During 2003-2007 the AABP team has been focused on various aspects of biodiversity, conservation, and technology research focused on the Andes-Amazon region of southeastern Peru.
Botanical research forms a strong foundation of data and knowledge for ongoing AABP projects and is the oldest component of the program. During 2001-2007 the BRIT botany team of John Janovec, Amanda Neill, Fernando Cornejo, Piher Maceda, Angel Balarezo, Tiana Franklin, Benjamin Chambi, Milton Jimenez, Ethan Householder, and Miguel Chocce have carried out systematic botanical inventories at selected sites in the region. All plant collection data and images are available to the public in the Atrium Biodiversity Information System being developed at BRIT (http://atrium.andesamazon.org). All collections are represented by one duplicate specimen in the BRIT project herbarium in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, available for use by researchers, students, and the general public. Duplicate specimens of all collections have been deposited in the San Marcos Herbarium in Lima, Peru; the Universidad Nacional de Madre de Dios in Puerto Maldonado, Peru; the BRIT herbarium in Fort Worth, Texas; and distributed to more than 50 taxonomic experts for identification and all dets are updated in the Atrium Digital Herbarium. Additional duplicate specimens are distributed on exchange programs with various herbaria.
Mycological research was carried out by TCU-BRIT M.S. student, Romina Gazis, who graduated in May 2007. Romina is now a Ph.D. student at Howard University. During her three years of work with the AABP team, Romina documented the diversity and ecology of macrofungal communities of the Los Amigos Biological Station and Conservation Area. She used methods of general collecting and quantitative sampling with comparisons between dry and rainy season and different habitats. During 2003-2007 Romina documented around 300 species of macrofungus in the 1500-acre (500-hectare) area of the biological station forest, as well as patterns of the variation and distribution of this diversity between seasons and habitats. This includes numerous species of entomopathenogenic fungi. The results of her work are being published in mycological and ecological journals during 2008-2009.
Vegetation ecology studies are carried out in conjunction with ongoing botanical inventory at various sites in the region. A total of 1500 transects (2 x 50 m) have been completed at 150 sites in the region, with 10 transects installed and inventoried per site following standard methodology. All trees greater than one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter that fell into the 2 x 50 m transect area were identified and their diameter and height measured. These 150 transect sites are located in the Rio Amigos watershed of Madre de Dios, Peru, the Panticoalla cordillera of the upper Madre de Dios watershed, and Wayqechas cloud forest in the Andes of Cusco, Peru. The primary data from these transects is available in the new Atrium Vegetation Module, available in the new version, Atrium 1.6, being presented to the public during November 2007. Book and article manuscripts are in-preparation and being reviewed for publication. A few articles have already been published. See the future plans and vision of the project for a discussion of how the AABP team plans to continue vegetation ecology research in the region.
Mammal diversity and conservation research is being carried out by the AABP team under the direction of Mathias Tobler. One project involves intensive investigations of the ecology and conservation of the lowland neotropical tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in the Peruvian Amazon. Mathias and team have applied radio telemetry and GPS tracking technology to study the movement patterns, home range, and habitat use of this large and endangered neotropical mammal species. Seed collections from hundreds of tapir dung samples have been identified in collaboration with Janovec and the BRIT botany team. In addition to ongoing field studies of the tapir, Tobler and team have been collaborating with the WWF AREAS Project directed by George Powell to carry out an intensive and extensive inventory of large mammals in Madre de Dios using line transect and camera trapping methodology. Results of this project are being published in two formats. First Tobler is finalizing his dissertation at Texas A&M University and will graduate in May 2008 to continue his work as a co-director and ecologist on the BRIT team in Peru. Second, at least five scientific articles will be published from this first phase of the tapir project.
Moth diversity studies were carried out by Pedro Centeno, Janovec, and team, in collaboration with Dr. Gerardo Lamas, Juan Grados, and students of the San Marcos Museum Entomology Laboratory, during 2005-2007 at three field sites in the Andes-Amazon region of southeastern Peru. Wayqechas and Los Amigos served as two important sites on extreme ends of the ecological and elevational gradient, from high Andean cloud forest to the Amazon lowlands. Studies were also carried out in rainforests of the upper Madre de Dios River. This project was driven initially by personal interests of Centeno and Janovec, and then supported by the Moore Foundation. They focused on two years of sampling three moth groups at the three field sites in the Andes-Amazon region: Sphingidae, Artiidae, and Saturniidae. Light traps were used at the three research sites on a monthly basis during the two-year period. A total of 125 species of Sphingidae, about 600 species of Artciidae, and 60 species of Saturniidae were sampled. All species of Sphingidae have been identified and the team is now analyzing data and interpreting patterns of variation and distribution of the diversity of these fast-flying moths that are important for the pollination of many plant species. Results are being published at this time.
Horticultural, agricultural, and forestry studies have been carried out in the field, nursery, and greenhouse setting since 2005. A plant nursery has been established in Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru, in collaboration with Boris Zlatar, owner of the San Antonio Nurseries. A greenhouse has been established in collaboration with La Molina University, the national agriculture university of Peru in Lima. Investigations supported by the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust have focused on native plant species of the Peruvian Amazon that have potential for ornamental horticulture. A total of 300 or more species have been collected and propagated and are now being cultivated in the nursery and greenhouse setting. More recently with personal investments from team members and partners, a total of 100 native tree species have been propagated from seed and transplanted to the nursery and greenhouse setting. A selection of 2800 mahogany trees was recently planted to an experimental forestry plantation setting close to Puerto Maldonado. During November 2007, the team will be building a greenhouse (25 x 10 m) for the cultivation of vegetables, with current focus on the experimental production of seven varieties of tomatoes. Book and journal articles are being prepared for publication with leadership from Jason Wells, manager of the horticulture project in Puerto Maldonado. The project has also supported numerous Peruvian students who participate in field and greenhouse activities. One student from La Molina University, Alejandro Merino, is carrying out a thesis project focused on tomato production in the Amazon. Andrew Lutz, an undergraduate student from Texas Tech University is serving as an intern for six months in the Peruvian Amazon, with focus on studies of ornamental plants as potential non-timber forest products.
Ecosystem studies are key to the central vision of the AABP at BRIT, which is to carry out integrated studies of plants, animals, and the ecosystems they inhabit. All botanical and ecological inventory activities have been carefully integrated with moth and tapir research, for instance. Plant collections and transect inventory were completed in regions of high tapir abundance or in forests where tapirs have been tracked with GPS collar technology. Studies of plant phenology and fruit production in an Amazonian forest have contributed to analysis of the habitat use and food resources of the tapir. Perhaps the most complete integrated study of ecosystems focus is on the Amazonian wetlands of Madre de Dios, Peru. The AABP team has carried out botanical inventory and vegetation ecology studies in numerous of the 300 individual wetlands mapped in the Madre de Dios River watershed. They have used traditional transect and plot techniques to quantify the variation and distribution of plant diversity and vegetation ecology. They are leading the production of a multi-author book, Wetland Ecosystems of Madre de Dios, Peru: Diversity and Conservation, for publication in 2008-2009. The book will provide information about the geology, hydrology, flora, fauna, and conservation of the humedales of Madre de Dios, which account for up to 10% of the total surface area of the region. This will be the most complete resource of information about these ecosystems, which are endangered by human encroachment in the form of mining, logging, agriculture, and urban development.
Student education and training has always been a strong component of the research program of the AABP. A total of six M.S. students have participated in the TCU-BRIT graduate program, which provides educational opportunities through TCU and research opportunities through BRIT. All six students have carried out research in the Andes-Amazon region of southeastern Peru, with focus on orchids, Amazonian trees, ecosystem ecology, and non-timber forest products. One Ph.D. student, Mathias Tobler, has been involved with the project and spent three solid years living and working in the Amazon. Tobler also serves as one of the co-directors of the AABP at BRIT and is deeply involved in the ecological research and technology development at BRIT and in Peru. Janovec and team also involve many Peruvian and US students in field and museum activities, including high school and undergraduate students. At least 30 students have participated in project activities during the last three years.
Community capacity building is an ongoing component of the AABP, at BRIT in Texas and in the museum and field in Peru. A total of 25 local community members have worked on the AABP team between Texas and Peru. This includes the permanent BRIT field team of Javier Huinga, Angel Balarezo, Piher Maceda, Dario Cruz, Benjamin Chambi, and Pedro Centeno, all local community members who have been trained in methods of biodiversity science and conservation research. The project has provided economic support for many people in the region, including permanent boat drivers who transport the team by rivers in the region. Local community members have also been hired on a temporary, repeating basis to support expeditions, specific nursery activities, forestry planting, and work in the experimental greenhouses of the project. Janovec has already seen this training pay off for these community members, as increased capacitation has allowed them to get jobs in other science and conservation organizations in the region.
Technology research and development is carried out by the AABP team in conjunction with ongoing science and conservation research in the Andes-Amazon region of Peru. This has included the development of the Atrium Biodiversity Information System. It has also included the development of databases to manage specific datasets coming from field work. Tobler has contributed to the research and development of TrackTag GPS technology for use in tracking large neotropical mammals in the Peruvian Amazon. The team has also tested Trimble GPS and hand-held computer technology, and built protocols and interfaces for database-driven data collection in the field. Equipment in the field has been powered by solar panels and 12-volt batteries. Such data collection protocols allow the team to return from the field and in a single night download data for analysis and interpretation, as well as upload to Atrium.
