STUDIES OF ECUADORIAN FAUNA:
CONSERVATION OF CRITICALLY IMPERILED ECOSYSTEMS

We are in our tenth year of study in Ecuador documenting the incredible diversity of life in fragile and imperiled ecosystems. Our goals include discovering new species, understanding patterns of biodiversity, and providing sound management recommendations to save wild animals and places. So far, we have recorded over 10,000 animals in these rainforests, taken some 38,000 "keeper" photographs and discovered over 40 species previously unknown to science. Read on with the links to your right to find out more, and about how you can help do even more!

Our expeditions take place on both sides of the Andes mountains in both Amazonian and coastal rainforests. In the spring we will work at Lalo Loor Reserve and Jama Coaque Reserve. The coast of Ecuador, holds some of the most unique and amazing biodiversity in the world. Our team works a 10+ mile transect going from tropical dry forest, through humid forest (a type of rainforest) and even cloudforest. We will be determining patterns of biodiversity, discovering new species, and figuring out what can be done to save these fragile ecosystems.

For summers, our research expeditions vist the Amazon rainforest at Rio Bigal Biological Reserve--one of the most biodiverse spots in the world. See how you can join our rainforest research team! See our application page for details.

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Find out more about our work in our report of initial findings, available in English (pdf) and Spanish (pdf).