Earthwatch. Wildlife of Brazil s Pantanal

SOUTH AMERICA 2009 Earthwatch. 2009 EXPEDITION BRIEFING Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal Amphibians and Reptiles of the Southern Pantanal Bat Assembla...
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SOUTH AMERICA

2009

Earthwatch. 2009 EXPEDITION BRIEFING

Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal Amphibians and Reptiles of the Southern Pantanal Bat Assemblage in the Rio Negro Birds and Dynamic Habitat Mosaics Ecology and Conservation of the Pantanal Otters

Our Mission Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. We believe that achieving a sustainable future requires objective scientific data from the field—and that the scientific process must engage the general public if it is to change the world. To that end, we involve people from all walks of life directly in global field research. We invite you to join us.

Offices:

Earthwatch Institute 3 Clock Tower Place Suite 100 P.O. Box 75 Maynard, MA 01754 U.S.A. [email protected] www.earthwatch.org Toll-free: +1 (800) 776-0188 Phone: +1 (978) 461-0081 Fax: +1 (978) 461-2332

Earthwatch (Europe) Mayfield House 256 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DE UNITED KINGDOM [email protected] www.earthwatch.org/europe Phone: +44 (0) 1865-318-831 Fax: +44 (0) 1865-311-383

Earthwatch (Australia) 126 Bank Street South Melbourne VIC 3205 AUSTRALIA [email protected] www.earthwatch.org/australia Phone: +61 (0) 3-9682-6828 Fax: +61 (0) 3-9686-3652

Earthwatch (Japan) Sanbancho TY Plaza 5F Sanbancho 24-25, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075 JAPAN [email protected] www.earthwatch.jp Phone: +81-(0)3-3511-3360 Fax: +81-(0)3-3511-3364

www.earthwatch.org -- An international nonprofit organization founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1971--

Dear Earthwatcher, Welcome to Earthwatch! We greatly appreciate your decision to contribute to important hands-on environmental science and conservation. As an Earthwatch volunteer, you have the opportunity to create positive change for our world while having a life-changing experience. Each year we send thousands of people just like you into the field to understand and help an array of species, habitats, and cultures on approximately 85 research projects in more than 40 countries. These projects focus on: Climate Change, Cultural Heritage, Ecosystem Services, and Oceans. We place the highest priority on the health and safety of all those involved in our activities anywhere in the world. Although risk is an inherent part of the environments in which we work, careful risk management and diligent planning means all participants can have safe, educational, and inspirational Earthwatch experiences. Our dedicated Field Management team works around the clock to assess and manage the risks of conducting field research in a variety of locations and conditions. We’ve been providing safe experiences for more than 35 years, so you’re in good hands. To keep Earthwatch teams safe and happy, we require all expedition participants prepare for their experience by reading this Expedition Briefing and completing a number of volunteer forms, which vary by expedition and by regional Earthwatch office. Volunteers signing up through the US office can find the forms online at http://www.earthwatch.org/volforms. Volunteers signing up through Earthwatch offices in the UK, Australia, or Japan should contact those offices at the information listed below for more information. It is essential that you carefully read your Expedition Briefing, which includes important logistical information such as instructions for reaching the project site, what to pack, where your team will stay, what immunizations you need, how to physically prepare for your expedition, entry requirements for the project country, and more. Your Briefing also explains the research being conducted on the project, why it’s important, and what role you’ll play as an Earthwatch volunteer. If you have questions as you prepare for your expedition, contact the appropriate Earthwatch office: Australia Office

Japan Office

UK Office

US Office

T: +61 (0) 3-9682-6828

T: +81-(0)3-3511-3360

T: +44 (0) 1865-318-831

T: +1 800-776-0188

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Well prepared volunteers are better able to enjoy the unique and exciting experiences that an Earthwatch expedition offers, and are also a greater help to the scientists’ important work. Most expeditions do not require prior experience. Volunteers who are attentive and open-minded, can work in a team environment, and are eager to learn will be most successful. Your expedition may have fitness requirements, so please review the Project Conditions section. Those with photography and film skills are encouraged to share media from the expedition with Earthwatch. Thank you for your support, and enjoy your expedition! Sincerely,

Anne T. Ogilvie International Director of Field Management PS: Upon returning from your expedition, you will receive an email welcoming you back and asking you to fill out an online Expedition Evaluation. Please take the time to complete this evaluation in order to help us improve the Earthwatch experience. Your feedback is appreciated! i

EXPEDITION UPDATE: Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal Team V August 12, 2009

Dear Earthwatch Volunteer, We would like to inform you of a staff change on your expedition. Your Field Team Leader will be Alan F. Erikson. Alan completed his Master’s thesis which focused on ectoparasites and bat communities and will soon begin PhD studies. Alan has led several Earthwatch teams in the past. Fernando Gonçalves will not be joining the team as he has been invited to attend the 10th International Congress of Mammalogy in Mendoza, Argentina to present results of his studies of seed dispersal by bats in the Nhecolândia region adjacent to the Pantanal. If you have questions as you prepare for your expedition, contact the appropriate Earthwatch office: Australia Office U

Japan Office U

U

U

UH

[email protected] HU

UH

US Office

U

T: +81-(0)3-3511-3360

[email protected] HU

UK Office

U

T: +61 (0) 3-9682-6828

U

T: +44 (0) 1865-318-831

T: +1 800-776-0188

[email protected] HU

UH

[email protected] HU

U

WILDLIFE OF BRAZIL’S PANTANAL Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION...................................................................................................................................................1 VOLUNTEER FORMS OVERVIEW .....................................................................................................................................2 THE EXPEDITION...................................................................................................................................................................4 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................4 2. RESEARCH AREA.................................................................................................................................................................5 3. PROJECT STAFF SCHEDULE .................................................................................................................................................6 DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELD ..................................................................................................................................................7 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND ASSIGNMENTS ........................................................................................................................7 TEAM ITINERARY ................................................................................................................................................................7 DAILY SCHEDULE AND TASKS.............................................................................................................................................8 ACCOMMODATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................9 FOOD .................................................................................................................................................................................10

TRAVEL PLANNING ............................................................................................................................................................12 9. BEFORE YOU LEAVE ........................................................................................................................................................12 10. PROJECT CONDITIONS .....................................................................................................................................................18 11. HEALTH INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................................................20 12. PACKING CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................................................................22 13. RECOMMENDED READING ...............................................................................................................................................23 14. EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELD ............................................................................................................................................24 15. COMMUNICATIONS ..........................................................................................................................................................24 16. HELPFUL RESOURCES......................................................................................................................................................26 AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE SOUTHERN PANTANAL............................................................................28 THE PROJECT .........................................................................................................................................................................28 VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................30 PROJECT STAFF ......................................................................................................................................................................31 RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ..............................................................................................................................................32 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................................................................................................32 BAT ASSEMBLAGE IN THE RIO NEGRO........................................................................................................................34 THE PROJECT .........................................................................................................................................................................34 VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................35 PROJECT STAFF ......................................................................................................................................................................36 RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ..............................................................................................................................................36 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................................................................................................37 BIRDS AND DYNAMIC HABITAT MOSAICS ..................................................................................................................38 THE PROJECT .........................................................................................................................................................................38 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS .................................................................................................................................38 VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................41 PROJECT STAFF ......................................................................................................................................................................42 RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ..............................................................................................................................................42 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................................................................................................43

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ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF PANTANAL OTTERS .....................................................................................45 THE PROJECT .........................................................................................................................................................................45 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS .................................................................................................................................46 VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................48 PROJECT STAFF ......................................................................................................................................................................48 RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ..............................................................................................................................................49 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................................................................................................50 EXPEDITION PACKING CHECKLIST

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GENERAL INFORMATION PROJECT TITLE: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):

RESEARCH SITE:

WILDLIFE OF BRAZIL’S PANTANAL See the individual Research Project sections for Principal Investigator names, biographies, and information on research staff members. The Aquidauana region of Brazil’s Pantanal, approximately 110 kilometers/68 miles from the city of Aquidauana

TEAM

RESEARCH PROJECTS

I II III* IV V VI VII VIII

1) Amphibians and Reptiles 1) Bats 2) Otters 1) Bats 2) Otters 1) Amphibians and Reptiles 1) Bats 2) Birds 1) Amphibians and Reptiles 1) Bats 2) Birds 1) Amphibians and Reptiles

EXPEDITION LENGTH:

2) Otters

2) Birds 2) Birds 2) Otters

13 days

TEAM SIZE MINIMUM/MAXIMUM:

8 / 10 volunteers

MINIMUM AGE OF PARTICIPATION:

18 years of age *

*Note: Team III is an Earthwatch Teen Team and is reserved for participants 16 – 17 years of age. Volunteers on this team will receive a separate Expedition Briefing. It’s possible that the 2009 Teen Team may be expanded to include more volunteers and an additional research focus; final details will be in the Teen Team Briefing. To learn more about Earthwatch Institute’s Teen Teams, visit www.earthwatch.org. It may also be possible for 16- and 17-year-olds to participate on standard teams if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Contact Earthwatch for more information and see the Before You Leave section for traveling advice for minors.

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VOLUNTEER FORMS OVERVIEW All Earthwatch expedition participants are required to read and complete a number of volunteer forms. Some of these forms are used to ensure your safety in the field, to inform Earthwatch and project staff of your current health and fitness as they pertain to your expedition, to notify Earthwatch and project staff of your travel plans, etc. These forms must be filled out and returned to Earthwatch AFTER you sign up for an expedition. Other forms are for your reference and will inform you of certain Earthwatch policies and resources. You do not need to return these forms. See the letter at the front of this Briefing to learn how to get the forms you need to return; volunteer forms vary by Earthwatch office. Some details below apply ONLY to volunteers signing up through the US Earthwatch office. Volunteer forms are available at http://www.earthwatch.org/volforms. Instructions for completing your forms are included on this web page. However, you may not need to complete all of the forms listed online. Please see below for a list of the specific forms required for this expedition. Note: It is very important that you read and understand both your Expedition Briefing and the volunteer forms listed below. Volunteers Forms to be Returned to Earthwatch Please complete and return the following forms to Earthwatch:     

A: Personal Profile B: Health Form C: Travel Details Form D: Liability Release W1: Water Skills General (only required for teams I, II, III & VIII, involved in otter research)

How to return your forms: Forms B and D require written signatures and must therefore be printed out and signed. All other forms may be filled out electronically. You may return your forms to your Earthwatch by mail, fax (+1 978-461-2332 for US volunteers), or email (forms requiring signatures may be scanned and emailed). If you mail hard copies of your forms to Earthwatch, please do not staple them together and be sure to keep a copy of each form for your records. Please see the welcome letter at the start of this briefing for contact information for all Earthwatch offices. Deadline for form submission: Your volunteer forms must be completed and returned to Earthwatch no later than 60 days prior to your expedition. If you sign up within 60 days of your expedition: If signing up to participate within 60 days of an expedition’s start date, please complete each form to the best of your ability and send them to Earthwatch immediately. Please note the date of your doctor’s appointment on Form B: Health Form. You will need to resend Form B: Health Form after having it completed and signed by your doctor.

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Other Forms for Your Reference The forms listed below are for your reference only and do not need to be returned to Earthwatch. However, it is very important that you read and understand these forms, which are included in your printed Expedition Briefing.  

Earthwatch Policies and Participants’ Rights and Responsibilities Financial Terms and Conditions

The additional forms below are also for your reference and benefit and are available online at http://www.earthwatch.org/volforms.  

Tax Deduction (Earthwatch expeditions, with the exception of Family Teams, are tax-deductible for US residents only) Medical and Evacuation Insurance FAQs and Upgraded Coverage Application (these forms include important information on both the insurance included in your expedition contribution and upgraded coverage available to Earthwatch participants) *

* In addition to the medical and emergency evacuation insurance included in your expedition contribution, Earthwatch also recommends that participants purchase travel insurance. Optional travel insurance is available through CSA Travel Protection. See http://www.csatravelprotection.com/?aff=83534816 and www.earthwatch.org/getinvolved/supportus/shoponline/travelins for more information.

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THE EXPEDITION 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW Landscape, Wildlife and People There is no other place in the world like the Pantanal, a vast wetland wilderness in the heart of Brazil. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a RAMSAR Site, known for its abundant, diverse and highly visible wildlife, like capybaras, marsh deer, caiman, jabiru storks and hyacinth macaws. The flat, open landscape consists of a wide range of tropical forest, a variety of savanna types, a complex river network and the largest expanse of tropical wetlands in the world. The region was a historically important hunting and fishing ground for Native Americans. Today, the Guató, Kadiwéu and Terena tribes still live throughout the Pantanal, making a living through agriculture, natural resource harvest and commerce related to native products and crafts. The region’s rich natural resources have also been utilized by many other cultures since the mid-1500s, from mining and cattle grazing to commercial and sport fishing. The Pantanal is faced with many threats today, and for this reason the Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal project was created to put the sustainability of the Pantanal within reach of concerned people from both the local population and the global community. This pioneering initiative brings communities and leading scientists together to conserve the largest expanse of tropical wetlands in the world. Threats to the Environment The most serious threat facing the Pantanal is the Hidrovia Paraguay-Paraná project, which proposes to straighten and dredge the upper Rio Paraguay, permanently changing the flow patterns in the area, draining 50% of the flood plains and causing a collapse of the most productive food webs in the ecosystem. Backed by politics and business, this project not only threatens the entire Pantanal, but has spurred the initiation of an additional series of separate, small-scale projects along the upper Rio Paraguay with similar environmental consequences. In addition to environmental threats of pollution from mining and urban centers, the area also faces many threats due to its rich agricultural resources. Ranching is the area’s principal economic activity, where there are 55 cattle for every person (4.5 million cattle in total). The effects of deforestation, exotic vegetation, sediment loading, erosion, and pesticide and fertilizer runoff (especially from the surrounding highlands) have all taken their toll on the ecosystem. Migration patterns have been altered, flood plains changed and overall species numbers have declined. More recently, the growing demand for biodiesel has encouraged landowners in the highlands surrounding the Pantanal floodplain to clear-cut forested areas to plant sugarcane. Working with Communities towards a Sustainable Environment Earthwatch Institute is committed to working closely with communities, ranchers, educators, government and non-government organizations (NGOs) to develop appropriate management and conservation practices for the region. Because more than 95% of the Brazilian Pantanal is privately owned, one of the biggest challenges for local communities is balancing economic sustainability with conservation. Developing economic alternatives to cattle ranching, creating new reserves, providing environmental education and improving the scientific foundation for conservation strategies are important actions being spearheaded by a number of NGOs and Brazilian environmental agencies.

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Research To address the issues facing the area, Earthwatch Institute established this project in 2000, in partnership with Conservation International (CI). Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal supports cooperative, long-term research on species relationships, ecological communities and key species that have large impacts on ecosystem structure and function. The regional model has the advantage of being comprised of several distinct projects all contributing to the larger purpose of understanding the ecosystem’s relationships and effects. Through alliances with regional and international NGOs, government agencies, universities and landowners, scientists working with Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal are able to integrate their data and thus make the greatest impact on conservation. The goal is to help local communities understand the varied aspects of their ecosystem and to create sustainable management and conservation plans. In 2009, this expedition will support four research projects with the following complementary subjects: otter ecology and conservation, bat diversity and ecology, bird diversity and ecology, and amphibians and reptiles. Each of these research subjects is a valuable indicator of environmental impacts. Each team will work on two of these research projects (see page 1). How You’ll Contribute Earthwatch brings you together with Principal Investigators, research technicians, students, local organizations, ranchers and other local community members to collect the information necessary for understanding the regional ecology and developing conservation and management strategies essential for saving the biological resources of the Pantanal. Such information ranges from field-based data collection such as collecting reptiles and amphibians in pitfall traps or participating in mist-netting bats throughout the night, to lab based work such as computer entry of the day’s fieldwork. Note: See the individual project sections at the back of this Expedition Briefing for information on the research objectives, methods, and results of each project in this expedition.

2. RESEARCH AREA The research takes place in the Aquidauana, one of the largest sub-regions of Brazil’s Pantanal. It is characterized by various landscapes, such as freshwater and soda lakes, seasonally inundated grasslands, savannahs and a meandering black water river – the Rio Negro. The pristine Rio Negro area is virtually uninhabited by humans. The nearest city, Aquidauana, is approximately 110 kilometers away. There is a great diversity of aquatic habitats, wildlife and plants in the area. In a single day, it is possible to see capybaras, caimans, peccaries, numerous birds including toucans and the endangered hyacinth macaw, and a variety of blooming trees. Within a couple of days, you will likely see tapirs, giant river otters, deer and perhaps a giant anteater. Volunteers participating in the amphibians and reptiles, bats and bird projects will be staying at Fazenda Campo Lourdes, a lodge located near the Correntoso River. Fazenda Campo Lourdes has an area of 5,717 ha. Campo limpo (open grasslands) and campo sujo (grasslands with scattered shrubs) dominate the eastern third of the ranch, while the western two-thirds consists of cordilheira (semideciduous trees) forests, vazantes (seasonal rainwater drainages), and permanent baias (small freshwater lakes/wetlands). A small area of gallery forest accompanies a short reach of the Correntoso River on the western border of the ranch. Volunteers participating in the otter project will stay at Pousada Araraúna, a lodge located along the Rio Negro. Pousada Araraúna is part of Santa Emília Farm and is affiliated with UNIDERP, a private university in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The farm contains 2,610 hectares and is 270 kilometers from Campo Grande. Access is available by air or land year-round. Located where the Rio Correntoso, an arm of the Rio Negro, crosses the farm, capybaras and otters can be observed near the lodge. Note that if you are on a team that includes the otter project, you will spend half your time at Araraúna, and the other half of your time at Campo Lourdes working on the other project. 5

A good infrastructure awaits tourists, students and researchers, offering horseback riding, tours, boat rides and walks allowing observers to see all types of life.

3. PROJECT STAFF SCHEDULE Please see the individual project sections in the back of this Briefing for biographical information on Project Staff for all teams.

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DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELD 4. VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND ASSIGNMENTS Note: Descriptions of volunteer assignments relative to each research project can be found in the individual project sections, which follow the Helpful Resources section in the briefing. To find out which projects your team will be working on, see the beginning of the briefing. Upon arrival at the field station, each team is usually given a tour of and orientation to the area. The volunteers will learn about the animals, insects and other organisms that should be treated with caution. You will be briefed on house rules, the daily schedule, how to dress in the field and procedures that should be taken in case of emergency. The goals and research design of the projects will be discussed, along with the sampling techniques that volunteers will use. Numerous subjects concerning the ecology and conservation of the Pantanal and its unique inhabitants will also be touched upon. The Principal Investigators (PIs) and staff members will be with the volunteers at all times assisting with the fieldwork and camp maintenance. You will participate in an important conservation effort, experience a new culture and witness the beauty and diversity of a spectacular ecological sanctuary. This may be your first experience observing jabiru storks, roseate spoonbills, hyacinth macaws, marsh deer, caimans, fruiting acuri palms, herds of peccaries, giant anteaters and illusive tapirs. Sightings of tropical mammals and birds, which will occur on a daily basis, are definitely a bonding experience for all involved. For the tropical fish enthusiasts, you will have the chance to see brilliantly colored and sometimes bizarre looking fishes living in their natural environments. You will also learn about the Pantanal and the ecological and economic problems that threaten the region, and of course, you will have the chance to drink tereré (a special Brazilian tea) and dance to Pantaneiro music.

5. TEAM ITINERARY Your team will be divided into groups with a daily rotation of tasks. When conducting fieldwork, plans often change due to weather, vehicle problems, changes in research needs, etc. Please come prepared to be flexible and work as a team. During the expedition, volunteers may choose to take a half or full day of recreational/leisure time. To avoid losing valuable field time, this is not included in the schedule and the project staff ask that you take your recreational time individually or in small groups. Consult a travel guidebook for information on local attractions. See the Helpful Resources section for suggested guidebook websites. The following shows an example itinerary, but again, you should be prepared to be flexible. Day 1:

Volunteers will arrive at the rendezvous hotel in Campo Grande.

Day 2:

Teammates will gather in the hotel lobby for departure at 7:00 a.m. The team will be picked up for a two-hour van ride from Campo Grande to Aquidauana and then travel in batches by fiveseater plane to the research site, arriving around noon. If the team involves otter research, half of the volunteers will stay at Pousada Araraúna for the first 4 or 5 days of field work, and the other half will stay at Fazenda Campo Lourdes, and switch places (and research projects) halfway through the team. All other teams will stay solely at Campo Lourdes. At the site there will be an introduction to the project staff, followed by lunch and time to unpack. A tour of the research area will be given in the afternoon and an introduction to field projects and logistics after supper.

Day 3:

Orientation and training sessions will begin after breakfast. Staff will discuss the schedule, research activities and safety. They will also show the team how to use basic field equipment and data sheets. After lunch the team will break into the assigned groups and begin regular research activities. 7

Days 4-11:

You will be assigned to research activities pertinent to your team’s research focus. Because of the heat, groups will usually return from the field for lunch and a short siesta, but on some days you will need to be prepared to eat lunch in the field. In the evening, there will also be lab and field activities for some of the groups (e.g. sample sorting and organizing, scat washing and analysis, data entry, radio-tracking or owl spotting, depending on your team). Volunteers will also help with trail blazing and maintenance. Volunteers participating in the bat project should be prepared to work in the field at night. (Split teams switch locations approximately halfway through the field work days)

Day 12:

Last minute work will be finished and there will be rest and/or recreational time.

Day 13:

Team members will gather together at one of the two accommodations and depart in the morning by small plane to Aquidauana, and will then be driven to Campo Grande by van. When flying conditions are good, you should expect to arrive in Campo Grande by noon.

Earthwatch Recreational Time Policy Earthwatch has a duty of care for our participants from the rendezvous to the end of the expedition. In order to ensure you are as safe during your recreational time as you are during research time, we have put a number of measures in place.  If there is a recreational day during the expedition, the project staff will offer either a planned team activity or a small choice of recreational activities that have been vetted and comply with Earthwatch standards. You will also have the option of remaining at the project accommodations to rest. All participants are strongly encouraged to take part in the group activity, but if you are determined to pursue other options you will be asked to sign a release before doing so, stating that Earthwatch is not responsible for your welfare.  When there is a period of free time scheduled into a regular research day, the staff will ask you to sign out of the project (using a means which may vary by project and project location) if planning to leave the group. This will include your destination and estimated time of return. If participants do not show up to the next activity the project staff will then know where to begin a search.

6. DAILY SCHEDULE AND TASKS Please be aware that schedules can and do fluctuate due to weather, research needs, etc. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated. The daily schedules for each team will vary depending on the specific project and research activities. Below are some examples of what to expect. Schedule When Working on the Amphibians and Reptiles Project 6:00-6:30 am: 7:00 am: 7:30 am-12:00 pm: 12:00-2:00 pm: 2:00-5:30 pm: 7:30 pm: 9:00 pm:

Wake up and eat breakfast, and pack lunch on some days Transportation to the field site Set up traps, check and collect animals in the traps and bring them to the lab Eat lunch and rest* In the lab, take animal measurements, enter data, etc. Eat dinner Suggested bedtime*

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Schedule When Working on the Bats Project 6:00-6:30 am: 7:00 am: 7:30 am-12:00 pm: 12:00-2:00 pm: 2:00 pm-12:00 am:

Wake up and eat breakfast, and pack lunch on some days Transportation to the field site Sample, map and measure flowering and fruiting plants along trails, collect flowers and fruits for herbarium vouchers and morphological study Eat lunch and rest* Set up mist nets in the afternoon and monitor nets for captured bats throughout the evening, with breaks for rest* and dinner

Schedule When Working on the Bird Project 5:00-5:30 am: 5:30-6:00 am: 6:00-11:00 am: 11:00 am-3:00 pm: 3:00-6:00 pm: 6:00-8:00 pm: 8:00-9:00 pm: 9:00 pm:

Wake up and eat breakfast Transportation to the field site Surveys and/or banding techniques depending on the group, direct observations and recordings Eat lunch, rest* and return to fieldwork Surveys and/or banding techniques depending on the group, direct observations and recordings Return from the field site, shower and eat dinner Informal talks and reports on field observations, data entry or leisure time Suggested bedtime*

Schedule When Working on the Otters Project 6:00-6:30 am: 7:00 am: 7:30 am-12:00 pm: 12:00-2:00 pm: 2:00-5:30 pm: 7:30 pm: 9:00 pm:

Wake up and eat breakfast, and pack lunch on some days Transportation to the field site Search for otter signs by boat or by waiting on the riverbank for otters, and collect data. Eat lunch and rest Search for otter signs by boat or by waiting on the riverbank for otters, and collect data. Eat dinner Suggested bedtime*

*Taking advantage of afternoon rest and an early bedtime is recommended so that everyone can keep up their energy and recharge for the next day’s activities. Field work starts early, is physically demanding and continues for most of the day (and night, for the bat project!). If you choose to stay up later than this time, please be respectful of those who wish to get some sleep. Your PI and field staff will also need some rest, and although they will always be available for emergencies, please respect their privacy and need for rest when they retire to their accommodations.

7. ACCOMMODATIONS You will experience a typical Pantaneiro lifestyle at Fazenda Campo Lourdes and Pousada Araraúna. During your stay you will live at one or both of these lodges, which are former farms that now host ecotourism guests and activities. This unique combination allows volunteers to get a taste of rural Brazilian culture unique to this particular area. The two lodges are approximately 20 minutes’ drive apart.

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Campo Lourdes Fazenda Campo Lourdes is located in the area of Rio Negro's left bank, known as the Pantanal of Taboco, municipal district of Aquidauana, in South Mato Grosso, Brazil. Campo Lourdes has basic facilities to receive its visitors with convenience and comfort. The lodging can accommodate groups of up to 10 people. There are two quadruple single-sex dorms that will be the primary lodging for the volunteers, which are equipped with air conditioning, mosquito nets, ceiling fan and hot shower. There is also a double room that can accommodate a couple more privately, but this room does not have air conditioning. Depending on the gender ratio of the team, this room may need to be used by other volunteers, so the availability of the double room cannot be guaranteed until relatively close to the team start. Please speak to your Earthwatch contact to put in a first-come-first-serve request for the double room. Besides the sleeping quarters, there is a wide verandah with satellite television and ceiling fans, air-conditioned dining area, traditional wood-stove kitchen, swimming pool, private airstrip, and telephone. There is no internet connection available at Campo Lourdes. Pousada Araraúna Pousada Araraúna lodge accommodates a small number of guests, which provides for an exclusive and familylike experience. It has beautiful views of the river, offering comfortable amenities that include screened-windows, ceiling fans, screened and airy verandas, a screened restaurant, satellite television, private airstrip and telephone. The lodge offers rooms for two, three and four people, with air-conditioners and private bathrooms with hot showers, free internet access via wireless or cable connection in the rooms (please note that this service is sometimes interrupted and not available for days at a time), a small fridge and alarm clock. There are hammocks, a bar, a large air-conditioned dining room, cozy living room, a laboratory, a classroom and a pool. Volunteers can also take canoe, boat or horseback rides during recreational time. However, there is no fishing permitted at Araraúna. Linens and towels are provided, and laundry service may be available for a fee (to be determined onsite). If you bring your own detergent, there are large sinks where you can hand-wash your laundry. Electricity is available (110 volts) and can be used for hairdryers, charging cell phones, etc. Couples accommodations may be arranged, but will depend on availability and may be at the additional expense of the volunteers. Please contact Earthwatch about the availability and price for your team.

Note that credit cards are NOT accepted at either Araraúna or Campo Lourdes. Any purchases must be made with cash (Brazilian reais or US dollars). You will receive an itemized bill for extra expenses and services at the end of your stay. See the Communications section for accommodation contact information.

8. FOOD The quality of the food is excellent at both lodges, featuring traditional Brazilian dishes including rice and beans, meat and fresh vegetables. Lunch will be the main meal of the day, according to Brazilian custom. In general, meals are very diverse, with little repetition. Vegetarian meals will be possible but can be fairly repetitious. Refrigeration is available. Remember that in Brazilian culture, meals are a time for reflection and quiet conversation, a break from your hard work to be enjoyed at a slow, relaxed pace. When interacting with others at the table, please be respectful of those who are still eating or who have not yet gotten their food.

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Below are examples of the foods and drinks you might expect in the field. Please bear in mind that variety depends on availability. This list is intended to provide a general idea of food types, but it is very important that volunteers be flexible. Breakfast: Lunch/Dinner: Snacks/Other: Beverages: Water:

Coffee, fresh fruit, juices, bread, cheese and pastries May include meat, fish, vegetables, salads, rice, beans and pasta There are no local food stores, so if you have cravings for a favorite snack, please bring it with you In addition to the coffee, juices, and water that will be provided, soda, beer and wine can be purchased at the volunteer’s expense Drawn from a well and filtered before use

Special Dietary Requirements Please alert Earthwatch to any special dietary requirements (e.g. diabetes, lactose intolerance, nut or other serious food allergies) as soon as possible, and note them in the space provided on your volunteer forms. Accommodating special diets is not guaranteed and can be very difficult due to availability of food, location of field sites, and other local conditions. Special note to vegans and strict vegetarians: Please be aware that it is often difficult to accommodate strict vegetarians and vegans. It may be possible to get meatless meals but vegans and strict vegetarians may have a problem avoiding animal products altogether. If this poses a problem, then participation on this Earthwatch expedition should be seriously reconsidered.

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TRAVEL PLANNING 9. BEFORE YOU LEAVE Note: Earthwatch Institute’s international travel insurance company, International SOS, has a wealth of useful information available at their website, including visa, passport, currency, medical, etc. information for the country in which this project takes place. See www.internationalsos.com and enter Earthwatch’s member identification number: 14ACPA000075. Under “Select Resource” choose “English Country Guide,” and then select this project’s country from the list. For a listing of other useful websites for passport and visa requirements, see the Helpful Resources section. Entry Requirements Citizens of the United States may be required to be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry to Brazil in reciprocity to the same rule applied by the US government to Brazilian citizens. This may add an additional three to four hours to the time it takes to clear Customs/Immigration. You can contact your local Brazilian embassy for an update. Passport Information Most volunteers traveling from outside Brazil will require a passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel. Visa Information Volunteers from some countries, including the US and Japan, will also need a tourist visa for entry into Brazil. US volunteers are advised to use a visa agency such as Passport Visa Express to obtain a tourist visa. It is very important to obtain a tourist visa and declare the purpose of your visit as specifically vacation, holiday or travel. Citizens of other countries should check with a travel agent, Brazilian embassy or visa agency for specific visa and entry requirements. If you do need a visa, the chart on the next page should be useful. Note: Online registration is now mandatory for all visitors traveling to the United States without a visa. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is used to screen short-term visitors who are citizens of the 27 countries eligible for the US Visa Waiver Program (see below). Visitors are required to provide details including their passport number, country of residence and any involvement in criminal or terrorist activities to the ESTA at least three days before traveling to the US. Once approved, the authorization will be valid for up to two years if the individual’s passport does not expire in the meantime. Applications can be submitted through the ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov). Note that if you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, Latin America, South America, the Bahamas, or the Caribbean and have a stopover in the US, you will be required to register through the ESTA program. Travelers are advised to check visa regulations well in advance of traveling. Citizens of countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) traveling to the US for tourism or business for 90 days or less do not need to obtain a visa provided they have a valid passport. Passports for VWP countries issued on or after October 26, 2006 must include biometric information (so-called e-passports include a chip with the relevant information); otherwise, the holder is required to obtain a visa. VWP citizens with passports issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006 do not require a visa as long as they have machine-readable passports with a digital photograph of the holder. Citizens with valid but older machine-readable passports (issued prior to October 26, 2005) that do not have a digital photograph are still allowed into the US without a visa.

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Currently, the following countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Citizens of other countries should check with a travel or visa agency for specific visa and entry requirements. Entry requirements are subject to change, so please check for updates in advance of your travel. If you do need a visa, the chart below should be helpful. Essential Information for Volunteers Requiring Visas Type of Visa Where to Get a Visa

Requirements

Contact Information

Time it Takes

You must get a TOURIST VISA. For a smooth and quick visa application process, it is highly recommended that volunteers apply through a visa agency such as Passport Visa Express. You can also obtain a tourist visa by contacting a Brazilian embassy or consulate, however, this is NOT recommended for US citizens. If you choose to obtain a tourist visa by directly contacting the embassy, please be sure to leave plenty of time (at least eight weeks). If you have less than eight weeks or wish to save yourself trouble, using a visa agency can both expedite and simplify the process. Note: If you decide to get your visa through the Brazilian embassy rather than through Passport Visa Express, you WILL NOT be issued a refund from Earthwatch if your visa application is denied and you are within the 90-day cancellation policy. Please apply early! To obtain a tourist visa you will need:  Passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure from Brazil  One passport-sized photograph (two inches square)  Photocopy of your roundtrip ticket to and from Brazil  Duly filled-out and signed visa application form  US$100 processing fee if you are a US passport holder (this is in reciprocity to a similar fee levied on Brazilians applying for entry visas to the US)  Applicable handling fee  Other information and fees may apply, depending on your travel details Note: US passport holders who obtain visas from the Brazilian Embassy MUST pay for their visas with US Postal Money Orders, payable to the “Brazilian Embassy.” This is regardless of whether the visa is requested in person, through Visa Services or by mail. The visa application will ask for your contact information while you are in Brazil. You should fill in the following information:  Bristol Exceler Plaza Hotel Rua Afonso Pena 444 79005-001 Campo Grande, MS Tel: +55 67 3312 2800 Fax: +55 67 3321 5666 Email: [email protected] When all requirements are met, a visa is typically issued in three working days from the date the application is accepted by the consulate.

Reminder: The purpose of your visit is for vacation, holiday or travel. Foreign immigration officials do not always understand the concept of a “working vacation” or even “volunteering.” Words such as “working”/”volunteering,” “research” or a “scientific expedition” can raise questions concerning the country’s foreign labor laws and/or prompt questions about official scientific research permits and credentials, etc., to which volunteers on their own will not be equipped to respond. All required research permits for the project are in place and have been approved by the proper authorities.

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Visa Agencies In the United States

In Europe

In Australia

PassportVisaExpress.com 1911 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 104 Arlington, VA 22209 Tel: +1 888 596-6028, +1 703 351-0992 Fax: +1 703 351-0995 Email: [email protected] Web: www.passportvisasexpress.com

CIBT, Inc.-UK 25 Wilton Road Lower Ground Floor Victoria SW1V 1LW T: 0844 736 0211 Fax: +44 (0) 207 828 5411 Calling from Europe outside UK: +44 (0)207 802 1000 Email: [email protected] Web: www.uk.cibt.com (has alternate address for urgent requests)

Ask your travel agency if they can send your visa application on your behalf.

Volunteers Under 18 Years of Age Entry to Foreign Countries In an effort to prevent international child abduction many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. It may be possible for 16- and 17-year-olds to participate on standard Earthwatch teams if accompanied by a parent or guardian. In this case, if the minor will be traveling with only one guardian or if for any reason they will be traveling alone (such as for a Teen Team),, it may be necessary to have a notarized letter from all legal guardians stipulating that they may travel unaccompanied or in the presence of a single guardian. This letter must give an explanation for why only one parent or someone other than a parent is signing the letter. For example, if one parent is deceased, only one parent has legal guardianship, or someone other than the parents are legal guardians, the letter should state that. In addition, airlines may also have documentation requirements for unaccompanied minors. Parents of minors are responsible for checking with each airline that their child will be flying to ensure that sufficient documentation is provided. This could include a copy of a birth certificate or a notarized letter stating that the minor has his or her parent’s permission to travel alone or with only one parent. Note: Requirements by specific countries and airlines vary and change frequently. You MUST keep informed of the requirements on your own to avoid problems at immigration. If a letter is not available, the volunteer under 18 can be refused entry into the country. There is nothing Earthwatch Institute can do to help in this circumstance. Travel Medical Insurance Travel medical and evacuation insurance is mandatory for Earthwatch volunteers while on an Earthwatch expedition anywhere in the world. The cost of this insurance is included in your volunteer contribution. It covers volunteer travel medical risk, including medical expenses and medical evacuation, while traveling with Earthwatch overseas or on an expedition within your home country. Without insurance, the costs of such measures can range from US$20,000 to $50,000. The emergency medical and evacuation assistance provider for Earthwatch is On Call International. On Call is a 24-hour international operation which provides medical assistance and evacuation, a 24-hour nurse help line and other travel assistance services such as lost baggage and lost document assistance. Basic coverage is valid in the country of your Earthwatch expedition and during international travel to and from your expedition. If the expedition takes place in your home country, coverage begins when your group forms for the expedition and ends when the group disbands, and is incremental to your existing health insurance. Options are available for volunteers who would like to extend the period of coverage, increase insurance amounts or purchase additional cancellation or baggage insurance. Application forms for additional coverage are included in your volunteer packet.

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A detailed description of the Volunteer Medical and Evacuation Insurance Program policy, including the optional coverage increases, will be sent with this briefing. Please note that policies are specific to each Earthwatch office. To contact On Call International in the event of an emergency, dial:  

1-866-509-7715 from within the US +1-603-898-9159 from outside the US

State that you are on an Earthwatch expedition. The Earthwatch policy number is #US008020. Cancellation Insurance Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended for Earthwatch volunteers. Depending on the level of coverage you purchase, cancellation insurance will help cover your airfare and Earthwatch contribution if you need to cancel your expedition due to medical or other covered reasons. Earthwatch Institute does not reimburse airfare or costs associated with cancelled flights or expeditions. Levels of reimbursement for cancelled airline tickets or ticket change fees will vary depending on what type of trip cancellation policy you purchase. You are strongly advised to buy flexible or refundable plane tickets. Note that volunteers with preexisting medical conditions are encouraged to explore their coverage options. For US and Canadian Volunteers Earthwatch is offering comprehensive optional travel insurance through CSA Travel Protection as a service to our US and Canadian volunteers. While our inclusive insurance covers your emergency medical needs while in the field, this optional policy covers trip cancellation insurance due to medical emergencies, lost luggage, travel delays, etc. For more information on the insurance policy, call Earthwatch at 1‐800‐776‐0188 or visit www.csatravelprotection.com. Please note that some coverage is dependent on purchasing insurance within 24 hours of paying in full for your expedition. Should you decide to take out our optional insurance, please use the following producer code to indicate your affiliation with Earthwatch: 83534816. For Volunteers Signing Up through Earthwatch Europe Earthwatch Europe volunteers can purchase travel insurance from Earthwatch that is underwritten by Endsleigh and includes Additional Cancellation Cover. Additional Cancellation Cover insurance includes cover for nonrefundable travel expenses should your expedition be cancelled. Alternatively, if Earthwatch Europe volunteers hold their own travel insurance they may be able to purchase Additional Cancellation Cover through their existing insurer. Travel Agencies Earthwatch is pleased to announce a new partnership with Fly for Good (www.flyforgood.com), and we strongly suggest you book your airfare for your expedition through them whenever possible; they are our recommended provider. Who is Fly for Good? Fly for Good negotiates airfare discounts, known as “humanitarian rates,” for non-profit volunteers. As part of this new partnership, Earthwatch volunteers will be able to take advantage of Fly for Good’s negotiated airfare contracts, which allow for discounts of up to 50% on international flights. You can also book domestic flights at normal published fares.

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Are there any special requirements I must fulfill in order to take advantage of Fly for Good’s airfare? Any volunteer traveling on a Fly for Good airfare must be able to prove affiliation with a non-profit organization conducting volunteer work overseas. Volunteers must be able to produce written proof of affiliation if asked at the airport. Your Earthwatch Expedition Briefing and your copy of your confirmation email from Earthwatch are all that is needed as written proof of your Earthwatch volunteer affiliation. How do I get started? Before you can access Fly for Good’s discounted rates you must set up a profile. Go to “Sign in” and enter your information. When asked to enter an Approval code, enter: EW360 List Earthwatch Institute as your affiliated non-profit. At this point your account will be approved and you will be sent an e-mail confirmation. You now have access to Fly for Good’s humanitarian fares. What is the Login for? The sign-in is required to satisfy the airline carriers that are offering excellent deals through Fly For Good. This step protects you, Fly for Good, and the airlines from fraud. It's completely secure, and Fly for Good does not share your information with anyone. How can I contact Fly for Good? If you are not finding the best rates, have complicated itineraries, or need to talk through your purchase with someone you can call Fly for Good toll free in the US at: 877 FLY 4 GOOD (877 359 4466). Mention Earthwatch Institute and EW360 when asked for an approval code. E-mail inquiries can be sent to [email protected] Earthwatch volunteers will have 24-7 access to Fly for Good staff in the event that flight issues cannot be resolved with your airline by calling 800.440.4242 (US) or 402.548.6277 (International). Please Note     

Humanitarian discounts are on International Airfare only. Humanitarian discounts are on select routes (see below for the most popular ones). On routes that do not have a discounted fare, Fly for Good offers the lowest published fare. The humanitarian discounted airfare is only for Earthwatch volunteers or Earthwatch staff traveling for an Expedition. The humanitarian discounted airfare is marked with a “HUM” below the price on the booking engine—in the absence of a humanitarian discounted fair, it will say “Adult”. 16

To learn more about humanitarian discounts visit www.flyforgood.com Some of Fly For Good’s more popular discounted airlines and routes: Air France to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia/Pacific region. British Airways from the US to Africa, the Gulf and Middle East, India, the Far East & Australia. Delta to Central America, South American, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Ethiopian Airlines to Africa and India. Northwest/KLM to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and India. United/Lufthansa from the US to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The Fly For Good partnership with Earthwatch also offers volunteers superior cancellation policies on humanitarian discount airfares. Though these policies vary according to both routes and airlines, as a general rule the benefits include: 1. Being able to make changes to tickets with reduced fees, often 50-75% less than regular ticket-changing fees. 2. Securing refundable fares with reduced penalties, often 50-75% less than regular tickets. 3. Free stopovers to cities while traveling internationally. 4. Being able to bring an additional piece of luggage beyond the normal 2 piece limit. (Please confirm with airline.) A list of other suggested travel agents can be found in the Helpful Resources section. Be sure to give your rendezvous details to your travel agent as soon as possible so they can plan your trip accordingly. Other Advice/Information 

Language: Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. It may be helpful to have a Brazilian Portuguese dictionary or phrasebook with you.



Electricity: The research sites are equipped with 110-volt electrical outlets for 60 hertz, two-prong, flat blade plugs.



Time zone: GMT-2



Telephone dialing codes: When calling Brazil from another country, dial +55 (Brazil’s country code) followed by the city or state code (for example 67 is the code for Mato Grosso do Sul state) and then the phone number. When calling from Brazil to either cities in the country or to other countries, it is necessary to choose a telephone service number. The number 21 for Embratel is recommended. For example, if you are in São Paulo and want to call Campo Grande, dial “0 21 67” plus the six-digit number. If you are in Campo Grande and want to call São Paulo, dial “0 21 11” plus the six-digit number.



Local currency: The currency in Brazil is the real (pronounced hay-ow). Reais (pronounced hay-eyes) is plural. See the International SOS website (above) and www.xe.com/ucc for currency information and exchange rates.



Personal funds: You may want some pocket money for soda, beer, souvenirs, etc. It is also a nice gesture to bring some change so you can tip the staff at the lodge if you like. If you cannot obtain reais from your local bank before you travel, money can be exchanged in the São Paulo airport, however, note that banks and exchange kiosks in São Paulo have unpredictable hours and may be closed when you are connecting through the airport, and exchange rates at the airport are not the best. There are also cash machines (ATMs) in both of the São Paulo airports. ATMs are handy for getting Brazilian reais straight from your own bank account, but the fees are very high. At the Campo Grande airport there are no international ATMs, exchange kiosks or banks. To get money in Campo Grande, you must go to the HSBC bank, which is three blocks from the Bristol Hotel. Note that ATMs are only open until 8:00 pm. The only bank in Campo Grande that will cash traveler’s checks is the Bank of Brazil, which usually has a very long waiting line. Exchange kiosks in Campo Grande are only open on weekdays. The most dependable option is to not rely on traveler’s checks, but rather bring plenty of cash in Brazilian reais. Note that both lodges do NOT accept credit cards, and they do NOT have an ATM or other cash source. 17



Checking luggage: Please note that if you are checking your luggage for an international flight with one or more connections, it will be necessary to collect your bags at the airport and have them rechecked after proceeding through Customs. Even if you are told that your bags are checked all the way through to Campo Grande, you must collect them in the São Paulo international airport (or other point of entry into Brazil) and proceed through Customs.



Airport Fees and/or Departure Taxes: Approximately US$40. It can be paid in Brazilian or US currency, but NOT by credit card.

10. PROJECT CONDITIONS Please show this section to your physician when he/she is completing your health statement. Be sure to discuss inoculation requirements with your physician well in advance of your departure date. See the Health Information section for inoculation information. To the examining physician: Your patient has volunteered to join a field research team that has specific physical demands of which you and your patient should be aware. We need your accurate evaluation of your patient’s ability to meet the conditions detailed below in order to safeguard his/her health and safety and ensure that he/she can participate fully and effectively. General Conditions of the Research Area The landscape of the research area is a mosaic of lakes, rivers and waterways interspersed with grasslands and thick, spiny forests. The terrain is flat, with no steep hills or mountains. However, riverbanks may be steep and in the rainy season large areas will be flooded or muddy. Volunteers will work between 100 and 200 meters above sea level. There are two seasons in the Pantanal: The rainy season (summer) is October to April, and the dry season (winter) is May to September. Annual rainfall can be up to 1,200 millimeters/67 inches. For weather forecasts for the area, see http://tempo.cptec.inpe.br/cptec/supertempo.jsp?cidade=4404. Conditions during the Rainy Season (October to April) Humidity Temperature Range Monthly Rainfall

80% to 100% 24°C/75°F to 40°C/104°F 130 mm

Due to intense rain the Pantanal gets flooded from October to April and it is very hot and humid. February to April is when the rains peak and the flooding in the Pantanal is at its highest level. In that period the Pantanal is humid and warm and it becomes a huge lagoon with rivers, bogs and small lagoons all intermingled, as the rivers are not able to cope with the rainwater and they overflow their banks. Mammals seek refuge on higher grounds formed by tall trees, which are locally known as cordilheiras. This is the nesting time for many species of birds. Conditions during the Dry Season (May to September) Humidity Temperature Range Monthly Rainfall

40% to 70% 10°C/50°F to 35°C/95°F 29 mm

From May to September it rarely rains and the heat is less extreme. The floodplain drains into the Paraguay River, which is part of the second longest river system in South America and the life-vein of the Pantanal. Slowly the wetlands turn into dry grasslands, and occasional cold fronts occur for two days to a week at a time. Temperatures during these fronts may be close to freezing. Volunteers on dry season teams must be sure to bring cold weather clothing, including a winter hat. By the end of the dry season only a few spots of water are left and there are famous congregations of wildlife along the banks. Dry fields make for good grazing areas, bringing wildlife out into the open. Beginning in August most of the trees are blooming. Migratory species are in residence and nesting. 18

Water Conditions (applicable for otter research) Typical water temperature during project Typical water visibility Typical maximum water depth (bottom depth) in area Types of water environment Anticipated sea state during project Timing of boat based work

20°C/ 68°F 1m/3.28ft 1m/3.28ft

n/a

to to to river, stream to Day

25ºC/77°F 3m/9.84ft 4m/13.12ft

n/a

Physical Demands Volunteers should be in good physical condition. There will be lighter physical activity days and heavier days, but you should be prepared to participate in each assignment. Assignments that require hiking with a backpack in swamp areas, forested areas or in open grassland areas, or cutting trails through the forest will be more strenuous. Most volunteers have the hardest time coping with the heat, humidity and insects. Because the projects are flexible, you will be given the opportunity to do lab work or similar projects if you feel dehydrated or overheated. If this is the case, please speak up right away and let the staff know your needs. Below are the expected demands of the expedition, but please keep in mind that conditions may change and specific projects could potentially be more or less strenuous than the chart indicates. Activity Sitting Bending Hiking Carrying Transport

Workload/Intensity 1-2 hours per day, plus evening lab work; up to 4 hours in a boat for otter project 1-3 hours per day for the amphibians and reptiles project 2-5 mi/3-8 km for the birds project and the amphibians and reptiles project 10-20 lbs/4.5-9 kg in a backpack or equipment kit (only occasionally) In four-wheel-drive vehicles, open canoes, aluminum boats, outboards and occasionally horseback

Potential Hazards Below are some potential hazards associated with working and living in the Pantanal and in Brazil in general. A safety briefing will be given onsite before beginning fieldwork in order to help you minimize risks. Be aware that while in the field, you will be a significant distance from full medical attention. Hazard Type Transport

Hiking/ Terrain

Working on a boat Insects

Associated Risks and Precautions Transport from Campo Grande to Aquidauana and vice-versa is done by experienced drivers in vans with seatbelts and air conditioning. Cars used at the research site have no seatbelts. Some discomfort can result from constant riding on bumpy dirt roads. Volunteers will not be permitted to drive. There are potential risks such as tripping over exposed tree roots; however walking carefully should reduce risk of injury as the Pantanal is very flat. Additionally, volunteers may use machetes to blaze trails. You will be trained in their use before employing this method in the field. Teen team volunteers will NOT be asked to handle machetes. Boat-related risks include falling overboard and becoming injured. All volunteers are required to wear life jackets while working in boats or canoes, which are unstable and may tip over. The forest contains tiny ticks, prevalent in the dry season, which may cause itchy welts. The ticks are not known to transmit disease. You should bring a supply of strong insect repellent. There will be a First Aid kit, which will include antihistamine drugs for severe itchiness and bee stings. If you have a severe allergy to wasp or bee stings, you should bring plenty of your own medication (e.g. two Epi-pens). There are Africanized bees present at the site, but they are no more aggressive than other bees or wasps away from the hive. If you avoid disturbing them they will not sting. Biting insects are worse in the wet season and very rare in the dry season.

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Snakes

Aquatic animals Plants Climate/ Weather

Personal security Disease

There are poisonous snakes in the area, although the chances of getting bitten are extremely remote. If this does occur, the victim will be transported to the nearest hospital (Aquidauana) by air taxi. There is no serum for snake bites stored at either research site; according to Brazilian Legislation, only medical centers and hospitals can keep and handle serum. The serum is horse-based so if you are allergic to horses, please note this on your health form and advise the Principal Investigators. Piranhas and stingrays are found in the region and high risk areas will be avoided. Caimans are abundant but only react if provoked. There are plants with spines and that can cause allergic reactions. These will be pointed out to the volunteers and should be avoided. The climate is usually very hot and humid. Volunteers should ALWAYS have a sun hat and sunscreen on especially during overcast days. You are also advised to keep well hydrated; drink plenty of water throughout the day. (It is recommended that you consume 2 or more bottles per day; Always keep a water bottle with you while in the field.) While traveling within Brazil, especially while in urban areas like São Paulo and Campo Grande, you should practice common sense and keep your valuables hidden and secure. Diseases in Brazil may include, but are not limited to, hepatitis, malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, traveler’s diarrhea and yellow fever. Please see the Health Information section for recommended inoculations, and make sure to consult with your physician and/or travel clinic. Note: Traveler’s diarrhea affects 2050% of all international travelers. Always wash your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer before eating, and drink filtered or bottled water. You should also carry an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication in your personal First Aid kit. Speak to your doctor about other options for treating traveler’s diarrhea and see the ISOS or CDC websites for advice on avoiding this condition.

Medical Conditions of Special Concern Listed below are some conditions that could make participation in some or all of the Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal projects difficult or uncomfortable. Please speak with your physician about whether or not participation is advisable. Condition Sensitivity to heat, sun or humidity Limited mobility Insect phobias Allergies

Concerns and Precautions The Pantanal is very hot and humid and you will spend at least six hours in the field on most days. If you have a sensitivity to heat and humidity, you should carefully consider participation. For the amphibians and reptiles project, limited mobility, such as back or joint problems, could restrict participation in field activities. Those with limited mobility should still be able to participate in the otters, birds, and bats projects. Anyone with an insect phobia should carefully consider participation as most of the work is done in the field and insects are everywhere. If you are allergic to insects, bring along antihistamines. If you are severely allergic to anything (e.g. food, bees), you should bring two Epi-pens. Anyone allergic to horses should not go horseback riding during recreational time.

11. HEALTH INFORMATION See www.internationalsos.com for information on the current health conditions in Brazil. At the homepage, enter Earthwatch’s member identification number: 14ACPA000075. Under “Select Resource” choose “English Country Guide,” and then select Brazil from the list. 20

Project Inoculations The following are recommendations only. Medical decisions are the responsibility of each volunteer. Note that health conditions around the world are constantly changing, so keep informed and consult your physician, a local travel health clinic, the US Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), the World Health Organization (www.who.int), International SOS (see above), and/or the resources in the Helpful Resources section for the latest health information for travelers. Please consult your physician for guidance on inoculations if you intend to travel to other parts of the country. Typhoid Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Yellow Fever Rabies

Recommended for health reasons Recommended for all travelers to Brazil; required only if you are traveling from a region or country where it is endemic * Recommended for volunteers intending to handle bats on the bats project **

* Yellow fever vaccination is advisable for all visitors to Brazil, particularly if you will be traveling in any of the following Brazilian states: Mato Grosso do Sul (where Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal takes place), Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Federal District of Brasilia, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you have traveled within the last 90 days to any of the following countries: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela. Free shots are available at Guarulhos Airport but need to be received 10 days before the expedition starts. ** Manipulation and handling of bats is not required for volunteers on teams involved with the bat project. However, for volunteers who wish to handle the bats, vaccination against rabies is recommended, even though your hands and wrists will always be protected by thick leather gloves. The probability of finding rabies at the study site is very low, and cases of frugivorous bats with rabies are very uncommon. There have not been any cases of rabies reported among cows, dogs or horses in the study region. Cows on the site have been vaccinated for rabies. Other Advice / Information 

Malaria: Malaria is NOT present at the research site; however, it is present in other areas of Brazil and South America, so please discuss your complete travel plans with your doctor to determine whether it is advisable for you to take malarial prophylaxis.



Dengue fever: Dengue fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. Dengue fever is a flu-like virus spread primarily by day-biting mosquitoes. It is characterized by fever, headache, rash, vomiting and severe muscle pains. There is no vaccine and mosquito bites should be avoided whenever possible. Insect repellent and long sleeves and pants are highly recommended. There is no treatment for standard dengue fever other than acetaminophen (avoid aspirin), fluids and rest. It is usually resolved after about two weeks. However, hemorrhagic dengue fever, characterized by bleeding and shock, can occasionally occur and requires medical care.



Tuberculosis: The WHO estimates that one-third of the world’s population is infected with the bacterium (M.tuberculosis) that causes tuberculosis (TB). Incidence of tuberculosis is higher in developing countries, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. In general, approximately 10% of persons infected with M. tuberculosis are at risk for developing active TB during their lifetimes. TB is considered highly treatable with medications that are of relatively low toxicity and cost. Volunteers returning from developing countries are encouraged to have a (PPD)-tuberculin skin-test to screen for potential infection.

Routine Immunizations All volunteers should make sure to have the following up-to-date immunizations: DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella (if you have not already had chicken pox). Please be sure your tetanus shot is current. 21

12. PACKING CONSIDERATIONS PLEASE SEE THE PACKING CHECKLIST AT THE BACK OF THIS BRIEFING AND REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR BRIEFING WITH YOU ON YOUR EXPEDITION. General Considerations Do not bring more luggage than you can carry and handle on your own. There is a 40-pound luggage limit per person on the small charter flight to the lodge. This weight limit is in accordance with the legal carrying capacity for small charter planes (for passengers’ safety) and will be strictly adhered to. Please use soft, flexible luggage such as a duffel bag. Do not bring hard shelled luggage as it is bulky and inflexible, and difficult to pack into the limited luggage hold of the plane. If you choose to bring this type of bag, the pilot may ask you to leave the bag at the Aquidauana airport and transport your belongings in a plastic bag. Please weigh your luggage at home before you leave (a simple method is to weigh yourself without your luggage, and then again with your luggage). When it comes time for the pilot to load the plane at the Aquidauana airport, he/she will make sure that the plane is within its appropriate weight range. If it does go over, the pilot will have to individually weigh each of your bags, and the volunteer(s) responsible for exceeding the limit will incur a fine. If another plane must be booked to carry excess luggage, you will be responsible for the cost of that plane, which may be up to US$600. Please do your part to avoid this extra time and effort. A tip is to leave any heavy winter clothing or extra clothes/items that you will not be using in the field at the Bristol Hotel. They will give you a luggage tag and keep it safe for you until you return to Campo Grande. In addition to any luggage you choose check on your international flight(s), you are also encouraged to pack a carry-on bag with an extra set of field clothing and personal essentials in the event that your luggage is lost and/or takes several days to catch up with you. Weather Considerations Please take weather conditions into consideration when packing for your expedition. Climate information for your team can be found in the Project Conditions section. Cultural Considerations In general, Brazilians are very warm, friendly and helpful people. Staff members are familiar with visitors from around the world. They like to be photographed and if you feel like leaving behind any field gear or clothing when your expedition is over, they would be happy to receive them. You are also welcome to bring small gifts from your country to show your appreciation. Essential Items Make sure to bring your Earthwatch Expedition Briefing with you. It includes essential information to which you may need to refer during your expedition, as well as during your journey to and from the rendezvous site. Other important items are a hat, sunscreen, water bottle, hiking boots or tennis shoes, long socks, light colored long-sleeved shirts, light colored pants, a flashlight, insect repellent and a head net for the rainy season, and duct tape for the dry season. Be sure to bring clothing and equipment that are camouflaged (natural colors or earthtone) to avoid attracting insects and to prevent alarming the wildlife. Please see the Expedition Packing Checklist for a complete list of what you will need to take with you. You are encouraged to go through the list and mark off each required item right before you leave for your expedition.

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13. RECOMMENDED READING Please read the individual project descriptions in this Expedition Briefing. This document was prepared by the Principal Investigator(s) and Earthwatch and explains the research conducted through this project as well as some results to date. Below are additional recommended materials for those interested in further preparing for the expedition. Many can be purchased online through popular vendors. See the Helpful Resources section for suggested vendor websites. General   

Forsyth, A. and Miyata, K. 1984. Tropical nature. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Grisham, J. 2000. The Testament. Dell Island Books, New York. Por, F.D. 1995. The Pantanal of Mato Grosso (Brazil), world’s largest wetlands. H.J. Dumont and M.J.A. Werger (series editors). Monographiae Biologicae, Volume 74. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Field Guides  

De la Peña, M.R. and Rimboll, M. Birds of southern South America and Antarctica. Harper Collins Publishers, London (highly recommended for bird watchers). Emmons, L. 1990. Neotropical rainforest mammals, a field guide. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Amphibians and Reptiles   

 

Duellman, W.E. (ed.). 1979. The South American Herpetofauna: Its Origin, Evolution, and Dispersal. Monograph of the Museum of Natural History No. 7. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Duellman, W.E. and Trueb, L. 1986. Biology of Amphibians. McGraw-Hill, New York. Heyer, R., Donnelly, M.A., McDiarmiad, R.W., Hayek, L.A.C. and Foster, M.S. (eds). 1994. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity – Standard Methods for Amphibians and Reptiles. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Strüssmann, C. and Sazima, I. 1993. The Snake Assemblage of the Pantanal at Poconé, Western Brazil Faunal Composition and Ecological Summary. Stud. Neotr. Fauna and Environm. 28(3): 157-168. Strüssmann, C., Ameida, D.P., Uetanabaro, M. and Ferreira, V.L. 2000. Amphibian and Reptile Survey of Selected Localities in the Southern Pantanal Floodplains and Surrounding Cerrado, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil: In Willink, et al. A Biological Assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul. RAP Bulletin of Biological Asessement 18. Conservation International, Washington, DC.

Websites  

Reptile Database: http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/~uetz/LivingReptiles.html Amphibian Species of the World: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html

Bats    

Emmons, L.H. 1990. Neotropical rainforest mammals: a field guide. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Fenner, M.1985. Seed ecology. Chapman and Hall, New York. Kunz, T.H. and Racey, P. 1998. Bat biology and conservation. Smithsonian Institutional Press. Nowak, R.M. 1994. Walker´s bats of the world. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.

Birds       

Dubs, B. 1992. Birds of Southwestern Brazil. Küsnacht, Schellenberg Druck AG. 164p. Dunning, J.S. 1987. South American birds. Harrowood Books, Newton Square. 351p. Junipeer, T. and Parr, M. 1998. Parrots. Pica Press, Hong Kong. 584p. Pettingill, Jr., O.S. 1985. Ornithology in laboratory and field. 5th ed. Academic Press, London. 403p. Ridgely, R.S., Tudor, G. 1989. The birds of South America. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Vol. 1. 1994. The birds of South America. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Vol. 2. Sick, H. 1997. Ornitologia Brasileira. Rio de Janeiro, Ed. Nova Fronteira. 861p. 23

 

Stotz, D.F., Fitzpatrick, J.W., Parker III, T. and Moskovits, D.K. 1996. Neotropical birds. Ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. 478p. Wege, D.C. and Long, A.J. 1995. Key areas for threatened birds in the neotropics. Burlington Press Ltd., Birdlife International, Cambridge. 311p.

Otters   

Davis, J.A. 1979. Samaki: The story of an otter in Africa. Dutton. 215p. Kruuk, H. 1995. Wild otters: Predation and populations. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 304p. Kruuk, H. 2006. Otters: Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation. Oxford University Press, 2006

Websites    

Otternet: http://www.otternet.com An Otter Family Album: http://otters.net Giant Otter Reseach: http://www.giantotterresearch.com IUCN Otter Specialist Group: http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org

14. EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELD In the event of a medical emergency, First Aid will be employed if appropriate. In cases where medical attention is required, a pilot will be contacted to transport the patient to the nearest appropriate medical facility as soon as possible. A member of the field staff will accompany the patient to help him/her through admission to the hospital and treatment. If a volunteer had to leave the expedition early due to a personal emergency, they would need to arrange and pay to leave by either four-wheel-drive vehicle (around US$200) or by plane (around US$600), depending on the level of urgency. Project staff can help with flight changes and new reservations in order to leave Brazil, and can also help with hotel reservations if needed in emergency situations. Note that volunteers may leave early ONLY in cases of emergency. Nearest Hospitals Aquidauana Hospital Regional de Aquidauana 110 km/68 mi from the lodge, half-hour to reach by plane and 4-5 hours by car Tel: 67-3241-3636

Campo Grande Hospital Adventista do Penfico 130 km/81 mi from Aquidauana, one hour to reach by plane Tel: 55-67-3041-2028 Fax: 55-67-3041-2146

15. COMMUNICATIONS PLEASE NOTE:  You should check with your cell phone provider to obtain any carrier‐specific dialing codes you  may need while on your expedition or en route there or home; many providers have dialing procedures that may  differ in whole or in part from directions listed in this Briefing.  Emergency Communications in the Field Volunteers will not work alone in the field, and researchers will be able to communicate with each other and with the main lodge via radio. The project sites have telephones for reaching external parties.

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The emergency contact number at Earthwatch headquarters in the US is +1 978 461-0081. After business hours, leave your message with the live answering service. State that you have an emergency communication and leave a clear message with the name of the expedition, your name, location from which you are calling, and if possible, a phone number where you can be reached. An Earthwatch staff person will be contacted and will respond to your call within one hour. Personal Communications Please note: Family and friends of Earthwatch volunteers should be aware that personal communication with outsiders is not always possible while participating in an expedition. Earthwatch encourages volunteers to minimize outgoing calls; likewise, family and friends should restrict calls to urgent messages only. Measures have been taken to ensure that appropriate communication tools are available in cases of emergency. There is no daily postal service to the site. Email/Internet access is available, and is inexpensive and quite fast but not very reliable. A laptop is not necessary if you only need access to email. If you would like to bring your own laptop for writing reports, uploading digital pictures, etc., there are electrical outlets of 110 volts in all the rooms – but keep in mind that it will count toward your total luggage weight (40 pounds). The telephone at the lodge can receive incoming calls, but only in cases of emergency. To make international calls you must have a calling card. The cost of making an international call from the lodge is extremely high and can cost up to US$7 per minute. Mobile phones will not function in the Pantanal. In order to dial from Brazil to another country you will need to use the IDD International Prefix (which differs according to long-distance carrier, as listed in the table below). In addition you will need to dial the country code for the country you are calling (this is 1 for the US, 44 for the UK, etc.). For example, if you have an emergency while in Brazil and need to contact the Earthwatch office you would dial (from anywhere in Brazil) 0021-1-978461-0081. To make collect calls from Brazil to anywhere in the world, dial 0800-703-2121. This is a toll-free number and can be dialed from any telephone within Brazil – even phone booths. The telephone operators can speak English.

Brazil’s Country Code +55

International Prefix (IDD) 0014 (Brasil Telecom) 0015 (Telefonica) 0021 (Embratel) 0023 (Intelig) 0031 (Telemar)

National Prefix (NDD) 014 (Brasil Telecom) 015 (Telefonica) 021 (Embratel) 023 (Intelig) 031 (Telemar) 0 (mobile phones)

Note: The NDD is necessary if you are dialing from Brazil to another location within Brazil. The country code is used if you are calling Brazil from another country. Embratel is the carrier that can be used throughout Brazil. Telefonica runs only in São Paulo and Telecom in a few states, including Mato Grosso do Sul. Specific contact details for reaching the team in the field are provided in the printed version of this briefing sent to volunteers. Note that the lodges have rural cell phones that are sometimes difficult to reach. Let your family know that the best hours to contact you are at 6:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. (noon) and 7:00 p.m. local time when Principal Investigators are around as the lodge staff do not generally speak English.

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16. HELPFUL RESOURCES Project-related Websites     

Fazenda Campo Lourdes: http://www.campolourdes.com.br Pousada Araraúna: http://www.ararauna.com.br Pantanal Book: http://www.pantanal.org/book.htm Pantanal information: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/6292/information.html Blog about Brazil: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/brasilia.html#pantanal

Passport and Visa Information       

Embassies around the world: http://www.embassyworld.com For Japanese citizens: http://www.rainbowt.jp/travel/visa_top.html For Australian citizens: https://www.passports.gov.au and http://www.dfat.gov.au/visas/index.html Passport Visa Express (for US citizens): www.passportvisasexpress.com UK-based visa service www.uk.cibt.com Thames Consular Services Ltd: http://www.visapassport.com Travel Document Systems: http://www.traveldocs.com/index.htm

Travel Guidebooks and Booksellers    

Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com Rough Guide: http://travel.roughguides.com Amazon: http://www.amazon.com Barnes and Noble: http://www.bn.com

Travel Agencies and Advice 

Fly For Good: www.flyforgood.com 511 East Travelers Trail Burnsville, MN 55337 USA Tel: +1 877.359.4466 (877.FLY.4.GOOD)

Earthwatch has an official partnership with Fly For Good and strongly recommends volunteers use their services to book airfare for Expeditions and take advantage of Fly For Good’s humanitarian discount rates on several international airlines and routes; see the Before You Leave section for more information. 

Travelocity: www.travelocity.com 3150 Sabre Dr. Southlake, TX 76092 E-mail: [email protected]

Earthwatch is a partner with Travelocity in their Travel For Good/Change Ambassadors Grant Program, which allows would-be volunteers to apply for funding that can be used to cover the costs of an Earthwatch expedition and its associated travel costs. Visit www.travelocity/travelforgood.com for more details.  



Hotels in Brazil: www.hotelsbrazil.com Brazilian Tourism Office (contact Maria Helena Moreira Dunne): www.braziltourism.org Tel: +1 800-727 2945 (1 800-7BRAZIL) Email: [email protected] STA Travel: http://www.statravel.com 65 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel: +1 617 576-4623 Fax: +1 617 576-2740 Email: [email protected] 26







  

STA Travel (UK): http://www.statravel.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1865 792800 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 792911 Email: [email protected] Quote code: EWE01/02 Wexas International (Europe): http://www.wexas.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 7581 8761 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7581 7679 Email: [email protected] Quote code: EWE01/02 Democracy Travel (contact Jean S. West, Assistant Manager) 4818 MacArthur Blvd NW Washington DC 20007 Tel: 202 965 7200 or 866-557-9968 (toll free US and Canada) Fax: 202 342 0471 Email: [email protected] World Travel Guide: http://www.worldtravelguide.com UK Foreign Office travel advice: http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel Third World Traveler: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Travel/Travel_Links.html

Airline/Airport Resources  

Flight comparison tools: http://www.bookingbuddy.com and http://www.1800-fly.com Airport codes worldwide: http://www.logisticsworld.com/airports.asp

Country Information  Country information from around the world: http://www.countryreports.org  Travel Document Systems: http://www.traveldocs.com/index.htm  National Geographic Map Machine: http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine  US State Department: http://www.state.gov  Time worldwide with GMT/UTC: http://www.worldtimeserver.com  Currency converter: http://www.xe.com  Electrical current converter: http://kropla.com/electric2.htm  Telephone dialing codes: http://kropla.com/dialcode.htm  Online unit conversions: http://www.onlineconversion.com  Worldwide weather: http://www.wunderground.com or http://www.tutiempo.net/en  ATM locator: http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp or http://www.mastercard.com/atmlocator/index.jsp Health Information        

Travel health website: http://www.mdtravelhealth.com Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov Tel: +1 800 311-3435 or +1 888 232-3228 World Health Organization: http://www.who.int The Travel Doctor: http://www.tmvc.com.au Disease outbreaks: http://www.who.int/csr/don/en Hospital for Tropical Diseases: http://www.thehtd.org Travellers Healthline Advisory Service Tel: 020 7950 7799 MASTA Travelers’ Healthline (UK) Tel: 0906 8 224100 (within UK)

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AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE SOUTHERN PANTANAL PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

POSITIONS AND AFFILIATIONS:

1) Jeffrey Himmelstein 2) Ellen Wang 3) Dr. Mara Cintia Kiefer 1) Adjunct Professor of Biology, William Paterson University 2) PhD Candidate, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul 3) Visiting Professor, State University of Rio de Janeiro

THE PROJECT The Middle Rio Negro region of the Brazilian Pantanal, where this research project takes place, is a relatively pristine area with high conservation status. Deforestation has been minimal, access via roads is difficult and the main commercial activity is low-impact cattle ranching using native pastures. This area is home to many of the Pantanal’s herpetofaunal (amphibian and reptile) species. However, a comprehensive database on Pantanal amphibians and reptiles is lacking, especially for those in the southern Pantanal. Existing Pantanal herpetofaunal lists are confusing and inconsistent with respect to the numbers of extant species. In 1998 Conservation International’s AquaRap expedition in the Rio Negro basin produced a list of 41 species of amphibians and 24 species of reptiles (Willink et al. 2002). However, this three-week expedition occurred in the dry season (Pantanal’s winter), so it is likely that a number of seasonally inactive species were missed. The first phase of the project was designed to determine the species of herpetofauna that occur in the Middle Rio Negro in order to better understand what is necessary for their conservation in the Pantanal. Through establishment of a herpetofauna database, it is possible to determine the ecology of various species, such as the caiman, red foot tortoise, false water cobra, yellow anaconda and anuran (frog and toad) species in general. The survey was conducted at Fazenda Rio Negro from 2004 to 2007. Since early 2007, the project started collecting data at Fazenda Campo Lourdes, neighbor to Pousada Araraúna. The goal of this new phase is to evaluate how the cattle activity impacts the herpetofauna biodiversity in this cattle ranching farm in the southern Pantanal. Areas have been classified as high or low impacted by cattle based on a system that considered period and intensity of use by the cattle in a determined area. Objectives This project aims to investigate the following specific research questions:     

Which species of amphibians and reptiles occur within the cattle ranching farm? How do the cattle impact the herpetofauna biodiversity? What are the bio-indicator species of the cattle impact? How do the cattle impact the herpetofauna biodiversity? What conservation strategies should be recommended for the Pantanal’s herpetofauna?

In addition to these research-based objectives, the project also aims to improve the knowledge base of teachers, students, and volunteers concerning amphibians and reptiles, to increase their degree of comfort in handling nondangerous species, and to increase appreciation of herpetofaunal species in general. Specimens will be temporarily held in aquariums and terrariums to allow team members to photograph and become more familiar with the species. 28

Methods Note: While one of the goals of the project is to acquire data on snakes, volunteers will not be permitted to collect these animals. Four venomous species are known to occur in the Pantanal area but mostly along its borders: two species of pit viper, one type of rattlesnake and the coral snake. Only one of these species (a pit viper) has been found in the research area. There is also a rear-fanged species whose bite can lead to allergic reactions in more sensitive individuals. Note that the likelihood of volunteers coming in contact with these species is extremely low. There have been sightings of only two venomous snakes since the inception of the Earthwatch program in this area. All snakes will be handled by project staff. Volunteers will be permitted to study non-venomous species and will also have ample opportunities to observe and photograph all captured individuals. Nevertheless, as part of the health and safety session of the project’s orientation period, extra emphasis will be placed on the avoidance of dangerous snakes. Described below are the methods used by the project to collect data on amphibians and reptiles. Pitfall Traps Pitfall traps are placed in cordilheira habitats with different levels of cattle impact and will be surveyed on a daily basis for five consecutive days. The traps consist of deep 100-liter plastic buckets secured within holes dug in the substrate. The buckets are positioned every 10 meters along a Y-shaped model drift fencing. Three sets of traps will be set in each habitat, and each set of traps contains eight buckets, divided in two subgroups of four and placed at a distance of 50 meters. All individuals collected will be referenced using a Global Positioning System (GPS), identified to species and sex, measured, marked, and then released. New species as well as individuals meriting special attention will be removed and examined back at the laboratory. Especially significant individuals will be photographed, preserved and vouchered for. Data from all individuals, such as feeding, reproduction, and behavior, will be recorded on standardized data sheets. Each animal will also be examined for ectoparasites, which will be removed and preserved if found. Time Constrained Searches These searches will be carried out during both day and night. They consist of two or more people moving slowly in search of snakes in all visually accessible microhabitats as well as under fallen tree trunks, inside termite mounds, mammal burrows, etc. Each snake found will be captured and poisonous species will be handled with snake tongs and plastic tubes. The following will be recorded for each individual snake: species, snout-vent length and tail length, weight, sex, GPS location, habitat, microhabitat (ground, vegetation, fallen tree trunk, etc.), weather conditions, behavior, presence/absence of eggs or embryos and presence/absence of food in the stomach. Most individuals found will be marked by ventral scale clipping (Spellerberg 1977) or by implanting pittags. They will then be photographed and released at the site of capture. Nocturnal Observation, Recording and Sampling of Aquatic Habitats Volunteers will be stationed at selected habitats to glean information on the reproductive behavior of anurans. Vocalization by individual animals will be tape-recorded (Peterson and Dorcas 1994) and those involved in courtship and/or breeding will be videotaped. Volunteers will use long-handled dip-nets to collect specimens and all data will be recorded using standardized procedure. Road-Cruising Road-cruising will be done primarily at night on the sand roads that course throughout the research area. During the wet season this will increase sampling opportunities for anurans, which will be identified to species, GPS referenced, sexed, measured, marked, examined for ectoparasites and then photographed and released. During the dry season, road-cruising should increase the chance of finding snakes. Animals captured will be appropriately recorded onsite and then transported to the lab so that marking by caudal clipping can be done under sterile conditions. Shortly after the clipping and once animals have been photographed, they will be returned to the GPS referenced capture site and released.

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Visual Encounter Surveys Visual encounter surveys, which represent one of the best techniques to rapidly determine the presence or absence of amphibian and reptile species, will be conducted in all habitats. It is expected that this technique will be most productive in finding toad-headed turtles and red foot tortoises. Captured red foots will be returned to the laboratory and kept until defecation occurs and examination of their feces is possible. They will be marked on the shell with a wood-burner before being returned to their point of capture and released. This technique will also be used to observe caimans in selected habitats. As caiman surveys require observers to remain in place for a considerable amount of time, the task will be rotated between volunteers. Observers will be positioned at such a distance to observe caimans through binoculars, ensuring that the animals are not disturbed by human activity. In this manner data can be acquired on a continual basis and caimans will be visually censused day and night. Raking Forest litter is often the preferred habitat for many species of smaller anurans as well as for lizards, amphisbaenas and the juveniles of several snake species. Volunteers will use long-handled potato rakes to remove leaf litter and to overturn downed sections of trees. In this manner, sections of the forest floor in all forested habitats, including capões and cordilheiras, will be examined for resident amphibians and reptiles. Microhabitat Parameters The physicochemical parameters of salinas, baías and rivers are being studied by wetlands researcher Don Eaton. Data acquired by his wetlands project will be used to evaluate the microhabitat requirements for the occurrence or absence of species of amphibians and reptiles. In each habitat, this project will also investigate the microhabitat characteristics of both vegetation and soil. The methodology consists of measuring microhabitat characteristics in a five-square-meter plot within each sampling unit of fixed points. A 50-square-centimeter wood frame and rope grid will be used to delineate 100 squares at each plot. Team members will then count the number of grid squares containing various vegetation cover types and will measure plant and litter cover on the ground, fallen trunks and branches, canopy cover and height, leaf, branch, and trunk obstructions, litter humidity (obtained from the dry weight of the litter fall), slope (in degrees) and soil depth.

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS In the project’s initial stages, greater emphasis will be placed on determining the resident herpetofauna of the region, so most tasks will be related to sampling and recording of species. As the herpetofauna database increases, some of the project’s emphasis will move towards studying the ecology and behavior of certain species, and research tasks will shift in response. Volunteers will be assigned on a rotating basis to work with each of the Principal Investigators and/or with a member of the staff as well as with visiting scientists. Every attempt will be made to assure that volunteers have opportunities to participate in as many different assignments as is possible. Volunteers will provide assistance with some or all of the following tasks:             

Taking morphometric measurements for all captured individuals Recording anuran vocalizations Extracting animals from traps, handling them properly and marking them Posting all data after fieldwork has been completed Setting up and surveying pitfall traps daily Conducting time constrained searches Conducting visual encounter surveys Raking forest litter Collecting, measuring and testing water samples from all aquatic habitats Collecting and measuring daily precipitation Observing, measuring and recording weather variables Assisting in nocturnal road-cruising Checking scats for evidence of diet 30

   

Collecting specimens with long-handled dip nets Preparing labels for vouchered specimens Carrying materials for collecting and sampling into the field Carrying out vegetation sampling activities

The actual work schedule varies by expedition and can be affected by weather. In general, most activities are conducted during daylight hours, usually with an early morning field session followed by a lunch break, and then an afternoon session. During the rainy season many of the sampling sessions will take place at night, since this is when most species of amphibians choose to breed. Volunteers collecting data late at night will be able to sleep late the following morning.

PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigators Jeffrey Alan Himmelstein is an Adjunct Professor of Biology at William Paterson University in New Jersey. He is currently working on his PhD dissertation in Science Education at Rutgers University, New Jersey. He brings a good blend of field biology and classroom teaching experience to the project. Himmelstein has studied the herpetofauna of the Yucatan Peninsula and has also served as Chair of the Special Education Advisory Board of the National Science Teachers Association and as President of the Science Association for Persons with Disabilities. In 1999, he was appointed by the White House to the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, also known as the Glenn Commission in recognition of the committee chairman, John Glenn. Himmelstein has served as a visiting scientist on ten Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal projects in the past three years. Ellen Wang is a PhD candidate at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) in Brazil. She has a Master’s degree in Zoology from São Paulo State University and brings a considerable amount of field biology experience to the project. She has worked in the Pantanal since 1992. Her work on the feeding habits of the ocelot has recently been published in Herpetological Review. She possesses a wide ranging knowledge on the vertebrates of the Pantanal, which she shares with much enthusiasm. Dr. Mara Cintia Kiefer is a Visiting Professor in the Laboratory of Vertebrate Ecology at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). She recently conducted post-doctoral research at UERJ, having earned her Ph.D. and Master’s degrees studying lizard ecology at the State University of Campinas. Dr. Kiefer specializes in the ecology of coastal species and brings great expertise to the project. She speaks fluent English. Field Team Leader Grasiela Porfírio is a Professor at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS). She has worked with Earthwatch volunteers since 2004 in Emas National Park as well as the Pantanal. Visiting Scientists Dr. Vanda Lúcia Ferreira is a Professor at UEMS. She holds a Ph.D. in Herpetology and has been working in the Pantanal since 1998. Dr. Christine Strussmann is a Professor at UEMS. She holds a Ph.D. in Zoology and has a good deal of experience studying the Pantanal’s herpetofauna. David Cross is a Biologist with the National Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Program Leader with the USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC.

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RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES The potential for public awareness of the Pantanal has recently substantially increased through the use of popular media. This increased coverage has come about in the form of CNN, BBC and Animal Planet newscasts. Magazines such as Smithsonian, Audubon, National Geographic and Outside have also featured the Pantanal and/or some of its more dramatic species, such as hyacinth macaws and the giant river otter. Comparisons are now being made between the Pantanal and the Serengeti of Africa as optimum locales for observing wildlife. The richness of vertebrate biodiversity within the southern Pantanal holds an inherent attraction for those intrepid adventurers willing to make the journey required to see these fascinating animals. But while the knowledge base of the more dominant and photogenic species (e.g. jaguar, capybara, macaws and howler monkeys) is fairly substantive, the same cannot be said for amphibians and reptiles. Given that just a few years ago, AquaRap discovered two new species in one three-week sampling session, the quest to find additional unknown species is not at all unreasonable. A true understanding of the intricacies of the energy flow in this ecosystem requires knowledge of all the species that interact within its food web. This requires an up-to-date and accurate herpetofaunal list. In addition, many amphibians require very specific environmental conditions in order to breed, with water chemistry and quality being perhaps the most crucial. In view of the possibility of continued development due to increased ecotourism in the area, time may be running out to identify all the extant species within the Pantanal. Additionally, the environmental needs for many of the known species, particularly breeding anurans, remain elusive. Whatever data this project acquires about both known and unknown amphibian and reptile species is therefore significant to maintaining the uniqueness of the Pantanal’s native animals and the interactions they maintain. Two individuals of Pseudis paradoxa with severe limb malformation were collected in high cattle impacted areas. This species is highly dependable on the water and the malformation is likely to be caused by trematode parasites. Frogs with severe abnormalities have been documented for more than 60 species in North America and several other countries (Blaustein and Johnson 2003). In North America, the trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae has been identified as the probable cause of limb malformation in Pacific tree frogs (Hyla regilla) and many others (Johnson et al. 2001). The parasite reproduces asexually inside aquatic snail hosts generating infectious cercariae (larvae). These burrow into the developing limb buds of amphibians and form resting cysts, the metacercariae, which cause improper limb formation and are suspected to increase the odds of predation by water birds. Once inside a bird, the parasite reproduces sexually and releases eggs back into the water, where they hatch and infect aquatic snails (Blaustein and Johnson 2001). Water eutrophication as a result of input of nutrients due to cattle scats can lead to an increase in periphyton and consequently shift the snail community from small to larger species, increasing their survivorship and prolonging the periods of parasite larvae release. Although eutrophication is a slow process, it can be accelerated when large pulses of nutrients are input in a wetland, as occurs during the annual floods. The flood pulses in the Pantanal occur in the rainy season, when the larvae of Pseudis paradoxa are developing into adults making them susceptible to parasitism. Although the percentage of infected animals was very low (1.3%), this led researchers to investigate the possibility that frog malformation is ultimately caused by cattle activity. In South America, there has been no account on malformation in Pseudis paradoxa. In Argentina, tadpoles of this species were infected by 10 species of parasites but these had not caused abnormalities. The project’s next step will be to collect snails, larvae and adult Pseudis paradoxa and in collaboration with Don Eaton, analyze the water parameters. The project is also supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is working with landowners in the Pantanal seeking more profitable and less impacting cattle ranching practices.

LITERATURE CITED Campbell, J.A. and Lamar, W.W. 1989. The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. Corn, S.C. 1994. Straight Line Drift Fences and Pitfall Traps. In: Heyer et al. (eds.) Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity - Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Pp: 109117. 32

Dodd, C.K. and Scott, D.E. 1994. Drift Fences Encircling Breeding Sites. In: Heyer et al. (eds.) Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity - Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Pp: 125-130. Donnelly, M.A., Guyer, C., Juterbock, J. E. and Alford, R. A. 1994. Techniques for Marking Amphibians, Appendix 2. In: Heyer et al. (eds.) Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity - Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Pp: 277-284. Gascon, C. 1994. Sampling With Artificial Pools. In: Heyer et al. (eds.) Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity - Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Peterson, C.R. and Dorcas M.E. 1994. Automated Data Acquisition Recording Frog Calls. In: Heyer et al. (eds) Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Spellerberg, I.F. 1977. Marking live snakes for identification of individuals in population studies. J. Appl. Ecol. 14:137-138. Willnik, P.W., Chernoff, B.C., Alonso, L.E., Montambault, J.R. and Lourival, R. (eds). 2000. A Biological Assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 18, Conservation International, Washington, DC.

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BAT ASSEMBLAGE IN THE RIO NEGRO PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

AFFILIATION:

1) Dr. Erich Fischer 2) Dr. Andréa Araujo 3) Dr. Gustavo Graciolli Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

THE PROJECT Bats comprise the richest group of mammals in several tropical environments. They are important components within communities, acting as pollen and seed vectors and as predators of invertebrates and small vertebrates. Because many bat species play key ecological roles in tropical forest communities, knowledge about species richness and abundance is fundamental to the design of conservation plans. Factors affecting bat species distribution and abundance have been studied in Central and South America, but there are a few data for the Pantanal. Studies focusing on other animals or plants indicate that the Pantanal has fewer endemic species than the surrounding Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco physiognomies. In the Pantanal, the seasonal climate and flooding cycles favor the occurrence of pioneer species, opportunists and generalists with wide geographical distributions. Sixty-three bat species are listed for the entire Pantanal and this project’s surveys in the southern Pantanal have recorded 48 species since 1999. Bats travel long distances and in the process transport seeds and pollen, as well as pathogens and parasites, throughout forest corridors (e.g. humid riparian forests) and between natural forest fragments (e.g. cordilheiras, large, dry patches of savanna forest, and capões, small forest islands scattered on the savanna). This project was designed to document the community structure of bats and associated ectoparasites, and the seed dispersal and pollination by bats in different habitats of the Pantanal region.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS Objectives With the help of Earthwatch volunteers, in 2009 this project aims to:      

Document the species of bats that occur in the Aquidauana region of the Pantanal Describe bat community structure and species dominance in forest habitats that differ with respect to area and degree of isolation Document the seasonal variation of bat abundance and the phenology (seasonal patterns of growth and reproduction) of the most common species Investigate the feeding habits and ectoparasites of bats and how they vary both seasonally and among species and habitats Describe the phenology of flowering and fruiting plants associated with bats and the role of bat species as pollinators and seed dispersers Compare all variables between regions in the Pantanal with the goal of describing patterns on a wider geographical scale

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Methods Bat Survey To determine the occurrence and abundance of bat species in different habitats and to verify the phenology of bat species, mist nets will be placed in different habitats each night during Earthwatch expeditions. Each study site will be sampled just once, for one night only, selecting representative areas of the different habitats (capões, cordilheiras, and riparian forests following the Rio Negro). Mist nets will be opened at sunset and closed at midnight. The number of nets open per night will be the same at each habitat. Six nets will be set up in the understory. Team members will record the hour and height in the nets at which the bats are caught. Bats will be inspected for pollen grains and ectoparasites on the body; age class, sex and reproductive conditions will be determined, and measurements will be taken of weight, wing area, fur and forearm length (cf. Pedro and Taddei 1997). After this, bat individuals will be marked with numbered rings and released at the same place in which they were caught. Each captured bat will be identified in the field; some individuals of each species will be collected to confirm identification and to be included in zoological collections as voucher material. Captured bats will be maintained in bags for up to 30 minutes in order to give time for individuals to defecate inside. Fecal samples will be individually stored in glycerin or alcohol and will be examined to determine items consumed by the bat species (e.g. parts of prey, plant tissues, seeds). Seeds will generally be identified down to genera or species, and invertebrates tentatively down to order. Bat Pollination and Seed Dispersal Team members will sample fruiting and flowering plants used by the bats in the same habitats where the bat species are surveyed. To find out what flowers and fruits are being consumed by the bats, transects will be run in the three habitats during daylight hours, focusing on flowers or fruits whose traits could allow their exploitation by, respectively, nectarivorous and frugivorous bats (e.g. Marinho-Filho 1991, Sazima et al. 1999). In addition, seeds collected from fecal samples and pollen grains collected on the bats’ bodies will be identified through comparison with pollen collected from flowering plants found in the transects. To record flower and fruit abundance, flowering and fruiting plant density will be determined and the number of open flowers and ripe fruits per plant will be estimated (cf. Fischer and Santos 2001). For each plant species, mist nets will be opened in front of the plants on two nights to record the visiting bat species and the frequency of their visits to focal plant individuals. Occurrence and frequency of visits and the behavior of bats during visits will be used to describe the status of bat species as pollen or seed vectors. For endozoochorous seeds (those that have passed through the gut of the animal) collected in the feces, germination tests will also be conducted. Associated Ectoparasites To determine richness and diversity of ectoparasites and the prevalence and intensity of parasitism among bat species, parasite species will be samples and their abundance for each bat individual determined. The project will also test whether variation in richness and abundance are partially explained by variation in size, fur length and/or wing area among bats.

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS Note: Bat handling is not required but is allowed. While team members will always wear gloves when handling bats, vaccination against rabies is still recommended if you intend to handle them. It should be noted that the probability of finding rabies in the study area is very low. Rabid frugivores are uncommon, as there are no cases of rabies among cows, dogs or horses in the area. Teams will be split into day-work and night-work groups, switching in the middle of the expedition in order to give volunteers the opportunity to try each activity. The day before volunteers switch groups will be used as a chance to rest before beginning a new routine. Instead of conducting fieldwork, volunteers will receive a reorientation on research activities and laboratory tasks.

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When working in the day group, volunteers will walk along trails to sample flowering and fruiting plants, count or estimate numbers of flowers or fruits in plants used as food sources for bats, use a Global Positioning System (GPS) to map plants, measure height, trunk and canopy diameter of the plants, and collect flowers and fruits for herbarium vouchers and for morphological study in the laboratory. When participating in night group activities, volunteers will have the morning and early afternoon free (lunch will be taken at 12:30 pm), beginning fieldwork by setting up mist nets around 3:00 pm. The group will monitor nets for captured bats, stopping around midnight. Additionally, all volunteers will participate in the following lab-based activities:        

Taking measurements that do not require bat handling (e.g. weight, wing area, arm length) Counting, collecting and preparing ectoparasites and pollen for microscopy Sampling pollen grains on bat fur Gathering and storing fecal samples and separating seeds from fecal samples Identifying seeds, fruits and flowers Taking photographs in the studio Preparing botanical and zoological materials for inclusion in institutional collections Entering data to computer

PROJECT STAFF The Principal Investigators are all professors at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) in Brazil and will serve as advisors to the Field Team Leaders (FTLs) during the Earthwatch expeditions. Principal Investigator Dr. Erich Fischer holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). He has research experience in plant-animal interactions, bat biology and plant ecology. Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Andréa Araujo holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Unicamp and has research experience in plant-pollinator interactions and effects of habitat fragmentation. Dr. Gustavo Graciolli holds a Ph.D. in Entomology from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). He has research experience in ecology, biology and taxonomy of ectoparasites. Field Team Leaders All FTLs are graduate students in Ecology and Conservation at UFMS and have a specific research interests. They are responsible for leading volunteers in all data collection tasks. Note that all FTLs are able to communicate in English and Carolina Santos is fluent in the language. Carolina Ferreira Santos and José Milton Longo are Ph.D. candidates studying plant-pollinator interactions, nectar secretion patterns and bat communities. Fernando M. Gonçalves is a Master’s student studying bat-dispersed seed species and bat communities. Roberto L. Munin is a Ph.D. candidate studying bat diets and communities.

RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES The results of this research project will further knowledge of the bat community and bat-associated plant and ectoparasite species in the Nhecolandia and Aquidauana sub-regions, supporting issues in ecology and conservation of the Pantanal. Bats are one of the most diverse animal groups with respect to diet. Information on bat community composition can be used to infer habitat integrity and stage of succession within plant communities. 36

This research will also investigate which plant species use which bat species as vectors (of pollen and/or seeds) and in what proportion they are used among different habitats. These results will support hypotheses concerning, for example, the distribution of plants among habitats in the Pantanal and the regeneration patterns among the Pantanal physiognomies. Research results from this project have been or are expected to be published in the following scientific journal articles:     

Camargo, G. and Fischer, E. 2005. Primeiro registro do morcego Mimon crenulatum (Phyllostomidae) no Pantanal, sudoeste do Brasil. Biota neotropica 5 (1): 1-5. Longo, J.M., Fischer, E., Camargo, G. and Santos, C.F. 2007. Ocorrência de Vampyressa pusilla (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no Pantanal sul. Biota Neotropica 7(3) : 1-4. Gonçalves, F., Munin, R., Costa, P. and Fischer, E. 2007. Feeding habits of Noctilio albiventris (Noctilionidae) bats in the Pantanal, Brazil. Acta Chiropterologica 9: 535-546. Camargo, G., Fischer, E., Gonçalves, F., Fernandes, G., Ferreira, S. 2009. Morcegos do Parque Nacional da Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Chiroptera Neotropical (in press). Teixeira, R.C., Corrêa, C.E. and Fischer, E. 2007. Frugivory by Artibeus jamaicensis (Phyllostomidae) bats in the Pantanal, Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment (in press)

LITERATURE CITED Fischer, E.A. and Santos, F.A.M. 2001. Demography, phenology and sex of Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) trees in the Atlantic forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 17 903-909. Marinho-Filho, J.S. 1991. The coexistence of two frugivorous bat species and the phenology of their food plants in Brazil. Journal of Tropical Ecology 7: 59-67 Pedro, W.A. and TADDEI, V.A. 1997. Taxonomic assemblage of bats from Panga Reserve, southeastern Brazil: abundance patterns and trophic relations in the Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera). Bol. Mus. Biol. Mello Leitão 6: 3-21. Sazima, M., Buzato, S. and Sazima, I. 1999. Bat-pollinated flower assemblages and bat visitors at two Atlantic forest sites in Brazil. Annals of Botany 83: 705-712.

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BIRDS AND DYNAMIC HABITAT MOSAICS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: POSITION/TITLE: AFFILIATION:

Reginaldo José Donatelli, Ph.D. Assistant Professor São Paulo State University, Brazil

THE PROJECT This project was designed to build a comprehensive picture of bird diversity and dynamics in the Pantanal, highlighting variations across different seasons and habitats. The initial hypothesis was that bird community dynamics are associated with climatic change, varying according to the region’s well-defined rainy and dry seasons. The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, comprises a mosaic of different habitats and is home to a rich terrestrial and freshwater biota. It covers an area of 200,000 square kilometers (comparable to an average-sized European country or to the US state of Nebraska). It contains many large rivers, their deltas, and thousands of lakes and lagoons (baías), all interspersed with scrubby savanna and grassland, stretches of riverine forest, fragments of mountain ranges, and scores of isolated rocky monadnocks (Por 1995). In the north and east, the Pantanal borders the Brazilian central plateau (Planalto). In the south, it ends in the hilly area of Bodoquena. In the west, it extends into southern Bolivia. The Pantanal is subject to alternating periods of flooding and drought. Silva (1990) defines four hydrologic seasons for the Cuiabá portion of the Pantanal: flood (October to December), high water (January to March), ebb or temporary flood drainage (April to June), and drought (July to September). However, such seasons vary from one part of the Pantanal to another (Por, 1995). Adamoli (1981) divides the Pantanal into 10 areas corresponding to different seasonal variations: Cáceres, Poconé, Barão de Melgaço, Paraguai, Paiaguás, Nhecolândia, Abobral, Aquidauana, Miranda, and Nabileque. Scientifically speaking, the Pantanal is perhaps one of the least known regions of the globe. Probably nowhere in the world can such diverse bird life be so easily observed in such impressive populations as in the Pantanal, but scientific information is surprisingly scarce (Por 1995). Tubelis and Tomas (2003) offer an excellent review of the literature on wildlife in the Pantanal in the 20th century, evidencing the scarcity of non-descriptive analysis of bird species diversity and dynamics in the region. With the help of Earthwatch volunteers like you, this project is greatly contributing to the understanding of bird species in this unique and expansive wetland.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS Objectives The overall objective of this study is to provide information related to the community structure of birds and to identify environmental threats that directly or indirectly affect these communities. Results from this study will be shared with other researches in the Pantanal, those who research wildlife management, and landowners and other community members, in order to illustrate the importance of the Pantanal in terms of its unique wildlife diversity.

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Long-Term Goals To achieve the overall objective, this project aims over the long term to:    

Document the abundance and distribution of bird species among habitats in the Nhecolândia region, mainly those surrounded by the Correntoso river Determine diversity, degree of endemism, timing of bird migrations and importance and fragility of habitat types Investigate the effects of habitat change on bird communities at Pousada and neighboring fazendas and vazante habitats of the Nhecolandia region Identify threats to particular species (with special emphasis on migratory and endangered species) and habitats and propose effective conservation actions

Short-Term Goals Over the next two research seasons (2007-2009), the project aims to:    

Continue long-term studies of bird communities, habitats and key species at reference sites without cattle (e.g. Pousada Campo Lourdes) Update species lists for these areas Collect community data by habitat type and season in areas where traditional cattle ranching is practiced (e.g. the surrounding ranches in the Correntoso river region) Compare results from areas with different impact levels as a first step toward understanding the effects of cattle on bird communities in the Pantanal

Methods General Study Design During the initial phase of the study, areas will be compared which differ with respect to the intensity of cattle impacts. Areas without cattle will be referred to as Level 0, those with minimal cattle impacts will be Level 1, and areas with traditional cattle ranching will be Level 2. Fazendas with native pastures, minimal deforestation and with controlled, selective burning practices will be classified as traditional. Ranches with a high proportion of deforested land, a predominance of exotic grass pastures and/or uncontrolled, non-selective burning practices will be considered intensive operations. These ranches are expected to be highly impacted. Ranches like Fazenda Rio Negro with private reserves will serve as control or reference sites without cattle impacts. Much data were collected at Fazenda Rio Negro from 2001 to 2004. The project’s efforts are currently being concentrated at Pousada Ararauna and surrounding ranches, and project staff expect these to show low to moderate cattle impacts. The project will consult available data, maps, aerial photographs and satellite images of the region and contact landowners to gather information regarding cattle operations. This information will initially be used to categorize properties within cattle impact categories as described above. Basic data needed from these surveys will be:       

Area of property (in hectares) Area used for grazing (in hectares) Spatial and temporal use of grazing areas Density of cattle Area of exotic grass pastures (in hectares) and history (i.e. year[s] planted, extent of expansion) Area deforested (in hectares) and history (i.e. year[s] particular areas were deforested) History and types of burns (i.e. fire dates; areas burned; prescribed, uncontrolled or natural fires)

Bird species movements and dispersal depend on the structure and size of landscape components. In order to identify and census the species of birds that occur in particular habitats, two current ornithological methods are used: the linear transect method and point counts.

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Linear Transect Method Described by Bibby et al. (1993), the linear transect method is applied in open habitats, including those that are and are not subjected to flooding. These habitats are relatively easy to reach by boat, car or foot and do not present significant obstacles to fieldwork. Open habitats allow researchers to keep moving, so it is possible to cover larger areas per unit of time than with other methods. Using this procedure, the project is able to calculate relative densities of bird species in the habitats censused and make comparisons among habitats, provide widescale monitoring of birds in different habitats, make status assessments of birds in the different habitats, and describe the influence of habitat change on bird communities. The importance of using a particular methodology is the capacity to compare results from all areas or habitats of study after the project has been completed. For results to be comparable, a well-defined protocol must be used. The following protocol is used for the linear transect method: 1) routes are selected according to accessibility and are of a fixed length so that transects can be completed during a single session of fieldwork, 2) a minimum of about 40 registrations (observed birds and/or their vocalizations) are needed for reasonably accurate and precise density estimates, 3) in order to avoid double counting of birds, right and left sides are censused separately and 4) surveys are done from dawn to approximately mid-morning and late afternoon to sunset. This standardized way of applying the method has allowed this project to compare results among open habitats. The method has been used in cerrado, gallery forest, swamp, lake margins (baias and salinas [soda lakes]) and grassland habitats. Point Counts Blondel et al. (1970) were pioneers of using a quantitative method that involves an observer recording birds from a single point for a standardized time period. Point counts became very popular among ornithologists and are currently the most widely used quantitative method. They are used for dense habitats where it is often difficult for an observer to detect the bird while moving. By standing in one place, it is possible to count all birds that are seen or heard near the observation point. This method is very useful in tropical areas where access is difficult and where birds are hard to see but easy to hear (Bibby et al. 1993). However, there are some distinctions between point counts in temperate and tropical environments, because the latter involves a greater diversity of bird species and calls. In temperate areas, the amount of time spent counting birds varies from five to 10 minutes depending on the distance between counting stations (Ralph et al. 1995). This Earthwatch Pantanal project used the recommendations from Viellard and Silva’s (1990) proposals for tropical environments. Thus, points to be counted were selected randomly within each study habitat, points were 200 meters apart with an unlimited observation radius and counts were made over 10-minute periods. The number of point counts was established according to the area of the habitats sampled. Point counts were used for cerradão, capões and cerrado habitats. For these forested habitats, 10 points were visited each morning during the 10-day field periods. Each habitat was visited twice in this period. The total number of point counts conducted during a single year was approximately 400. Using point counts, it is possible to calculate an index for the most abundant and rarest species in determined habitats, calculate relative densities of bird species and make comparisons among habitats, provide wide-scale monitoring and make status assessments of birds in different habitats, and describe the influence of habitat change on bird communities. Banding Techniques Banding will be the main task for Earthwatch volunteers during 2007 expeditions at Pousada Ararauna. Birds will be censused with black nylon mist nets in cerrado, aquatic environments, gallery forests of lowland rivers, seasonally flooded woodlands, swamps and pond margins. All birds (except hummingbirds) will be banded with uniquely numbered aluminum leg bands. Initially, 10 mist nets will be strung in habitats larger than 10 hectares, in 120-meter transects. Afterward, up to 40 mist nets could be used in habitats larger than 100 hectares, depending on the facilities for obtaining mist nets and the number of birds captured. Mist nets will be opened every day before sunrise and closed by midday, and will be reopened in the afternoon (for a total of approximately 10 hours per day). This type of long-term investigation is needed in order to find quantifiable indications of ecological change, either in foraging behavior (food habits analysis) or in population levels. Data will be grouped according to the habitat considered, season of the year (mainly flooded or not), period of the day and guild structure. 40

Predictions All species of birds are restricted in varying degrees to a range of habitats. Thus, habitat alterations caused by activities related to cattle ranching will impact some avian populations and cause a range of community shifts. The predictions of this project are as follows:  

 

Community alterations will be most pronounced in areas where intensive cattle ranching is practiced Species from closed, forested areas, such as cerrado or gallery forest, will be most affected by cattle-related habitat alterations; these species will include those dependent on forest fruits, or in the long-term, species affected by seedling predation and loss of key forest plants Species inhabiting open areas, like native grasslands, may be replaced by generalist species that are favored by deforestation and exotic pasture establishment In natural transitional areas or ecotones, such as open cerrado formations, there will be less change in the composition of species

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS The Earthwatch team will be split into two or three groups to conduct specific research assignments. Each group will be joined by a Principal Investigator and one field assistant. For example, while one group performs the linear transect method in a cerrado habitat, a second group will band birds in a gallery forest and a third will collect data from direct observations in swamps and pond margins. Groups that work in dense vegetation will assist with opening trails and blazing trees. Earthwatch volunteers will assist with the following tasks:         

Open new trails and mark trees Use the linear transect method to obtain habitat information in open areas Record bird vocalization while an assistant identifies the bird (volunteers will learn the methods but not be responsible for the identification of birds) String mist nets in the field, extract birds from mist nets and band them Register all banded birds and retrieve, prepare and identify their feces Take measurements of birds captured at mist nets (wings, legs, bill, tail and weight) Obtain data by direct observation of foraging (e.g. types and locations of food) and reproductive behavior (e.g. courtship, nest-building, breeding) of key species Relate behavior with the time of day, weather conditions, habitat and available food sources Collect fruits, leaves, seeds and other vegetal matter from trees where birds forage and identify with help of a regional identification key

The work starts before sunrise and stops about midday. It restarts in the afternoon and will stop at sunset. The exact timing will depend on the season of the year and Daylight Savings Time. Volunteers will be employed all day with one task and will be in the field for approximately eight to 10 hours. You should be prepared to walk about up to 10 kilometers per day and to stay for a long time on a powerful motor fishing boat. Life vests will be provided while in the boats. Volunteers must be able to swim and should be prepared to encounter snakes, peccaries, bees, caiman, etc. More detailed information will be included in the onsite safety briefing.

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PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator Dr. Reginaldo José Donatelli holds a Ph.D. in Ornithology (1991) and a Master’s degree in Zoology (1987) from the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil. He has been a Professor of Zoology at São Paulo State University (UNESP) since 1991. Dr. Donatelli’s field experience includes a study of migratory birds in the Lagoa do Peixe and bird banding in the Taim’s reserve, both in Rio Grande do Sul. He has conducted bird surveys in the northern Pantanal (Poconé region), has been part of a project developed in the Caratinga’s WWF reserve and Vale do Rio Doce’s reserve, both in Minas Gerais, and has studied Amazonian birds in Belém do Pará. He has also surveyed birds in many tropical forest remnants in São Paulo. Dr. Donatelli is currently writing a field guide on birds from the central-western part of São Paulo. Dr. Donatelli will be in the field with all bird teams except Team IV. Field Assistants Carolina Demétrio Ferreira is a Ph.D. in Ornithology at UNESP. She has been working with birds for a long time and has experience with Earthwatch volunteers in the Pantanal. She joined many different teams since 2000 in the Pantanal of Rio Negro and Ararauna. Her main academic field is systematics but she has field expertise in birding by ear in the Atlantic Forest and in the cerrado region. Ferreira will help volunteers conduct research assignments and will also assist with camp maintenance. Her English is 50%. Frederico Ovinha is a Master’s candidate from UNESP. He’s been working with the PI for a year now and is a bird expert working on improving his English. He’s 24 years old and full of enthusiasm. His field of work is ecology of communities.

RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES Research Highlights from the 2005-2006 Seasons The data obtained over the past season were of fundamental significance for discerning long-term trends and establishing new hypotheses and goals. Results verified: 

Previously observed variability in diversity measures for the bird community, especially for aquatic environments between seasons and during periods of irregular weather such as those seen over the past year



Whether the presence of cattle on nearby properties interferes with bird community dynamics, especially in the case of migratory birds



Between-habitat variability of bird community dynamics as related to weather and food supply *

* The food supply study will be conducted in partnership with wetlands researcher Don Eaton. The dynamics of the bird community appear to be closely linked to the micro- and meso-fauna in these environments as well as weather conditions. Research Highlights from the 2000-2004 Seasons      

From 2000 to 2004, the project registered 37,128 bird contacts (sightings and songs) A total of 404 species were recorded (380 from Fazenda Rio Negro and 24 from neighboring ranches) 291 species were registered during quantitative censuses and 111 of these were recorded approximately 50 times From 2000 to 2003, marked seasonal and annual fluctuations in diversity and abundance were observed for the bird communities of all habitats The greatest variability between seasons and years was observed in the salina habitats Overall diversity was highest in cerrado (open, medium-canopy, savanna forest) and river habitats, and lowest in cerradão (closed, high-canopy, savanna forest) and grassland habitats 42

   

In 2003 alone, a total of 114 birds (from 52 species) were captured in mist nets and banded Also in 2003, three new species were added to the existing list of 401: the chestnut-bellied heron, the greatbilled seed-finch and the black-backed grosbeak A flavescent warbler that had been banded in 2000 was recaptured in 2003 Several distinct call types of a rarely seen or heard species, the speckled crake, were recorded from a baia habitat

In addition to these highlights, in 2003 the aquatic and bird projects initiated joint surveys on neighboring fazendas in areas where cattle densities were concentrated. Core samples of aquatic invertebrates and counts of aquatic birds at salina habitats showed extremely low species diversity but incredibly high numbers. In other words, the one or two species of aquatic invertebrates that inhabited cattle-impacted salinas were extremely productive, and the one or two species of aquatic birds that preferred to feed on the invertebrates became concentrated in huge flocks. Researchers suspect that the impacted lakes are in the early stages of nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) caused by the input of cattle feces. Future Research The results of the past seasons allow for the continuation of this project, with research now beginning at Pousada Campo Lourdes and surrounding ranches and making more intensive use of banding. In the upcoming seasons, the project will observe daily variations in the presence of migratory waterfowl and cross-reference this with data on food supply recorded by Don Eaton for salinas, baias and the river in regions with and without cattle.

LITERATURE CITED Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N. and Hill, D.A. 1992. Birds Census Techniques. San Diego. Academic Press Inc., 257p. Blondel, J., Ferry, C. and Frochot, B. 1970. La méthode des indices ponctuels d’abundance (I.P.A.) ou des relevés d’avifauna par ”stations d’écoute.” Alauda 38:55-71. Cintra, R. and Yamashita, C. 1990. Habitats, abundância e ocorrência das espécies de aves do Pantanal de Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brasil. Pap. Avul. Zool. 37 (1):1-21. Collar, N.J., Gonzaga, L.P., Krabbe, N., Madroño Nieto, A., Naranjo, L.G., Parker III, T.A., Wege, D.C. 1992. Threatened Birds of the Americas. The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. Third ed. Washington and London. 1150p. Del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (eds.) 1999. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 5 Barn-owls to hummingbirds. Barcelona, Lynx Editions and Birdlife International. Dubs, B. 1992. Birds of Southwestern Brazil. Catalogue and guide to the birds of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso and its border areas. Küsnacht, Schellenberg Druck AG. 164p. Ferri, M.G. 1974. Ecologia: Temas e problemas brasileiros. Belo Horizonte, Ed. Itatiaia e São Paulo, Edusp. 188p. Fitzpatrick, J.W. 1985. Form, foraging behavior, and adaptative radiation in the Tyrannidae. Orn. Mon. 36:447-70. Fowler, J. and Cohen, L. 1996. Statistics for ornithologists. London, British Trust for Ornithology. Gonzaga, L.A.P. 1986. Composição da avifauna em uma parcela de mata perturbada na baixada, em Magé, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. 110p. Joly, A.B. 1970. Conheça a vegetação brasileira. São Paulo, Polígono 181p. Keideigh, S.C. 1944. Measurement of bird populations. Ecological monographs 14:67-106. Magurran, A.E. 1988. Ecological diversity and its measurement. New York, Chapman and Hall. 179p. Mitchell, M.H. 1957. Observations on birds of Southeastern Brazil. University of Toronto Press. Motta-Junior, J.C. 1990. Estrutura trófica e composição das avifaunas de três hábitats terrestres na região central do estado de São Paulo. Ararajuba 1: 65-71. Naumburg, E.M.B. 1930. The Birds of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 60:1-432. Por, F.D. 1995. The Pantanal of Mato Grosso (Brazil). World largest wetlands. Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. Prance, G.T. and Schaller, G.P. 1982. Preliminary study of some vegetation types of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Britonia 34 (2):228-251. Ralph, C.J. Sauer, J.R. Droge, S. (eds.) 1995. Monitoring bird populations by point counts. Albany, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service US Department of Agriculture. 187p. 43

Rizzini, C.T. 1963. Nota prévia sobre a divisão fitogeográfica do Brasil. Revta. Brasil. Geog. 25 (1):3-64. Rizzini, C.T. 1979. Tratado de Fitogeografia do Brasil:Aspectos sociológiocos e florísticos. Second vol. São Paulo, Hugitec-Edusp. 374 p. Rizzini, C.T. Coimbra-Filho, A. F. and Houaiss, 1988. Ecosistemas brasileiros. São Paulo, Index. 200p. Sick, H. 1997. Ornitologia Brasileira. Rio de Janeiro, Ed. Nova Fronteira. 861p. Silva, J.M.C. and Oniki, Y. 1988. Lista preliminar da avifauna da estação ecológica Serra das araras, Mato Grosso, Brasil. Bol. Mus. Para. Emílio Goeldi, Zool. 4:123-143. Stotz, D.F., Fitzpatrick, J.W., Parker III, T. and Moskovits, D.K. 1996. Neotropical birds. Ecology and conservation. Chicago and London, The University of Chicago Press. 478p. Sucksdorff, A. 1984. Pantanal, um paraíso perdido. Rio de Janeiro, Ed. Index. 160p. Toledo, M.C.B. 1993. Avifauna de duas reservas fragmentadas de mata Atlântica, na Serra da Mantiqueira, SP. USP, Piracicaba, SP. Tubelis, D.P., and W.M. Tomas. 2003. Bird species of the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Ararajuba, 11: 5-37. Vielliard, J.M.E. and Silva, W.R. 1990. Nova metodologia de levantamento quantitativo e primeiros resultados no interior de São Paulo. Anais do IV ENAV, Federal University of Pernambuco, p. 117-151. Wege, D.C. and Long, A.J. 1995. Key areas for threatened birds in the neotropics. Cambridge, Birdlife International, The Burlington Press Ltd. 311p. Wiens, J.A. 1992. The ecology of bird communities. Foundations and patterns. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 539p. Zarr, J.H. 1996. Biostatistical Analysis. Third ed. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 121p.

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ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF PANTANAL OTTERS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

AFFILIATIONS:

1) Manoel Comes Muanis 2) Miguel Rico Barroeta Ecomarapendi Ecological Association, National Museum, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

THE PROJECT The Pantanal contains the world’s largest freshwater wetland, supports a rich variety of wildlife and has a high diversity of freshwater habitats and species. It has extremely high population densities of several large wild vertebrates, including demographically healthy populations of many endangered species. Its species diversity is unsurpassed throughout the continent, and because of its scenic beauty and the relative ease of observing large animals here, ecotourism in the Pantanal is on the rise. The Rio Negro watershed in the southern portion of the Pantanal, where this project’s study area is located, is one of the most intact sub-regions due mainly to its inaccessibility. Historically, the most obvious threats to the Pantanal have been due to human occupation, which has resulted in deforestation for development of cattle ranching and agricultural activities (Lourival et al. 2000). Additionally, fishing tourism has degraded several waterways and has had a negative effect on the Pantanal fish stocks in some areas. Ecotourism is now increasing in the area, and because it does not disturb cattle ranching (the main economic activity of the region), rural landowners are regarding it as a profitable alternative activity. As a result, many of the region’s farms are being run partly as hotels (Lourival et al. 2000). Although tourism has arisen as a possible ally to conservation, the great increase in this activity can have serious effects on the bird, reptile and mammal species in the Pantanal, as well as on their environment (Willink et al. 2000). In part, this project aims to determine how tourism is affecting the Pantanal’s aquatic habitats and wildlife, using the Neotropical river otter and the giant otter as focal species. These two otter species are sympatric in the Pantanal, meaning they are closely-related species that occupy the same geographic areas without interbreeding. The otters are aquatic predators and use the water for feeding; however they have a strong connection with the margins of the water bodies where they live. The resting and grooming activities, territorial demarcation, as well as birth and rearing of cubs are undertaken on the banks of rivers, lakes, etc. (Chanin 1985). Previous studies showed that the activities otters develop in a water body are mainly related to fish availability and the presence of safe natal dens (Melquist and Hornocker 1983, Chanin 1985, Foster-Turley et al. 1990, Schenck 1999). The negative impacts caused to these aquatic habitats through misuse of the land, unplanned ecotourism activities, etc. strongly affect the health of otter populations. Currently, the Neotropical river otter is broadly distributed along the Brazilian territory (Rodrigues 2003) and was therefore excluded from the latest version of the Brazilian Threatened Species List. However, this species remains little studied and almost nothing is known about its ecology and biology. For this reason, IUCN (The World Conservation Union) has not classified the species according to its conservation status, and the species is considered “Data Deficient” in the Red List of Endangered Species. The giant otter is included in the Brazilian List of Threatened Animals (IBAMA 2003) and the IUCN has listed the giant otter as “Endangered” in the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2008). In the Brazilian Pantanal, the giant otter almost disappeared during the 1970s and 1980s (Schweizer 1995), largely due to both legal and illegal hunting. Nowadays the species is apparently recovering its original distribution range, resulting in negative interactions with the human population in some areas. 45

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS Objectives The overall objectives of this project are to furnish basic knowledge about the history and biology of Neotropical and giant otters, and to further the understanding of the effects of both natural and human caused fluctuations in the Pantanal aquatic habitats. It is the first project in the world to study the biology and ecology of these otters in an area where they occur in sympatry. Earthwatch volunteers are critical to this research, which will enable the regulation of human use of the Pantanal’s aquatic habitats (including for ecotourism) and the development of management strategies for otter populations and aquatic habitats. Specifically, this project aims to:        

Identify the characteristics of dens, resting sites and latrines used by the otters Study habitat requirement for use of dens, resting sites and latrines for the otters Study the feeding habits of the two otter species Identify overlapping resource use for the Neotropical river otter and giant otter Study home range, habitat use, density and group size of the giant otter Study the abundance of the Neotropical otter in the area Evaluate the effects of water level fluctuations in the ecology of the otters Evaluate differences in the patterns of habitat use in the different aquatic habitats along the Rio Negro watershed

Methods The project is undertaken around Pousada Ararauna, located in the Rio Negro watershed of Mato Grosso do Sul state. The Rio Negro watershed includes different types of aquatic habitats: oxbow lakes, creeks, rivers, freshwater lakes, alkaline lakes, marshes and vazantes, or wide flats which are inundated only during the wet season and form shallow connections between lakes/rivers and wetlands in the flood plain (Eaton 2002). Pousada Ararauna includes a narrower river (Rio Corrnetoso, an arm of the Rio Negro), small streams, marshes, and vazantes. Habitat Use In order to analyze otter habitat use in different parts of the rivers and marshes, the banks of the river at the study site has been divided into 500-meter transects using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and an odometer. In total, 79 transect lines (20 kilometers of river) have been marked at Pousada Ararauna. During each Earthwatch expedition, each transect will be checked to look for signs of otter activity. The GPS positions of giant and Neotropical otter signs and the description of the type of sign (e.g. tracks, scratches, resting site, den, etc.) will be recorded. The study site at Pousada Ararauna also includes areas of marsh present along the Rio Correntoso. To determine whether otters are using water bodies such as vazantes, streams, freshwater and alkaline lakes, team members will check the banks for signs of otter activity as well as direct observations of otters, and will interview local workers. In order to study the effects of the habitat structure on otter habitat use, measurements of environmental variables will be collected at the sites used by the Neotropical and the giant otters. Variables are measured within sample plots of 25 square meters located on the banks, near dens, tracks, scratching, spraints (otter feces) or otter sightings. Measured environmental variables include location of the site, river width, river depth, distance from the site to the water line, inclination of the bank, number of fallen logs, diameter of the fallen logs, presence/absence of streams, stream width, stream depth, presence/absence of oxbow lakes, density of trees (more than 10 centimeters in diameter) inside the plot, density of shrubs, obstruction by the vegetation, perimeter of the trees, percentage of canopy coverage, presence of sand bar, presence of gravatá, presence of tucum palm, and the number of exposed roots.

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The habitat use data collected by this project will show how the two otter species use the different aquatic habitats in the area and how they share the environment. The data will also be compared with water levels in order to evaluate the effects of water level on the otters’ habitat use. The effect of habitat structure on otter habitat use is analyzed using statistical analysis. These data can suggest which habitat characteristics are most important to the otters. They can also help researchers understand the overlapping of habitat requirements for the two otter species and can offer a better understanding of this sympatry. Otter Diet Diet studies will examine how frequently the two otter species eat different items. During the monitoring, the spraints (feces) found are collected and preserved in plastic bags and labeled in the field. In the laboratory the spraint samples are washed in water on a sieve of fine mesh (Benetton et al. 1990, Pardini 1998, Colares and Waldemarin 2000). The fragments remaining in the sieve (scales, bones, hair, feathers, shells, etc.) are dried and separated among taxonomic groups (fish, crustaceans, mammals, birds, etc.). Later these fragments are identified by specialists. According to Erlinge (1968), Rowe-Rowe (1977) and Cars and Parkinson (1996), the frequency of occurrence of items in the otter spraints can supply useful information about the consumed prey, particularly with relationship to the degree of importance of the prey items. The spraint analysis data are compared with data on the potential aquatic prey obtained from studies of the aquatic communities in the area. Data on the feeding of the two species are also obtained from direct observations of individuals (Kruuk 1995). The results of the diet study offer a better understanding of the food requirements of these otters. Data collected on the two species are compared to evaluate how prey items overlap, how prey selection compares in different habitats, and how it compares across seasons. Neotropical River Otter Abundance In order to study the abundance of Neotropical otters, fixed transect lines were established along the river, adapted from the transect line method used to study terrestrial carnivores (Cullen and Rudran 2003). Three transect lines are undertaken at the site. During Earthwatch expeditions, each line is traversed twice by canoe. Along the transects, all otter sightings are noted, including geographic position, time of sighting, bank side, number of animals and behavior when the animal is first sighted. The density of Neotropical otters is calculated by dividing the number of animals sighted during an expedition’s transects by the total length of river sampled. These results allow the density of Neotropical otters to be compared across seasons at both study sites, and to compare the density of these otters in different aquatic habitats. Another method used to study the Neotropical otter abundance will be visual census. Observers will be placed at regular intervals along the river for a specific period of time to record the frequency and times of otter appearances, noting specific individuals when possible. Giant Otter Home Range, Habitat Use, Density and Group Size Each giant otter has a unique cream-colored spot pattern on the chin and throat, which allows identification of individuals using captured images (Schenck 1999). In order to obtain this spot pattern, sighted giant otters are filmed during transects. Filming is an effective method as it records the complete sighting of the group, and further analysis of the films can identify the different animals in the group. Following filming, the spot patterns are downloaded to computer to create a data bank containing all identified individuals. This enables identification of the animals during future sightings (Groenendjik et al. 2005). The identification of individuals can reveal the composition of each giant otter group in the study sites. During each sighting (using linear transects, bank checks and stationary observation) data on the geographic position of the sighting, the number of animals in the group, the gender of the animals and their behavior will be collected. With this information it is possible to evaluate the composition of the groups, their home range and movements, reproductive rates, cub survival rates and dispersion of sub-adults (Schenck 1999). 47

The dens, camp sites (resting, playing and demarcating sites), latrines and feeding sites used by each group can also be determined through stationary observation in sites that are being used by the otters. This information offers a better grasp of the ecology and population dynamics of giant otters in the area. It can also aid in the understanding of the effects water level and habitat characteristics have on the ecology of the species.

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS Upon arrival at the research site, volunteers will learn about the project and research tasks. However, most of the actual training will be carried out through practice in the field, with the supervision and help of project staff members. There will also be discussions on numerous subjects concerning the ecology and conservation of the Pantanal otters and freshwater ecosystems. Earthwatch volunteers will participate in a variety of field activities related to the ecology of Pantanal otters. You will assist project staff with behavioral observations and filming of giant otters, searching for dens, resting sites and latrines of Pantanal otters, taking environmental measurements, undertaking linear transects, conducting stationary observation and collecting and washing otter spraints. On the last day of fieldwork, project staff will present the data collected during the expedition, enabling volunteers to see how the collected information will allow for a better understanding of otter ecology and biology.

PROJECT STAFF Teams will be led by Manoel Muanis and/or Miguel Barroeta, with the assistance of Tiago Teixeira . The Principal Investigators are responsible for coordinating all activities, participating in data collection in the field and conducting lab work. They will also be in charge of data analysis and submitting reports and publications to Earthwatch and to popular and scientific journals and magazines, and presenting the research at conferences. The Field Team Leader (FTL) is responsible for the collection of data during the expeditions, mainly during linear transects, coordinating the lab work and undertaking further spraint analysis for the study of otter diets. Principal Investigators Manoel Comes Muanis, born in 1980, holds an M.Sc. in Zoology from the National Museum/ Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He received his B.A. in Biology from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State, UNIRIO in 2004. Muanis is very experienced in the ecology and biology of Neotropical and giant otters, having spent seven years studying Neotropical otters in Rio de Janeiro state and six years studying giant and Neotropical otters in the Pantanal. He conducted his B.A. thesis research on the diets of otters in the Pantanal and a M.Sc. thesis in the effects of habitat structure on Pantanal otters. He is proficient in Portuguese and English and can also communicate in Spanish. Miguel Rico Barroeta, born in 1965, holds an M.Sc. in Ecology from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and a B.A. in Biology from the Complutensian University of Madrid, Spain. He is very experienced in the ecology and conservation of carnivorous mammals and spent 18 years studying mammals (including carnivores) in Spain, five years studying carnivores in Canada and five years studying otters in the Brazilian Pantanal. He is proficient in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Field Team Leader Tiago Souto Matins Teixeira, born in 1983, is a Biologist of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State UNI RIO. He has spent one year studying bats in Rio de Janeiro state and has visited the Pantanal twice. He has just started studying otters and enjoys guiding people on wilderness trails. He is proficient in Portuguese and English. Possible Visiting Scientists Jessica Groenendijk from the Peru Giant Otter Project, Cristine Trinca, from Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Luiz Flamarion Oliveira from the National Museum/UFRJ and/or Paul Polecha Jr., From the University of New Mexico may visit the project during one or more Earthwatch teams.

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RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES The results of this research will furnish basic biological and ecological knowledge about Pantanal otters. The data will be useful for establishing strategies to promote long-term conservation of Neotropical and giant otters, assuring sustainable land use and responsible ecotourism. Specifically, the study of the characteristics of dens, resting sites and latrines used by the otters, as well as the habitat requirements for the use of these sites, make possible a better knowledge of the requirements of these species for their survival. These data can help the conservation of the species and the elaboration of management plans for areas where the species’ habitats have been modified due to human activities. The study also supplies important data for the maintenance of viable populations of the species, giving guidelines for sustainable ecotourism (e.g. prohibiting tourism in areas important to otter reproduction). The study of feeding behaviors offers important data on the biology of the otters in an area where they remain largely unstudied, giving crucial information regarding the basic requirements of the species. The identification of overlapping resources needed and used by the two species supplies basic information on the biology and ecology of the species, mainly regarding the understanding of the sympatry of the animals. Finally, the population parameters studied will allow conservation and management strategies for both the species and the habitats to be refined in this and other areas, in order to regulate sustainable land use and ecotourism. Regular reports on the project’s results are presented to governmental institutions to allow the formulation of effective regulations and management strategies for land use in the Pantanal, mainly its aquatic habitats. The results are also disseminated to the general public in newspapers and magazine articles (for example BBC Wildlife Magazine) and television programs (BBC, Ecoreporter-TVE, Terra da Gente, etc.) in order to inform the population regarding the importance of otter and habitat conservation. Presentations are regularly given to the local farm workers and at local technical workshops and meetings in order to share results and inform the local population. Additionally, the results are regularly presented to the scientific community at conferences (e.g. Latin American Society of Aquatic Mammals, International Otter Colloquium, Congresso Brasileiro de Mastozoologia, Congresso Sul-americano de Mastozoologia, Congress of Society of Conservation Biology, Brazilian Giant Otter research Workshop) and published in scientific journals. Recent Research Results Recent research has revealed the following:  





280 scat samples collected from giant and Neotropical otters showed that both species eat mainly fish (giant otters preying on larger ones), with a very small proportion of crustaceans. Otters have a higher frequency of riverbank use during the dry season (April to September) when most of them reproduce. This is most likely due to the availability of riverbanks, and concentration of otters along rivers, as opposed to more dispersal throughout other aquatic habitats of the Pantanal during seasonal flooding. It is more likely to find giant than Neotropical otters using freshwater lakes and oxbows out of the river. Hundreds of hours of observations revealed that Neotropical otters eat 15% of the time, rest or move out of the water 13-29% of the time and swim 67-87% of the time; giant otters eat 2% of the time, rest or move out of the water 16-20% of the time, and swim 73-100% of the time. A total of 133 records along the river, in stretches of 500 meters of river banks, were compared using 24 environmental variables describing the habitat features, scores of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) as descriptor of environmental gradients, and frequency of river use by humans. Each point was allocated in one of the eight classes of macrohabitats of the study area. Lontra avoided areas with bromeliads and preferred areas with shallow creeks and few fallen roots forming galleries in the margins. Individuals of Pteronura (a total of 40) presented evidences of use of habitats with fine fallen trunks and presence of dense palm trees stands, indicating association with closed forest. Significant interactions between both species were not detected. Probably Lontra avoids interactions with Pteronura by using odoriferous marks. The potential competition among Giant otter and fishermen in the same area is evident only under resources stress. 49

Results from the otter project have been applied to Conservation International’s management plan for their 7,700hectare private reserve, the Fazenda Rio Negro. Policies regarding restricted boat access to oxbow lakes that otters use for dens as well as distances that otters can be approached for tourism were based on project results.

LITERATURE CITED Ayres, J.M. and Best, R.C. 1979. Estratégias para a conservação da fauna amazônica. Acta amazônica. 9(4): 81-101. Benetton, M.L.F.N., Rosas, F.C.W. and Colares, E.P. 1990 Aspectos do hábito alimentar da ariranha (Pteronura brasiliensis) na Amazonia brasileira. IV Reunion de Trabajo de Especialistas em Mamiferos Acuaticos da America del Sur, Valdivia/Chile. Resumos, p. 6. Carss, D.N. and Parkinson, S.G. 1996. Errors associated with otter Lutra lutra faecal analysis. I. Assessing general diet from spraints. J. Zool., Lond. 238: 301-317. Carter, S.K. and Rosas, F.C.W. 1997. Biology and conservation of the giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis. Mammal Review, v. 27, n. 1, p. 1-26. Chanin, P. 1985. The Natural History of Otters. Croom Helm. Austrália. 179pp. Colares, E.P. and Waldemarin, H.F. 2000. Feeding of the neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the coastal region of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin.17(1): 6-13. Cullen, L. and Rudran, R. 2003. Transectos lineares na estimative de densidade de mamíferos eaves de médio e grande porte. In: Cullen, L., Rudran, R. and Valladares-Padua, C.B. (org) 2003. Métodos de estudo em biologia da conservação & manejo da vida silvestre. Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba. 667pp. Duplaix N. 1978. Otters: Proceedings First Working Meeting of the Otter Specialist Group, Paramaribo, Suriname, Internacional Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Morges, Switzerland. Eaton, D.P. 2002. Conservation of Freshwater Invertebrates and fishes in the Pantanal Wetlands. In: Earthwatch Annual Report. 48-60. Erlinge, S. 1968. Food studies on captive otters Lutra lutra L. Oikos. 19: 259-270. Foster-Turley, P., Macdonald, S. and Mason, C.F. 1990. Otters: An action plane for their conservation. IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group. 126pp. Groenendjik, J., Hajek, F., Duplaix, N., Reuther, C., Damme, P., Schenck, C., Staib, E., Wallace, R., Waldemarin, H.F., Notin, R., Marmontel, M., Rosas, F., Mattos, G., Evangelista, E., Utreras, V., Lasso, G., Jacques, H., Matos, K., Roopsind, I., Botello, J.C. 2004. Surveying and Monitoring Distribution and Population Trends of the Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) - Guidelines for a Standardisation of Survey Methods as Recommended by the Giant Otter Section of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group. Habitat, Hakensbuttel, n. 12, p. 1-100. IBAMA. 1989. Espécies da fauna Brasileira ameaçadas de extinção. Natureza Viva. 1(7): 9. IBAMA. 2003. Lista oficial do MMA/IBAMA de espécies brasileiras ameaçadas de Extinção. (Available at www.biodversitas.org). IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (Available at www.iucnredlist.org). Kruuk, H. 1995. Wild otters: Predation and populations. New York. Oxford University Press. 290pp. Lourival, R., Harris, M. and Montambault, J.R. 2000. Introduction to the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. In: Willink, P.W., Chernoff, B., Alonso, L.E., Montambault, J.R. and Lourival, R. 2000. A Biological assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment. 306 pp. Magnanini, A. 1986. Pantanal. Siciliano. 77pp. Mason, C.F. and Macdonald, S.M. 1986. Levels of cadmium, mercury and lead in otter and mink faeces from United Kingdom. The Science of the Total Environment. 53: 139-146. Melquist, W.E. and Hornocker, M.G. 1983. Ecology of river otters in Wet Central Idaho. Wildlife Monografies, 83: 160. Pardini, R. 1998. Feeding ecology of the Neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis in Atlantic Forest Stream, south-eastern Brazil. Journal of Zoology. 245: 385-391. Rizzini, C.T., Coimbra Filho, A.F. and Houaiss, A. 1988. Ecossistemas Brasileiros / Brazilian Ecosystems. Enge-Rio Engenharia e Consultoria / Editora Index, Rio de Janeiro. Rodrigues, L. 2003. Levantamento dos materiais de Lontra longicaudis e Pteronura brasiliensis (Carnivora, Mustelidae) presentes em museus. Relatório Técnico apresentado à UFRJ. 32pp. Rowe-Rowe, D.T. 1977. Food ecology of otters in Natal, South Africa. OIKOS. 28(2-3): 210-219. Schenck, C. 1999. Lobo de Rio: Presencia, uso del hábitat y protección en el Peru. Ludwig-Maximilians University. Munich. M.Sc. Thesis. 176pp. 50

Schweizer J. 1995. Ariranhas no Pantanal, Ecologia e Comportamento da Pteronura brasiliensis. Ed. Brasil Natureza. 200pp. Willink, P., Froehlich, O., Machado’-Allison, A., Menezes, N., Oyakawa, O., Catella, A., Chernoff, B., Lima, F.C.T., Toledo-Piza, M., Ortega, H., Zanata, A.M. and Barriga, R. 2000. Fishes of the Rios Negro, Negrinho, Taboco, Aquidauana, Taquari and Miranda, Pantanal, Brasil: Diversity, Distribution, Critical Habitats and Value. In: Willink, P.W., Chernoff, B., Alonso, L.E., Montambault, J.R. and Lourival, R. 2000. A Biological assessment of the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment. 306 pp.

51

Earthwatch Institute Policies & Participant Rights and Responsibilities (Revised October 10, 2008) This document contains important information concerning Earthwatch Institute (EW) policies and Participant rights and responsibilities for inclusion on an Earthwatch expedition. Please read this document thoroughly and sign and return the release forms that have been provided to you (either online or by mail from your regional Earthwatch office) to indicate that you understand the risks inherent to your expedition and the policies, rights, and responsibilities enumerated in this document. You will not be permitted to partake in an expedition until Earthwatch has received the signed release form. Contents: 1. Consent to Inherent Risks 2. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) 3. Sexuality, Sexual Behaviour, and Drug and Alcohol Policies • Fraternization • Sexual Harassment • Drugs • Alcohol Policy 4. Recreational Time 5. In the Event of an Emergency: “Good Samaritan” Actions 6. Participants and Driving 7. Right of Refusal 8. Removal from an Expedition 9. Responsible Behavior • Cultural and Community Interactions • Sustainable Field Practices

1. Consent to Inherent Risks An Earthwatch expedition can be an enjoyable, enlightening, and potentially life-changing experience, but some of the characteristics that may make an expedition attractive to you may also put you or your property at risk. All true expedition work involves a degree of risk which varies from expedition to expedition. The expedition Briefing describes some of the foreseeable inherent risks involved in the activities that you are choosing to participate in. You must review and consider these risks carefully before signing and returning the Liability Release and accepting a Participant position. By signing the Liability Release, you are accepting the potential consequences of these risks. The conditions present for field research projects, many of which take place in remote areas of the world, include limited access to emergency and health services and limited or nonexistent communication facilities or other local infrastructure or services. Participants on Earthwatch Institute expeditions experience the whole range of climate, terrain and temperature extremes, bivouac living, physical work and other potential hazards including (but not limited to) political instability, war, transport difficulties and risks such as lack of vehicular safety standards commonly found in developed countries (for example, the absence of seatbelts) and increased incidence and severity of vehicular accidents, strikes, sickness, quarantine, natural disasters, wildlife behaviour and movements and other forces beyond the control of Earthwatch Institute and its associates.

Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard MA USA 01754-0075. US Fax: +1 978 461 2332

2. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) It is permissible to share photos, videos, and stories of your expedition with family, friends, local media, and in a public forum. Sharing your new perspectives and experiences is welcomed and encouraged. However, please recognize that all information, data, and images shared or gathered during the research portion of your expedition become the intellectual property of the Principal Investigator (PI). Co-opting or plagiarizing data, images or information gathered during an expedition for use in a scientific thesis, masters or Ph.D. work, for profit, or for the academic or business use of a third party without the permission of the PI is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that data gathered during interviews of local people becomes the intellectual property of the PI. Principal Investigators have the right to place additional restrictions on your ability to share data or images. Conversely, a PI may give written permission to use data and images for academic or profitable activity. Please be sure to ask what is acceptable to the PI. 3. Sexuality, Sexual Behaviour, and Drug and Alcohol Policies EW does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and respects Participants’ right to privacy. However, Participants must be aware that sexual behaviour and/or open displays of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity may offend or clash with the sensibilities of local residents in an expedition’s area of operations, and may even potentially violate local laws. Further, Participants must remember that their actions have impacts on fellow Participants, on the PI and the research team, and on local partners, and could, in certain contexts, result in an uncomfortable, hostile and/or unproductive work environment. To ensure enjoyable and productive work conditions and smooth relations with local peoples, EW has defined the following code of conduct. Beyond practicing cultural sensitivity and showing common courtesy, please be mindful of the following limitations. Fraternization PIs, Earthwatch staff, research staff, their colleagues, and their associates are prohibited from becoming romantically or sexually involved with Participants during the entire duration of the period that the team is in the field. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment of Participants by the PI, research staff, or EW staff is prohibited. Likewise, sexual harassment of the PI, research staff, fellow Participants, EW staff, or local peoples by Participants is also prohibited. Sexual harassment infringes on an individual’s right to an environment free from unsolicited and unwelcome sexual overtones or conduct, either verbal or physical. Sexual harassment does not mean occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature. Sexual harassment refers to conduct which is offensive, which harms morale, or which interferes with the effectiveness of EW expedition teams; such conduct is prohibited. Lewd or vulgar remarks, suggestive comments, displaying derogatory posters, cartoons or drawings, pressure for dates or sexual favours and unacceptable physical contact or exposure are examples of what can constitute harassment. No one should be touched in areas that otherwise would be covered by a bathing suit. It is important to realize that what may not be offensive to you may be offensive to your fellow Participants, the local population, EW staff members, or the PI. Any individual who feels subject to sexual harassment or has any knowledge of such behaviour should report it at once to his or her PI or to EW staff members. All PIs and Field Team Leaders (FTLs) will notify EW immediately when an accusation of sexual harassment or abuse is made or when such behaviour is witnessed.

Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard MA USA 01754-0075. US Fax: +1 978 461 2332

All reports of sexual harassment will be handled with discretion and will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Any Participant who is found to have engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment will be removed from his or her expedition. Drugs The manufacture, possession, use, purchase and/or sale of illegal drugs as defined by Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the host country of the expedition, is strictly forbidden while working or participating on an EW expedition. Prescription drugs may only be purchased and used by the individual indicated on the prescription, in keeping with the intended-use guidelines and local laws in the area of the expedition. Alcohol Policy Participants in EW expeditions must comply with the law of the country in which a project is located regarding the minimum age required to consume alcohol. In addition, restrictions on the use, possession, sale, or purchase of alcohol may be set by the PI or Earthwatch staff. Any restrictions on the consumption of alcohol should be clearly outlined by the project staff in the briefing to participants at the start of the project, and in the expedition briefing. Local statutes, customs, practices, ordinances, and regulations with regard to the use, possession, sale, or purchase of alcohol are applicable to all participants in EW expeditions. Note: Any and all 16-20 year old Participants on Earthwatch Teen Teams or Family Teams are NOT permitted to consume or possess alcohol, regardless of local law. Excessive consumption of alcohol by staff or participants is not acceptable on any Earthwatch expedition. Intoxication can jeopardize personal safety, in addition to the safety of the team. It can also cause delay, and hinder response in the event of a crisis or emergency situation. EW staff and the PI have the discretion to remove individuals from the project who consume alcohol in a time and manner that endangers the safety and/or productivity of the expedition. 4. Recreational Time Earthwatch has a duty of care for the health and safety of Participants from the rendezvous to the end of the expedition. For days when no research activities are scheduled, referred to as recreational days, Earthwatch will offer either a planned team activity or a range of recreational activities that have been vetted and comply with Earthwatch standards. Participants will also have the option of remaining at the project accommodations to rest. Participants who are determined to pursue options other than those recommended by the project staff will be required to sign a release before doing so. If there is a period of time during a regular research day when no research activities are scheduled, Participants may have the opportunity to leave the project site on their own; they will be asked to sign out of the project giving their intended destination. Not appearing for the next scheduled activity will trigger the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) regarding missing people. Earthwatch will determine the relative safety of Participants leaving the project site on their own at night after work hours. In some cases, due to local conditions, it may be advisable to restrict Participants to the project accommodations after dark. This will be clearly communicated in all project materials and reinforced in the on-site safety briefing. However, if the local conditions are such that Participants can go out at night under their own responsibility there will be a sign-out process through which participants will state their proposed destination and estimated return time. Participants will be given 24 hour contact information for field staff should assistance be needed. The sign-out is informational only and will not be used to enforce a curfew on Participants. Participants should understand that unless contacted for help, field staff will not start a search for a missing Participant unless they fail to appear the following morning or for the next scheduled research activity.

Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard MA USA 01754-0075. US Fax: +1 978 461 2332

5. In the Event of an Emergency: Good Samaritan Actions In the event of emergencies, judgments must be made by PIs, EWI staff, and Participants. While EW makes an effort to ensure that qualified people make the most informed decisions possible, occasionally first aid must be administered and other immediate steps taken by expedition participants who are not officially certified to make these decisions. Each EW expedition has safety protocols and emergency procedures in place. However, in rare, unforeseeable emergency situations, EW does not restrict participants (the PI, staff, and Participants) from exercising their best judgment with regard to their own safety. EW does not restrict ‘‘Good Samaritan’’ actions, or actions taken to assist fellow participants during emergency situations in the field. However, EW neither encourages nor expects you to jeopardize your own safety or that of others in attempting to rescue or assist your fellow team members. 6. Participants and Driving Participants are not allowed to drive project vehicles or aircraft during an expedition. In select circumstances, Participants may be able to drive boats under direct supervision by project staff. These circumstances are predetermined by project staff in collaboration with Earthwatch. Participants must respect the restrictions for boat driving in place for each project. If a project environment is such that Participants can drive their own vehicles to the rendezvous, those who have driven themselves to the project may not drive their own vehicles to, from, or for project activities, including the transport of project equipment. Participants who have driven themselves to the project may choose to use their own vehicle during recreational time, but project staff must brief them on the driving restrictions and advise Participants that all driving during recreational time is done at their own risk. Participants are actively discouraged from driving other Participants during recreational time. Riding in another Participant’s vehicle is done at the Participants’ own risk. Riding in other Participants’ vehicles is not covered under the Participants’ insurance policy for the expedition. Please be advised that the only exception to the above restrictions is emergency situations.

7. Right of Refusal EW reserves the right to refuse an applicant’s participation on EW projects. Earthwatch and the project staff may not refuse a Participant for discriminatory reasons (race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, etc.). Earthwatch will make every reasonable effort to accommodate participants with disabilities and the organization endeavours to find appropriate expeditions for those participants who have physical limitations. Refusal of a participant is an unusual event and is generally due to either an applicant’s failure to meet the health requirements of a particular expedition, or in the interest of team efficiency. Project and field staff have the right to refuse special requests, such as media visits (film, photography or print), special groups or teams (students, donors, etc.), if they conflict with project schedules, safety, research objectives or general performance of the team.

Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard MA USA 01754-0075. US Fax: +1 978 461 2332

8. Removal from the Expedition Any Participant found in violation of any of the policies described in this document (“Earthwatch Institute Policies & Participant Rights and Responsibilities”) is subject to removal from the team. By signing the “Liability Release” form, participants are indicating that they have read and understand these policies. Removal of a Participant from a team is at the discretion of the PI and EW staff. In addition, EW will support the right of the scientist to send Participants away from a project once in the field should their behaviour compromise the safety, research objectives or general performance of the team, or if the Participant has violated a stated policy. 9. Responsible Behaviour Cultural and Community Interactions Earthwatch is committed to working closely with communities. Participants and project staff are encouraged to engage and interact with local communities wherever possible. Our aim is to support projects which leave a lasting legacy with local communities and which form partnerships with local organizations. Being culturally sensitive is important when visiting a foreign country. Patience, good humour, an acceptance of differences, using common sense, and showing respect will help visitors enjoy cultural differences and make them part of a rich experience wherever they travel. Participants are often guests of the country and as such are obliged to consider the culture of the local people and minimize disturbance to their daily routine. Racism and other forms of prejudice will not be tolerated on any Earthwatch project. After consultation with Earthwatch staff, Participants who display racist or other discriminatory behavior will be asked to leave the expedition. Earthwatch stresses the need for responsible behavior and common courtesy when travelling, particularly in rural areas. When in doubt about what may cause offense when working in areas you are not familiar with, be sure to ask your PI or Earthwatch field staff. Try wherever possible to learn and respect the local customs and appropriate dress codes before you join the team as being involved with the local community is one of the rare privileges of joining an Earthwatch project. Be aware of the natural curiosity that your presence will create and be mindful not to impose your own cultural beliefs or value systems on the people you meet and the places you visit. Particular sensitivity is required when it comes to photography and gifts. Earthwatch expeditions feature many authentic encounters with local communities and the opportunities for photography or video are endless, but it is important to always ask permission before taking photos. Many local people find being photographed or videotaped intrusive or even threatening, so always ask your PI or field staff if it would be appropriate. When it comes to gifts, please ask the advice of the PI or field staff as to the type and value of the gift in order to avoid any embarrassment or the creation of unrealistic expectations within the community. Sustainable Field Practices As an environmental organisation, Earthwatch recognizes our leadership role in conducting activities as responsible stewards of the social and physical environment and using our resources to promote social and environmental awareness, local action, and global thinking. Every attempt should be made to minimize your impact on the environment you are working in. Please avoid leaving any litter or non-natural waste. Be aware of the risks of fires and follow directions of the field staff when it comes to camping in order to avoid creating a larger impact than is necessary. Be particularly mindful of using any rivers, streams or wells as the local communities may be dependent on those as vital sources of drinking water. When in doubt ask the field staff.

Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard MA USA 01754-0075. US Fax: +1 978 461 2332

Financial Terms & Conditions

G

Some terms and conditions may apply only to volunteers signing up through the US office; please contact your regional Earthwatch office in Australia, Japan, the UK, or the US with any questions.

METHOD OF PAYMENT

PROJ ECT COST The price of each project, which we call your contribution, for each

To hold a space on a team, you must submit a non-

team may vary according to team dates so please check prior to

refundable $300 deposit with your reservation (full

making your reservation. On average projects range from $700 to

contribution is required if booking under 90 days before

$4,500, excluding airfares (see below).

your team fields). The remainder will be solicited through

Through a unique method of funding, 100 percent of your contribution is used to support research and exploration sponsored by Earthwatch Institute. By balancing costs across our program, we are able to assist research that would not be self-

monthly statements or is payable at any time directly through your Expedition Coordinator. You can pay major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or certain securities.

PAYMENT POLICY

supporting. Depending on the size and needs of your team, roughly 50 percent goes to field costs: 34 percent to advance

Sign up one hundred twenty (120) days or more prior to

planning, reconnaissance, team recruitment, and logistical

team departure: A minimum $300 deposit is required to

support: and 16 percent is used for administrative backup,

reserve a place on a project. The balance of payment is

communications, and post-expedition follow-up.

due one hundred twenty (120) days prior to team departure. Sign up between sixty (60) and one hundred nineteen

COSTS NOT INCLUDED

(119) days prior to team departure: Full contribution required to reserve a place on a project.

The main additional costs will be your transportation expenses to and from the rendezvous site, as listed in the expedition guide. This means that airfares are not covered in the contribution. Additional costs may include passports, visas, airport taxes, and the costs of any side trips made during time off from the project. Some projects have additional in-country travel costs to reach the project site. Ask your Expedition Coordinator if this is relevant to your project.

Sign up less than fifty-nine (59) days prior to team departure: Full payment is required to reserve a place on a project. As funds must be sent directly to the project at this stage, the contribution is non-refundable unless due to Principal Investigator or Earthwatch Institute (EW) refusal (see Earthwatch Institute Policiesdocument D). Trip cancellation insurance is recommended. You are advised to check flight availability prior to payment.

TRANSFER, CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY You may transfer from one expedition to another without penalty

Cancellation within 59 days of the expedition start date

up to 120 days before your expedition begins, after which time

will result in 100% of your contribution being retained

our cancellation policy applies.

by Earthwatch. Under no circumstances is a refund

If you cancel more than 120 days prior to your expedition's start date, Earthwatch will apply the $300 initial deposit either toward another expedition of your choice or to an Expedition Fund. Cancellation between 60-119 days of the expedition start date will result in 50% of your total contribution being retained by Earthwatch. You then have the option to refund the remainder, transfer it to another expedition, or apply it towards your

available to those who cancel within 59 days of their start date. Trip cancellation insurance is available at an additional cost and is strongly recommended. Note: Any funds retained due to late cancellation are utilized to support expedition field research and will be considered a charitable gift to Earthwatch Institute.

Expedition Fund. Earthwatch memberships are non-refundable as they are considered a charitable gift. Additional donations made beyond the minimum contribution are also non-refundable and are considered a charitable gift to Earthwatch Institute.

EXPEDITION PACKING CHECKLIST Essential Items This Expedition Briefing Photocopies of your passport, flight itinerary and credit cards in case the originals are lost or stolen; the copies should be packed separately from the original documents Passport and/or visa (if necessary) Certification of inoculation (if necessary) Cash in Brazilian reais for personal expenses (credit cards are only useful in towns before or after your expedition; US dollars are accepted at the project site but traveler’s checks are NOT; it is essential that you have some spending money in Brazilian reais)

Required Items Clothing/Footwear for Fieldwork Note: Field clothing should be light-colored. Do not bring dark or brightly colored field clothing (e.g. black, navy blue, red, pink, yellow, orange, etc.). Be sure to bring your Earthwatch t-shirt and remember to wear it, as appropriate, throughout your expedition Loose, quick-drying, comfortable long-sleeved shirts that button down Quick-drying, lightweight pants/trousers (canvas field pants work well) 3-4 t-shirts 1-2 pairs of shorts High socks to tuck into pants to avoid ticks (they’ll get wet, so make sure you bring plenty) Raincoat Hat with wide brim (a chin strap or toggle is recommended for windy days) Work gloves for clearing trails with machetes (preferably leather) Mosquito headnet for teams running during the wet season (October-April) Warm jacket/sweaters for teams running during the dry season (May-September) Winter hat Hiking shoes/boots if you already own them; tennis shoes/sneakers/trainers if you don’t (it is not necessary to purchase expensive hiking footwear for your expedition)

Clothing/Footwear for Leisure Bathing suit Warm clothes for cool evenings and protection from mosquitoes (e.g. sweatshirt and sweatpants) Comfortable shoes to wear around the lodge (e.g. sneakers, sandals, flip-flops)

Field Supplies Small daypack/rucksack (very important!) Insect repellant Tick repellent such as Permanone Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher Headlamp and/or flashlight with extra batteries (also good for reading in bed) Water bottle Small notebook and pen/pencil to take into the field Two rolls of duct tape (mandatory for the dry season)

Personal Supplies Personal toiletries (biodegradable soaps and shampoos recommended) Antibacterial wipes or lotion (good for “washing” hands while in the field) Personal First Aid kit (e.g. anti-diarrhea pills, antibiotics, antiseptic, itch-relief, pain reliever, bandages, blister covers, etc.) and personal medications

Recommended and Optional Items Binoculars (highly recommended – the more powerful, the more useful in the field) Alarm clock One nice set of clothing for recreational time or to keep clean for end of expedition Camera, film/digital memory storage, extra camera battery (please make sure to take used batteries back home with you for proper disposal); if you have a digital camera, bring the cable and plenty of CD-Rs to burn pictures – a laptop is usually available and past volunteers have shared their pictures with each other at the end of their expeditions Embratel calling card (needed to make international calls from the lodge), found at newsstands in all Brazilian airports Appropriate field guides (see Recommended Reading) Books, games, journal, etc. for leisure time Portuguese phrase book or dictionary Favorite snack foods Sunglasses Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver if you already own one Pair of thick pants/jeans for recreational/optional horseback riding Pocket knife (pack this in your checked luggage, not your carry-on or on your person) Laundry detergent if you choose to do your own laundry Earplugs for light sleepers If you are willing to donate or leave anything behind, all locations can use extra duct tape, different sizes of Ziploc bags, new batteries (AA, C, D or AAA) and CD-Rs

53

Before you leave… 

Did you read your ENTIRE Expedition Briefing?



Have you paid the entire balance of your contribution for the project?



Have you turned in all your forms to Earthwatch (see the Volunteer Forms Overview at the beginning of your Expedition Briefing)?



Is your passport current and have you obtained a visa for your destination country (if necessary)?



Have you had all the necessary vaccinations for your project site and obtained all necessary medications?



Have you reconfirmed your airline ticket?



Do you have enough cash and/or traveler’s checks?



Have you made a photocopy of your airline ticket and passport in the event they get lost or stolen?



Did you pack your Earthwatch t-shirt?



Did you pack some extra clothing in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is lost and takes a day or two to catch up with you?



Did you pack all prescription medications and bring copies of the prescription?



Did you pack extra eyeglasses/contact lenses?



Did you pack a small personal first-aid kit? (e.g. bandages, antibacterial ointment, aspirin, antidiarrhea medication, laxative, moleskin for blisters, sun block, etc.)



Do you have everything on your packing list? *Remember to break in new footwear beforehand!



Have you brought your level of fitness up to the standards required for your project as stated in the Project Conditions section?



Did you pack your Expedition Briefing? Bring it with you! It has valuable information pertaining to the project, rendezvous, and contact information.



Did you purchase a guidebook for your destination country?



Have you purchased travel insurance or emergency evacuation insurance?



Have you left the Earthwatch Emergency Hotline number (+1 978 461-0081) with a family member or friend? *This is for emergencies ONLY. An Earthwatch staff member is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.