Tambopata 2012

Name ______________________

1

Hour Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 1 2 3 1 2 3

0530-

0700

Parrot''s Clay lick Bird census

0730-

1000

Arthropods Aventura amazonas

River Journey to the Bahuaja Sonene

National Park - Lake ecology - Gold Minery

Animals Rescue Center

1000-

1230

Long Walk Ecologia de Cuerpos de agua: laguito, quebradas, pantano, rio -

Mammal census, foot prints , ethnobotanical trekking Swimming

Transfer to airport

12.30-

1.00 box Lunch box lunch lunch

1-1.30

Journey to lodge

Long Walk Ecologia de Cuerpos de agua: laguito, quebradas, pantano, rio -

Mammal census, foot prints , ethnobotanical trekking

Project work1330-

1430 Survival:

Etnobotanic, balsa construction,

geography, food, archery,

navigation, fire, shelter.

lunch

Back to Puerto Maldonado

1430-

1730

1730-

1830

Course work at the Lodge

Intro Nets1900-

2000 Dinner

2000-

2200 Nocturnal walk Flying mammals

Frogs and Caiman special dinner

Tales camp

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Grupo 1

Del 26 de abril al 30 de abril 2012

1 Arregui, Gabriela 402 Belaúnde, Sol 383 Bosio, Andrea 404 Castellano, Paloma 375 Domenack, Mariajosé 366 Higueras, Daphne 377 Maúrtua, Camila 378 Meier, Johanna 409 Miranda, Carolina 40

10 Rizo Patrón, Lia 3711 Roncal, Alessandra 4012 Salas, Camila 3813 Uranga, Almudena 4014 Zegarra-Ballón, Catalina 38

15 Arregui, Daniel 4616 Arrese, Vittorio 4617 Berckemeyer, Gustavo 4218 Bernui, Bruno 4119 Campos, Mariano 4420 Castle, André 4421 Ferreyros, Sergio 4222 Martínez, Daniel 4223 Molfino, Giacomo 4524 Montes, Rodrigo 4425 Oldham, Benjamin 4426 Rizo Patrón, Maximiliano 4227 Rodríguez, Nicolás 4128 Sousa, Alonso 4529 Torres, Carlos 4430 Velarde, Sebastián 44

Richard Wright 43Teresa Viale 37

Flavio Carrillo 40

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Grupo 2

Del 30 de abril al 4 de mayo 2012

1 Arce, Sabrina 382 Arón, Valeria 383 Brain, Gabriela 384 Canny, Carla 365 Cassinelli, Antonella 396 Chávez-Fernández, Valeria 387 Ferreyros, Tais 388 Gallo, Almudena 379 León, Alessandra 37

10 León, Camila 3711 Rodríguez, Alessia 3712 Scheelje, Micaela 3613 Shimabukuro, Paola 3814 Simpson, Alexia 3615 Torres Calderón, Ariana 37

16 Bedoya, Gonzalo 4317 Contreras, Eduardo 4518 Castro, Antonio 4319 Díaz-Albertini, Kai 4520 Figari, Sebastián 4321 Larrauri, Gianluca 4122 Loret de Mola, Esteban 4523 Padilla, Alonso 4524 Pareja, Rodrigo 4425 Pérez, Elías 4226 Rey, Isaac 4227 Vásquez, Tito 4328 Velaochaga, Francisco 3729 Velarde, Rodrigo 4130 Young, Nicolás 42

Richard Wright 43Luisa Venegas 36

Rocío Coz 403

Contents

Each written activity should be done as soon as possible after doing the activity so that you remember the stuff for your wiki.

Title ActivityIntroductionSafetyActivity sheetsRiver Journey to the lodge (on boat to and from the lodge) 1Nocturnal walk 2Long walk: ecology 3Arthropods and creative writing 4Flying mammals) 5Parrot´s Clay lick (optional 6Survival 7Frogs and Caiman 8Bird census 9Useful notes

REMEMBER: All activities are dependent on weather and changing conditions. Also you may not be able to complete all activities as you are dealing with wildlife and you

may or may not see everything, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NOISY!

When the lights go out, you need to be quiet. The guides need to sleep!

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INTRODUCTION

The Tambopata Fieldtrip is part of the school curriculum. This means that although you are allowed to have fun (and we really hope you will have), you will also have to work. You will experience the richest nature on earth. We will be out in the field as much as possible.

After dinner there will be night walks, caiman trips and the study of nocturnal insects and vertebrates. Before dinner and after the night activities, there will be time to do your write-ups of all the fieldwork. Hopefully you will be so tired by the end of all this, that you will just have enough energy left to reach your bed!

A tropical rainforest is not the safest place on earth. But if you are aware of that, and if you behave responsibly, dangers will not exceed the dangers of Lima's traffic. Furthermore, since this is an official school trip, school rules extend as far as Tambopata. Keep the following in mind:

1. Do NOT smoke. At the lodge a real fire danger exists, particularly in the wooden buildings. 2. No alcohol is allowed.

3. You may not bring an iPod, MP3 , but do bring a guitar if you so wish.

4. Do not drink the water in the bathroom. In the dining room there will be drinking water available.

5. NEVER leave the lodge and walk into the forest alone. You'll easily get lost. Always let the staff know where you go and why.

6. Dormitories of the opposite sex are out of bounds at all times.

7. Bring a lot of extra food, cookies or sweets, but store them away carefully, preferably in plastic containers. The mouse opossum – a tame, absolutely harmless nocturnal rodent-like marsupial – will only visit the Students' dormitories. Guess why!

8. Remember that temperatures in Tambopata range from 10 °C to 35 °C. Also keep in mind that it might rain a lot, which will not be an argument to stay inside (bring some plastic bags for cameras etc.).

9. Make sure you always have a set of dry “camp” clothes, shoes etc. Even if it means going into the jungle in yesterdays damp, dirty clothes always keep your “camp” clothes dry.

10. Always wear long sleeves and long pants when you are in the jungle. There is no point asking if you can wear shorts this time because the answer will be no! If you can wear other clothes you will be told.

11. In general, use your common sense.

In any encounters with potentially dangerous animals, be aware of the indications of your instructors. They have the necessary experience to control the situation. Never scream and run in the forest, because you will cause panic amongst your group and accidents may occur.

At all times (in the forest, boat or any place), respect the indications of your instructors and the personnel of the lodge. Their experience of the forest will improve your experience and assure your safety.

We hope that – apart from the insects, the sweat, and all the work – you will enjoy this trip!

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SAFETY IN THE RAINFOREST

Despite all the horror stories, rainforests are relatively safe to be in, especially when compared with traffic in big cities like Lima. Nevertheless, it is necessary to be aware of the dangers, just as you know that crossing the road without first looking is stupid. Always wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers in the forest. Use insect repellent only on exposed areas of your body, such as face, neck and back of hands, but never on the palms of your hands, as you will be handling small animals and plants, and repellent can be toxic to them.

Biggest danger Believe it or not, many more people get killed by falling branches and seedpods than by all the dangerous animals together. So be aware of that, especially when it is windy.

Mosquitoes (malaria. uta. botflies. dengue) Prevention is the keyword. Always wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. Use insect repellent if mosquitoes are seen or heard (or always). Sleep under the mosquito net provided. Repellent on shirt and trousers is good advice. Be aware of long-term effects, even months later.

Peccaries Forest pigs are short-sighted, and that's why they might be dangerous. If you hear, smell or see them: leave them alone and don't ta1k.

Jaguars They are very rare and avoid noisy students. You are lucky if you see one. Don't run away, because that may provoke an attack. Just observe, or – if you are scared – move your arms and slowly move back. The jaguar will look at you in surprise, raise his shoulders, decide that you are crazy and slowly walk away.

Chiggers Mite larvae. They live in clearings, at forest borders and soccer fields. Their saliva causes strong reactions in humans. Within a day they have left you, but their presence will be noticed for days or even weeks later. They don't transmit any disease, but cause a lot of scratching. Tuck your trousers into your socks.

Spiders No big deal. Fatal spiders live in deserts. Tarantulas rarely attack, and if so, are not fatal. Their hairs might cause an allergic reaction.

In the lake/river Safe if your teacher says so. Caimans are not likely to attack. Piranhas are no problem. Don't pee in the water while swimming, you might attract the small candiru fish and they might mistake your body openings for the gill openings of a big catfish. Always make your teacher swim first to prove that it is really safe.

Snakes Scary if seen. But snakes are rare and there are only about six fatal species in the region. Coral snakes are not likely to attack, especially because their fangs are not big enough (between your toes is the most likely place, so don't walk in sandals in the forest). Bushmasters might be aggressive. They are territorial and nocturnal and will strike, just above your boots. Don't lower your bums in the bushes without checking them (the bushes). Radio-collared bushmasters have been reported to sleep within half a metre from a trail where tourists passed without noticing the snake. So don't play games on the trails. Fer-de-lance snakes are more often seen. They love to check clearings and under buildings for mice and rats. They are aggressive and easily attack if disturbed. Be aware, especially around the bungalows at night; always bring your flashlight. If you are bitten, it is not likely that the snake has injected all its venom. That would be silly, because it might take two weeks to produce a new supply and humans are not their prey. Try to relax, don't panic. Don't try to suck the venom out and don't cut into the flesh; that kind of jungle machismo is stupid. After about half an hour, slowly walk back to the lodge. In general: keep your distance from snakes.

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ACTIVITY SHEETS The following pages describe the activities you will be carrying out in Tambopata. However it is fairly common for things to change in Tambopata due to weather, time or just seeing something interesting. This means you will be informed if an activity will be different.

You are advised to leave your booklet at the lodge and carry with you a pen and notebook, as things can easily get wet and muddy. Before each activity read the sheet so you know what you will be doing and what you will need, as well as the information you need to collect. It is also advisable to store it in a plastic bag.

All write-ups will be completed back at the lodge when opportunities arise.

Photos and blog

This year we would really like you to keep a photographic record of your experience of this trip. Blogs are now a very common way of keeping an electronic diary and we would like you to do the same.

You will need to create a blog and arrange for access to this at school by sending me the link so I can ask Miss Darienne to unblock it at school. The blog should be arranged as follows:

Your blog will be made as a group based on your room at the lodge. The blog should be divided into the activities in the booklet.

1. The journey from the airport to the lodge2. Night walk3. Long walk4. Arthropods and creative writing/ poem5. Flying mammals (bats)6. Survival7. Frog and caiman census8. Bird census

You should also include an extra section about your general experiences in your room at the lodge and the hotel, and any memorable events that happened.

Please remember that you should focus on the science of the trip and include your photos. Your information will be public, so you should also make sure it is acceptable for publishing on the web!

Useful site for blogs:https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&passive=1209600&continue=http://www.blogger.com/home&followup=http://www.blogger.com/home&ltmpl=start#s01

The blog should be completed by the third week of term 2 and will comprise 20% of the mark for term 2

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ACTIVITY 1

THE JOURNEY ALONG THE TAMBOPATA RIVER

Aims• To observe human influence on the Tambopata river.

Take photos of various points along your trip to the lodge. Make notes as you do this so that you remember what information you are going to log. You should note various aspects of the area such as pollution, farming activity and any other useful information.

Time and location(photo reference)

Pollution Farming activity Others

Is there any correlation between distance from Puerto Maldonado and the amount of human influence on the River Tambopata?

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HUMAN INFLUCENCE

One very important aspect of the study of Ecology is to try to protect the environment from the impact of humans.

There are so many humans in the world that we must grow special crops so that everyone can eat. To make these crops grow more efficiently, we use pesticides to stop pests eating the crops before we can harvest them. Unfortunately, these pesticides also damage other living things and can have a serious after-affect on the environment.

Nitrate and phosphate fertilizers are also used by humans to improve the yield of crops. However, if this nitrogen is washed away to rivers and lakes it can cause excessive growth of algae, which in turn has a negative effect on other organisms.

Today, humans use a great deal of energy. To get this energy we have to burn fossil fuels. Some of these fossil fuels have impurities, and when they are burned they produce gases that cause pollution in the atmosphere. Some of these gases contribute to acid rain, which can affect the environmental conditions of many ecosystems.

The following questions on Human influence and Nutrient cycles will help you to focus on your record as your travel to the lodge.

Explain why the amount of carbon dioxide in the air has stayed about the same up until the last 100 years.

Discuss the effects of the combustion of fossil fuels and the cutting down of forests on the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

What effects might deforestation have on the Amazon basin as far as the water and carbon cycle is concerned?

Discuss the undesirable effects of deforestation.

Why do living things need Nitrogen?

Why do farmers use Nitrate/Phosphate fertilizers?

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ACTIVITY 2

NIGHT WALK: nocturnal ecology

Aims • To experience the rainforest at night using all your senses• Compare nocturnal conditions with those during the day (temperature, light, humidity)• Learn how animals adapt to these conditions

You need Torch and insect repellent

Activity Night walks might be a bit exciting, because everybody feels that we are definitely not nocturnal animals. You will see a lot of movement, but most of that is just moving shadows because of moving torches. Nevertheless, a completely different set of animal manages to be active at night.

ENGLISH ASSIGNMENTDuring the night walk you will use all your senses. Describe carefully, in a short account for the school magazine, what you experienced with all your senses. For example, what were the differences between being in the forest at night and during the day? What emotions did you experience in the absolute darkness? (150 –200 words)

REMEMBER

A population only contains organisms of the same species. A species is a group of organisms that have similar characteristics BUT… they must be able to reproduce and their offspring must also be fertile and viable (be able to survive). A donkey and a horse can reproduce BUT their offspring, called a mule, is infertile (it can’t reproduce itself) so they are not considered the same species.

All animals of a particular species are given a Scientific, Binomial name that uses Latin words and is universal (the same all over the world). Many organisms have common names in different parts of the world. The Binomial naming system allows Scientists to communicate information about a particular species between different countries and regions of the world. When you write the scientific name, the first word (Genus) must have a capital letter. The second name (species) must have a small letter. The scientific name must be underlined or, if you write it on computer, written in italics. For example, Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens

Record of Nocturnal Animals seen:

Common name Scientific name Adaptation to nocturnal life

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ACTIVITY 3

Long walk ecology

Aims • Learn more about the Amazonian ecology..

Activity The group will make an excursion through the forest, examining various plants, animals and animal tracks.

You need Plaster to make casts of any footprints

An Ecosystem is an Ecological System. It is made up of 2 main parts: Habitat and Community.

The Habitat is the non-living (or ABIOTIC) part of the Ecosystem. It includes the place where the Community (living things) live. It also includes the environmental conditions like soil, temperature and humidity.

The Community is the living (or BIOTIC) part of the Ecosystem. It includes all of the populations of living things in the Habitat.

As you walk, make a record of useful trees and plants you encounter. Also, remember to take photos of these plants and any animals you encounter.

Organism (plant or animal) Use (niche) in the environment Useful information about this organism (adaptations and uses for

humans)

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ACTIVITY 4

ARTHROPOD SURVEY AND CREATIVE WRITING

Aims • Introduce students to other field methods to study fauna: light-traps and visual encounter surveys.

• Obtain information about the presence in the area of different species of this order.

Students will collect arthropods prior to the long walk and store them for further analysis.

Activity

You need Container, magnifying glass, tweezers

INVERTEBRATES are animals without a backbone. One of the biggest groups within invertebrates is the ARTHROPODS. The Arthropods sub-groups that you need to know are Insects, Crustaceans, Arachnids and Myriapods.

Collect and draw 2 Arthropods and classify them using the key below. Make sure you have one Insect and one other Class.

A Key to Major Classes of Adult Arthropods

1a Typically with three pairs of legs, with or without wings, and three distinct body regions

insects (INSECTA)

1b More than three pairs of legs and wings never present 2

2a With four pairs of legs, no antennae, and head and thorax fused into one large cephalothorax

Arachnids (ARACHNIDA)

2b More than four pairs of legs present 3

3a Body broadly oval with stout spine like tail horseshoe crabs (XIPHOSURA)

3b Body not as above 4

4a Usually with 5 to 7 pairs of legs and two pairs of antennae crustaceans (CRUSTACEA)

4b With more than ten pairs of legs and only one pair of antennae; body long and wormlike

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5a Body cylindrical; two pairs of legs on each segment; antennae short

millipedes (DIPLOPODA)

5b Body more-or-less flattened; one pair of legs per segment; antennae long

centipedes (CHILOPODA)

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ARTHROPOD DRAWINGS

Name: Class:

Name: Class:

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CREATIVE WRITING

This activity can be drafted at the lodge and then added to your blog, along with photos to help!

You have been on the nocturnal walk and now a walk during the day. You have had the opportunity to experience a contrast in the rain forest. Think about the insects and any other animals you found. How are they different? How are they adapted for their habitat?

You should write a story of your experience of the rainforest. You can write it in past or present tense. Your story should explain your feelings of what is happening around you.You could even write it as though you are one of the insects. How do you interact with your environment?

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ACTIVITY 5

FLYING MAMMALS

Aim • Demonstrate a technique used to capture bats.

Activity Two hours before nightfall, appropriate nets will be placed one metre above the floor. Some time afterwards, nets will be inspected for caught bats. Wearing appropriate gloves, the bats will be removed from the nets, and placed in cloth bags.Identification using guidebooks and measurements will be made at the lodge.

You need Torch, special cloth gloves, cloth bags

Collect information on 2 different species trapped.

Common name Scientific name Distinguishing features Measurements

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ACTIVITY 6 (Optional)

BIRD CENSUS: parrot’s clay lick

Aim • Identify rainforest birds

Activity Census A walk will be made following the trails, detecting birds by sight and sound. Mist nets will be set up and checked at regular intervals of time. Birds caught will be released, after identification and measurements are recorded.

You need Binoculars

Common name Description Sound or sight identification

Measurements

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ACTIVITY 7

SURVIVAL

Participants learn the philosophy and practice of immersion into the natural world

Practical areas of focus include: Tracking & Awareness

• track identification & analysis• sign tracking• scat identification• stalking• camouflage

Survival• Navigation• Geography• Shelter• Water• Fire• food

Nature Observation• plant and animal identification• biology• botany• cartography

ACTIVITIES

Principles of survival: How to stay alive!

Characteristics of the Amazon region

Signaling and rescue

Personal protection

Raft construction

Building shelters

Take as many photos as you can!!

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ACTIVITY 8

FROG AND CAIMAN CENSUS

Aims • Identify tropical frog species and see Caimans up close• Introduce students to another field method to study fauna: artificial resources.

Activity A walk in the dark to try to spot frogs and a boat ride to observe caimansStudents will create artificial ponds: plastic buckets will be set in the ground and filled with water to attract frog species for reproduction. Peripheral trails, delimited around these artificial ponds, will be walked by the participants, who will register the presence of frogs and toads, recording the hour, species, height, substrate, size, weight and sex.

You need Torch

Common name Scientific name Distinguishing features Measurements

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ACTIVITY 9

Bird census

Aims • Introduce students to additional field methods to study fauna. • Obtain records of the presence of some birds.

Activity Observe the habits and sounds of birds.

You need Binoculars

Common name Scientific name Features

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Useful notes

2

Useful notes

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