seemed to have said a bit too much. He paused and said, “Alright, according to the plan, Milkan and Beckman, you two stay here. The rest of you come with me to go deeper. After you’ve collected the samples, return to the camp the way you came.”

“Okay!” Mirkan immediately put down his backpack and took out his sampling tools.

“Yes, Professor,” Beckman replied.

Professor Caldwell left the two team members behind to make detailed records and samples of the ferns, while the rest continued on their way.

As Professor Caldwell and the other team members continued deeper into the central oasis, the forest density gradually increased, making it increasingly difficult for sunlight to penetrate the dense canopy and reach the ground. The air was filled with the moist scent of fresh earth—

But there were no animal sounds.

Logically, such a large forest ecosystem should, in addition to insects, at least contain small mammals, birds, and even medium to large carnivores, but—

No.

Neither Professor Caldwell nor other research teams have found any mammals or birds during their explorations here.

At this point, their path was blocked by a clear stream, its waters crystal clear and its bed covered with colorful pebbles. Professor Caldwell signaled for the team to stop temporarily and conduct a brief survey and sampling of the stream—in which Professor Caldwell's team discovered various aquatic plants and some small fish. Hydrologists immediately took samples to analyze the water quality and recorded the impact of the water flow on the surrounding vegetation.

After taking the samples, they walked along the stream, looking for the best place to cross the river.

After finding a narrow spot to cross the stream, they carefully waded across the water, following several protrusions in the water. The damp air and the coolness of the splashing water were somewhat invigorating.

Even after crossing the river, many people in the group turned around, bent down, and splashed cold water on their faces.

After crossing the river, the scenery suddenly opened up, and they found themselves in a huge natural forest clearing. The light here was bright and even, and there was a huge rock in the center of the clearing, surrounded by various wildflowers and herbs.

Under the humus next to the rocks, they discovered a rare beetle whose shell shimmered with a metallic luster in the sunlight. This discovery greatly excited the team. Freddie Darrell, who specializes in insect ecology, immediately took photos and took the beetle away in a small box.

The team took a short break here and took the opportunity to conduct rapid environmental observations and record biodiversity.

Professor Caldwell, as the team leader, used a handheld GPS device to confirm their exact location and briefly radioed Milkan and Beckman, who remained in the fern area, to ensure their safety and inform them of their current location.

In the afternoon, as the temperature and humidity rose, the team entered a denser evergreen forest. The extremely high vegetation cover here resulted in very limited sunlight reaching the ground, creating a dark and humid microenvironment.

Giant ferns and moss-covered boulders can be seen intermittently among the vegetation, adding a primitive and mysterious atmosphere to this forest.

During further exploration, the team discovered several small caves and rock crevices, which could be habitats for small mammals and reptiles. Professor Caldwell excitedly ran over to investigate and collect samples, but—

To his disappointment, he only found some centipedes and the beetles he had previously observed.

As the exploration deepened, Rosalind Joyce, who specializes in environmental science, began collecting soil samples to analyze the soil composition and nutrient levels in the area upon her return. These soil organic matter samples could yield a wealth of results, such as soil pH, trace element content, soil microbial communities, and possible animal remains.

During his exploration, ecologist Jason Wells discovered a type of fungus he had never documented before, with a bright blue cap that contrasted sharply with the green of the forest. He carefully collected a sample with tools and planned to return to the lab for further research.

The afternoon sun began to grow stronger, its blinding rays piercing through the thick canopy of trees, and the high afternoon temperature caused a wisp of dampness to rise in the dense forest.

Professor Caldwell instructed the team to make a temporary stop on a relatively flat open space, where they could rest and have a meal to replenish their energy and discuss the next steps.