glasgow exsoc peru expedition 2015 proposal

Peru “Sounds of the Amazon” 2015

Expedition

BrazilPeru

Ecuador

Colombia

Bolivia

ChileArgentina

Uruguay

Paraguay

Venezuela

Guyanas

Manu Biosphere

Reserve

Manu Biosphere Reserve

Manu is one of the world’s most biodiverse and

exciting rainforests in the world

A UNESCO World Heritage Site covering

18,000 km2 of the Amazon Basin

1000+ bird species, 200+ mammals & an

estimated 500,000 arthropod

• The Expedition Will be based

for 1 week at the Manu

Learning Centre

• The next 6 weeks, we will be

based further down river in

Shipetiari region

• This area has been recently

opened up to new research

opportunities

Peru “Sounds of the Amazon” 2015 Expedition

MLC is in the Andes-Amazon

transition zone

• The main aim of the Expedition is to

assess the potential effects of a human

forest community on biodiversity

Peru “Sounds of the Amazon” 2015 Expedition

Main work will involve

Biodiversity surveys of large mammals, butterflies, amphibians , birds with a focus on how the biodiversity is affected by human disturbance

Using new acoustic techniques as a way to estimate biodiversity

Peru “Sounds of the Amazon” 2015 Expedition

Mammal Survey Methods

1. Night transect surveys along the studied area

for visual encounters

2. Camera traps recording for which large

mammals use this area of forest

3. Mammal track and sign surveys

Camera trap photos taken by

previous university expeditions

Aucoustic Survey Methods

Day+night transects for bird calls and visual

encounters

Sound recordings in different areas

Amphibian Survey Methods

Visual encounter surveys

both day and night along

rivers and in adjacent

forest

Invertebrate Work

This will probably include Butterfly work

and possibly studies on leafcutter ants

Still to be decided

Expedition Details

Expedition Leaders Giovanni Bianco & Chris Field

Looking for 6 keen, hard working, enthusiastic team members, possibility of 2 honors projects (geography or biodiversity related)

Lots of physical work and exploring in hot conditions so good fitness needed

Lodge base camp plus probably camping

Application forms at front and on Ex Soc website

Applications in by 5 pm Monday 13th, with interviews Tues 14th to Fri 17th(check email for interview list on Monday night)

Cost ~£850 personal contribution

Dates late June to end August 2015 (~ 7 weeks in field)

Expedition Details