Manu Biodiversity Expedition 2019 – Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon
The Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon (ASA) is a research-focused 501(c)3 non-profit working in the southeastern Peruvian Andes and Amazon. We are planning an expedition to study biodiversity—butterflies and moths, bats and other mammals, birds, and herpetofauna—near Peru’s Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve during July 1-14, 2019, as part of our long-term effort to document species’ distribution, abundance, and natural history throughout the Cusco and Madre de Dios regions. Participation in the expedition is open to those who wish to explore the Manu region’s hyper-diverse rainforests and gain practical skills and knowledge related to tropical biodiversity monitoring. Please note that a fee is required to cover the cost of hosting participants at the remote field base camp and covers all food, as well as logistical support and maintenance of the campsite. DATES 1-14 July, 2019 LOCATION Gallito de las Rocas conservation area, Cusco Dept., Peru (ca. 900-2,000 masl) REGISTRATION Open until May 31, 2019 PARTICIPATION FEE $1,650 This expedition is based at a remote, rugged campsite deep within the rainforest. Fees cover participants’ food, as well as logistical support and camp maintenance, and help to offset the cost of running the expedition. WEBSITE www.sustainableamazon.org/manu-biodiversity-expedition-2019<http://www.sustainableamazon.org/manu-biodiversity-expedition-2019> EXPEDITION OVERVIEW The rainforests of southeastern Peru, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon basin, are widely thought to be the most biodiverse on earth. However, almost nothing is known about the abundance, regional distribution, or natural history of the vast majority of species, nor the impacts on populations of climate change. The ASA is working to gather this information for four key groups at a number of sites in southeastern Peru: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), birds, bats and other mammals, and herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). In addition to baseline biodiversity inventories, a second major goal at Gallito de las Rocas is to monitor changes in populations over time using standardized, repeated annual surveys. The expedition is led by four researchers who will oversee data collection by their respective team and work with participants towards the following goals: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) Build a site inventory and monitor butterfly and moth abundance over time using a variety of techniques, including collecting with hand nets and baited traps, and light trapping for nocturnal species. Data gathered at Gallito de las Rocas and other study sites in the region are used in ongoing studies of Lepidoptera ecology, evolution, natural history, and conservation. Birds Data regarding bird species presence, abundance, and elevational distributions are gathered by point count surveys, passive acoustic monitoring, and through the use of mist nets. Banded birds are monitored to document changes in populations over time and to monitor elevational shifts due to climate change; banded birds also allow us to collect key natural and life history data (e.g., longevity), which are currently unavailable for most species in the region. Mammals Medium to large mammals are inventoried using camera traps. However, the team will focus mostly on bats, which constitute the majority of mammal species at the study site. Bats are studied using mist nets and by passive acoustic monitoring. A major goal is to build a site inventory and a reference library of bat calls for the region, as well as to monitor changes over time in populations (e.g., abundance, elevational distributions). Herpetofauna Reptiles and amphibians are inventoried using transect surveys, mostly at night, but also by diurnal leaf litter surveys. We are also monitoring the presence of chytridiomycosis, an infectious fungal disease that poses a major threat to amphibian species worldwide. MORE INFORMATION & HOW TO APPLY Please visit the expedition webpage for more information about the expedition, our research goals, and what activities participants can expect, as well as how to apply. www.sustainableamazon.org/manu-biodiversity-expedition-2019<http://www.sustainableamazon.org/manu-biodiversity-expedition-2019> Geoff Gallice, PhD President Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon
