Learn about the natural history, anatomy, ecology, and conservation of Neotropical reptiles and amphibians while staying at an active research field station in Peru. This course will give participants advanced training in field techniques relevant to tropical biology research, with special emphasis on field exercises over classroom-based lectures. Students will use drift fence and leaf litter sampling, make audio recordings, conduct transects, and much more. We will also read and discuss selected literature on tropical ecology, applied research, and conservation issues pertinent to the the Madre de Dios region of Peru and beyond.
Each day, there will be early morning and late evening biodiversity hikes into the rainforest led by instructors Jen Stabile (conservation editor for the Herpetological Review, president of the International Herpetological Symposium) and Timothy D. Paine (wildlife photographer, conservationist, founder of AmphiBios). Participants will gain practical proficiency in the correct identification of reptiles and amphibians, as well as recognition of microhabitats where they are found. In addition, participants will learn and be expected to adhere to best practices in biosecurity and safety while examining reptiles and amphibians in the field. On each hike, we will include a secondary focus for that day’s lecture and lab. These labs will highlight conservation of local herpetofauna, alongside the study of natural history. Program modules are designed to focus on local species and habitat, but can be easily applied towards herpetological conservation, research, and education anywhere in the world. Special attention in this course will be given to the roles of chemicals in herpetological studies, focusing on defense, food capture, aboriginal use, and modern pharmacology. Participants will also learn about the field of herpetology in general, exploring career options and implementing their own conservation and research proposals. Since one of the instructors is an experienced wildlife photographer specializing in reptile and amphibian photography, those who bring their cameras can also receive a wealth of information on technique, useful tips, and field ethics. During your free time, you will be able to canoe in a nearby oxbow lake featuring giant river otters and hoatzins, paddle through a palm swamp with dwarf caiman and potentially spot an anaconda, and/or climb a 60- meter tower overlooking the vast forest canopy where you can watch for macaws heading to their morning clay licks. COURSE DATES May 25th – June 7th, 2017 REGISTRATION Course size is limited, spots are filled on a rolling basis until April 17th, 2017 COURSE FEE $2100 (includes all meals and lodging at the field station, as well as transportation from Puerto Maldonado to the field site and back) MORE INFORMATION https://fieldprojects.org/participate/courses-2/field-herpetology LOCATION This course will be held at the Los Amigos Biological Station, situated between the Madre de Dios and Los Amigos Rivers on terra firme forest rising above the floodplain. This field station lies within the buffer zone of Manu National Park, which was recently declared the world’s top biodiversity hotspot, due in no small part to having the largest number of amphibian and reptile species on the planet.
