Two volunteer/assistant positions available: butterflies, southern Peru
1) Volunteer assitant needed for a study of clearwing butterfly (Nymphalidae: Ithomiini) ecology in Madre de Dios, Peru. The study aims to explore drivers of patterns in abundance and distribution in western Amazonian butterflies, including dispersal and niche breadth. The study is based at the Los Amigos Biological Station (CICRA), a privately managed research facility adjacent to the 150,000 hectare Los Amigos Conservation Concession. The station provides easy access to a variety of forest and aquatic habitats, including high and low terrace terra firme forest, oxbow lakes and two rivers, as well as intact plant and animal communities. Assistants will work primarily in butterfly husbandry, and in particular in the rearing of immature stages. Time will be spent in the field, along forest transects and in plots, searching potential hostplants (Solanaceae, Gesneriaceae) for butterfly eggs and larvae. The station is remote (ca. 10 hours by boat from Puerto Maldonado) and facilities are basic. Weather is typically mild, but in dry months (May – Oct./Nov. heat and humidity can be intense. Mosquitoes can be abundant, especially in the wet season (Dec. – March/April), but less problematic during drier months (May-October). Assistants should be prepared both physically and mentally for the remote and difficult field conditions, as well as long working days. However, the Los Amigos station provides access to some of the most pristine rainforest habitat in the southern Peruvian Amazon, where plant, bird, and mammal communities are undisturbed by logging, mining, or hunting. Insect diversity in particular is extreme, with nearly 1,300 butterfly species alone recorded from the region. Currently no funding is available for the position, and assistants should be prepared to cover their costs at the CICRA station (currently $25 per day, including 3 meals). Assistants are needed from May – August/September 2013. A minimum stay of 1 month is required, but 3 months will be preferred. Exact dates are negotiable. Those interested should send a brief cover letter, CV, and contact information for two references to Geoff Gallice: ggallice [at] ufl.edu CICRA/Los Amigos website: http://www.amazonconservation.org/ourwork/research.html ________________________________________________________________________ 2) The Mariposario Inka Pillpi (Pillpi is Quechua for Butterfly) in the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary is seeking volunteers! The Mariposario, founded and run by the the Associacion Hijos del Sol de Machu Picchu, is a non-profit, community-run effort that aims to increase awareness of the beauty and importance of the butterflies found within the sanctuary. The facilities include a spacious enclosure containing multiple species of native butterflies, including immature and adult stages, as well as the plants they use for food and nectar. Visitors have the chance to observe live butterflies and learn about their life cycle. The Mariposario is located 20 minutes walking from the town of Aguas Calientes, at the base of the Machu Picchu ruins, which are visible from the site. Most visitors to the Mariposario are English-speaking tourists returning from a day at the Machu Picchu ruins. As there is no English-speaking staff at Inka Pillpi, the volunteer will be in charge of leading tours in English, which will cover basic topics related to butterfly biology. Volunteer duties will include: - Giving guided tours in English, covering basic butterfly biology/life cycle, tropical butterfly diversity, and conservation issues - Maintenance of butterfly enclosure, including basic gardening tasks - Assistance in butterfly rearing This is a volunteer position, meaning it is unpaid. However, very basic accomodations are provided at the site. A small contribution to cover the cost of food is required ($100 per month), and 3 meals will be provided daily. The volunteer should be a native or fluent English speaker. Apart from visiting tourists, the Mariposario is a Spanish-speaking environment and as such, at least basic Spanish skills are required. In addition, a rudimentary knowledge of entomology and/or biology will be useful, but not required if the volunteer is motivated to learn. All necessary training will be provided in Spanish. Minimum stay is 1 month but 3 months or more will be preferred. For more information contact Geoff Gallice: ggallice [at] ufl.edu
