Research in the Rainforest - by Caroline Rzucidlo
Our last month of the program has begun meaning it is time for directed research! The four classes we have been taking the past two months have ended and for the rest of the semester we devote all our time to research projects facilitated by one of our three professors.
Our group of 17 was split up into three research focuses based on individual interests. The political ecology group traveled to Pilcopata, a small town in the Amazon, to conduct assessments and propose solutions to water and waste issues that the people of Pilcopata face. The tropical ecology group went to the cloud forest that bridges the space between the Andes and the Amazon to study antibacterial properties and growth rates of tree ferns. My group, the conservation biology group, sailed down the Madre de Dios river into the Amazon to study the fascinating (and adorable) black-headed night monkey (known as musmuqui by the locals).
Team Musmuqui heading down the Madre de Dios river to CREES biological station
Our research time was split between two locations- CREES Manu Learning Center and Villa Carmen Biological Station, allowing us to explore different forest types and how they affect night monkeys. Between our group we had four projects. My research partner and I focused on how anthropogenic disturbance and group dynamics impact the parasitology of night monkeys. Essentially what this means is we spent a lot of time looking for fecal samples (yup, poop), collecting fecal samples, and processing fecal samples.
Collecting night monkey fecal samples in the field
Although we were very busy collecting data for our various projects, we still had time to explore the amazing area surrounding us. During our time in the Amazon we saw toucans, five species of monkey, a tapir, a puma, jaguarundis, numerous species of birds, coral snakes, and tons of incredible insects. We managed to fit in quick trips to a swimming hole, play games of fútbol with other researchers and staff, and see the most breathtaking stars every night (no electricity = no light pollution!) Every day we experienced something new and exciting.
A curious squirrel monkey
The magical swimming hole
Now our research time is coming to an end meaning lots of data analysis, statistical tests, and paper writing. We will present our findings to both our classmates and the local community. It was such an awesome opportunity to conduct research in the Amazon and this experience has definitely confirmed the kind of work I want to do in the future.
Lab work with my research partner Kaitlin
