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Macaws of the Peruvian Amazon
I'd love to hear from anyone that has been on this expedition, which I am considering for summer 2009. I'm especially interested in free time activity possibilities.
My previous expeditions have been Brazil's Pantanal twice (peccaries and river otters), Virgin Islands for leather back sea turtles, Kenya for rhinos and Costa Rico for capuchin and howler Monkeys
If you have any interest in my other expeditions, I'd be glad to share.my experiences.
My previous expeditions have been Brazil's Pantanal twice (peccaries and river otters), Virgin Islands for leather back sea turtles, Kenya for rhinos and Costa Rico for capuchin and howler Monkeys
If you have any interest in my other expeditions, I'd be glad to share.my experiences.
New to Earthwatch
Hi everyone,
I am scheduled to on the Carnivore's of Brazil expedition in October. This is my first trip with Earthwatch and hungry for any information from anyone who has been on an expedition or plans to go on one.
I am scheduled to on the Carnivore's of Brazil expedition in October. This is my first trip with Earthwatch and hungry for any information from anyone who has been on an expedition or plans to go on one.
New results from volunteer-assisted research
Dr. Alexine Keuroghlian of Brazil's Wildlife Conservation Society is a past Earthwatch Principal Investigator, studying peccaries in Brazil's Atlantic Forest with the help of Earthwatch volunteers.
She has just had an article published in the prestigious Journal of Zoology. Its title is "Importance of rare habitats and riparian zones in a tropical forest fragment: preferential use by Tayassu pecari, a wideranging frugivore"
Her research concluded that 2 species of peccary had continued to have viable populations, despite forest fragmentation, because the forest that remained still include a large variety of habitats, including the preservation of some rare habitats.
This means that a healthy peccary population "is an indicator of high habitat diversity in forest fragments and will function as an umbrella species when targeted for conservation."
This is an important step in understanding how to conserve areas that have already been fragmented by logging and development, and how to measure the overall viability of an isolated fragment of forest.
This study was done by capturing and radio collaring peccaries, then releasing them and studying their movements through the different types of habitat, both in the wet and dry seasons.
Many of our expeditions catch, collar and release animals, and usually the animals are examined and measured to determine their age and health. These studies are crucial to understanding human-wildlife conflicts, the need for specific habitat conservation, and use of wildlife corridors, among other things.
It's great to know that our volunteers worked on a study that will enable Brazil to better manage and preserve its natural areas.
Kathy, the Earthwatch webmaster
She has just had an article published in the prestigious Journal of Zoology. Its title is "Importance of rare habitats and riparian zones in a tropical forest fragment: preferential use by Tayassu pecari, a wideranging frugivore"
Her research concluded that 2 species of peccary had continued to have viable populations, despite forest fragmentation, because the forest that remained still include a large variety of habitats, including the preservation of some rare habitats.
This means that a healthy peccary population "is an indicator of high habitat diversity in forest fragments and will function as an umbrella species when targeted for conservation."
This is an important step in understanding how to conserve areas that have already been fragmented by logging and development, and how to measure the overall viability of an isolated fragment of forest.
This study was done by capturing and radio collaring peccaries, then releasing them and studying their movements through the different types of habitat, both in the wet and dry seasons.
Many of our expeditions catch, collar and release animals, and usually the animals are examined and measured to determine their age and health. These studies are crucial to understanding human-wildlife conflicts, the need for specific habitat conservation, and use of wildlife corridors, among other things.
It's great to know that our volunteers worked on a study that will enable Brazil to better manage and preserve its natural areas.
Kathy, the Earthwatch webmaster
Amazon Riverboat Project
I have been on 7 Earthwatch projects and this one was unique. With most projects your schedule is very set and you all work together. This project was like being on a cruise. There was down time at the beginning and end of the trip as the boat moved up and down the river from Iquitos to our work site. Once we settled in, everyone got to pick and choose which part of the project they wanted to work on that day. The early risers headed out to search for Mcaws. The late night crowd hunted caimen after dark. During the day you could hike along a trail looking for wildlife or go searching for dolphins. Perhaps counting wading birds appealed to you or you could join in with the local fishermen to do some fishing. Feeling energetic, sign up for a couple trips out. Not up to par? Just do one project and snooze the rest of the day. Just sitting on the deck provided wonderful photo ops and lots to watch. This was a wonderful introduction to the riches of the Amazon.
What's furry, territorial, and barks at intruders?
A caterpillar, of course.
That is, one of the thousands of species living in the Ecuadorian cloud forest, where I traveled to help Dr. Lee Dyer conduct research on parisitism and predator/prey relationships among insects and caterpillars.
Making my way from Boston to Miami to Quito by plane before joining fellow Earthwatchers aboard a clanking old bus that sped its way Nascar-style around Andean cliffsides, I landed queasy and weak-kneed in the village of Cosanga. From there, we hiked up a long dirt road to reach the Yanayacu Biological Station, operated by eccentric funny-man and eager entomologist Harold Greeney.
Long-time pals of Greeney, Dyer and fellow caterpillar researcher Dr. Grant Gentry taught our team the art of seaking out caterpillars from their many hiding spots - uncurling "leaf rolls," whacking tree branches with a big stick while a partner holds a "beat sheet" below to collect whatever disturbed specimens fell our way.
The caterpillars we collected - some as long as your hand, some as tiny as your pinky nail - were placed in plastic bags along with their favorite leafy foods and brought back to the station's open-air laboratory. There, we hung the bags on lines and observed as the caterpillars passed through their various life stages. Of greatest interest were caterpillars that had been parisitized.
To keep all these caterpillars happy and healthy, we lucky Earthwatch volunteers were tasked with refreshing their food and picking all of the fras (that's caterpillar poop in laymen's terms) out of the bags.
When we weren't wrist-deep in Grapenut-sized feces, treking through the forest beating branches, or chasing tarantulas out of the bathrooms, there was plenty of time to relax in a hammock and watch the blanket of white clouds devour the tree tops, and to share beers and stories with teammates and other visitors to the station. We even had the honor of enjoying peanut butter, jelly and American cheese sandwiches (yes, all three together), which the wonderful kitchen staff prepared especially for us - knowing that Americans just can't get enough of their processed foods.
They made up for it with amazing empanadas. Mmm.
That is, one of the thousands of species living in the Ecuadorian cloud forest, where I traveled to help Dr. Lee Dyer conduct research on parisitism and predator/prey relationships among insects and caterpillars.
Making my way from Boston to Miami to Quito by plane before joining fellow Earthwatchers aboard a clanking old bus that sped its way Nascar-style around Andean cliffsides, I landed queasy and weak-kneed in the village of Cosanga. From there, we hiked up a long dirt road to reach the Yanayacu Biological Station, operated by eccentric funny-man and eager entomologist Harold Greeney.
Long-time pals of Greeney, Dyer and fellow caterpillar researcher Dr. Grant Gentry taught our team the art of seaking out caterpillars from their many hiding spots - uncurling "leaf rolls," whacking tree branches with a big stick while a partner holds a "beat sheet" below to collect whatever disturbed specimens fell our way.
The caterpillars we collected - some as long as your hand, some as tiny as your pinky nail - were placed in plastic bags along with their favorite leafy foods and brought back to the station's open-air laboratory. There, we hung the bags on lines and observed as the caterpillars passed through their various life stages. Of greatest interest were caterpillars that had been parisitized.
To keep all these caterpillars happy and healthy, we lucky Earthwatch volunteers were tasked with refreshing their food and picking all of the fras (that's caterpillar poop in laymen's terms) out of the bags.
When we weren't wrist-deep in Grapenut-sized feces, treking through the forest beating branches, or chasing tarantulas out of the bathrooms, there was plenty of time to relax in a hammock and watch the blanket of white clouds devour the tree tops, and to share beers and stories with teammates and other visitors to the station. We even had the honor of enjoying peanut butter, jelly and American cheese sandwiches (yes, all three together), which the wonderful kitchen staff prepared especially for us - knowing that Americans just can't get enough of their processed foods.
They made up for it with amazing empanadas. Mmm.
Capturing caiman at night
If you ever have wanted to find a caiman with a high powered light by catching the glow of their eyes you should join Dr. Bodmer in the Amazon Riverboat Project. It is a thrill to catch the creature with a homemade lasso type tool and then bring them aboard, tape their mouths shut, measure them, stroke their skin which is amazingly smooth and the patterns are beautiful, and see what they have eaten for the past few days. This is all done at night under the Southern Cross.
Cruise the Amazon in a Riverboat for Science!
Sound to good to be true? Well, it's for real.
Earthwatch fields several volunteer teams a year to work with Dr. Richard Bodmer and his colleagues on their research in the Peruvian Amazon. The base for this research is the Ayapua, a riverboat from the rubber boom days, which has been updated with airconditioning and modern plumbing and amenities - this is not roughing it! Here's a photo: view link
This expedition surveys animal populations along the river. The conservation management of this area was changed a few years ago to include the local people, and the scientists are trying to determine whether animal populations have increased since this change.
From the Ayapua, researchers and volunteers take to small motorized canoes to survey the river for dolphins, manatees and giant river otters. They also do land surveys, looking for monkeys, peccaries, tapirs and birds.
And are the volunteers really useful? In his field report, Dr. Bodmer says:
"The volunteers were truly helpful in monitoring the wildlife populations. More data were collected than originally anticipated, and the amount of information collected exceeded our expectations.
"But, it was the assistance that many volunteers provided to the local communities that was truly unexpected. Many volunteers provided health and education materials to the local communities who are involved with community-based conservation."
And the bottom line?
"We now understand much better the animal populations in the Lago Preto Conservation Concession and the Samiria river basin of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
"...our understanding of Amazonian wildlife populations made significant advances this year, and will influence the community-based and protected area conservation of the Peruvian Amazon, largely because of your help. It warms my heart to know that there are dedicated people like you willing to take time and effort to help with our projects."
Sound like fun? Check it out on the Earthwatch website: view link
Earthwatch fields several volunteer teams a year to work with Dr. Richard Bodmer and his colleagues on their research in the Peruvian Amazon. The base for this research is the Ayapua, a riverboat from the rubber boom days, which has been updated with airconditioning and modern plumbing and amenities - this is not roughing it! Here's a photo: view link
This expedition surveys animal populations along the river. The conservation management of this area was changed a few years ago to include the local people, and the scientists are trying to determine whether animal populations have increased since this change.
From the Ayapua, researchers and volunteers take to small motorized canoes to survey the river for dolphins, manatees and giant river otters. They also do land surveys, looking for monkeys, peccaries, tapirs and birds.
And are the volunteers really useful? In his field report, Dr. Bodmer says:
"The volunteers were truly helpful in monitoring the wildlife populations. More data were collected than originally anticipated, and the amount of information collected exceeded our expectations.
"But, it was the assistance that many volunteers provided to the local communities that was truly unexpected. Many volunteers provided health and education materials to the local communities who are involved with community-based conservation."
And the bottom line?
"We now understand much better the animal populations in the Lago Preto Conservation Concession and the Samiria river basin of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
"...our understanding of Amazonian wildlife populations made significant advances this year, and will influence the community-based and protected area conservation of the Peruvian Amazon, largely because of your help. It warms my heart to know that there are dedicated people like you willing to take time and effort to help with our projects."
Sound like fun? Check it out on the Earthwatch website: view link
