We are an international, multidisciplinary team of scientists, students, and Peruvian locals working between the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and selected field and museum sites in Peru.
We are studying interactions between organisms and their environment at multiple spatial scales in the Andes-Amazon region of southeastern Peru. Our plans and protocols are long-term and intensive, and we are implementing a biodiversity information system to manage our data.
The major activities of the AABP team include:
Document the diversity, ecology and conservation of the flora and fauna of the Andes-Amazon (AA) region of southeastern Peru
Carry out research and development in tropical horticulture, agriculture, and forestry research in the AA region of southeastern Peru
- Conduct research on the ecosystems in the AA region of southeastern Peru
Develop new computer and information technologies for biodiversity science and conservation
Integreate education, training, and capacity building with community-based biodiversity science and conservation
During 2003-2007 the AABP team has been focused on various aspects
of biodiversity, conservation, and technology research focused on the
Andes-Amazon region of southeastern Peru.
Botanical research forms a strong foundation of data and
knowledge for ongoing AABP projects and is the oldest component of the
program. During 2001-2007 the BRIT botany team of John Janovec, Amanda
Neill, Fernando Cornejo, Piher Maceda, Angel Balarezo, Tiana Franklin,
Benjamin Chambi, Milton Jimenez, Ethan Householder, and Miguel Chocce
have carried out systematic botanical inventories at selected sites in
the region. All plant collection data and images are available to the
public in the Atrium Biodiversity Information System being developed at
BRIT (http://atrium.andesamazon.org).
All collections are represented by one duplicate specimen in the BRIT
project herbarium in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, available for use by
researchers, students, and the general public. Duplicate specimens of
all collections have been deposited in the San Marcos Herbarium in
Lima, Peru; the Universidad Nacional de Madre de Dios in Puerto
Maldonado, Peru; the BRIT herbarium in Fort Worth, Texas; and
distributed to more than 50 taxonomic experts for identification and
all dets are updated in the Atrium Digital Herbarium. Additional
duplicate specimens are distributed on exchange programs with various
herbaria.
One component of our program mission is to replicate our standard scientific protocols for inventory and monitoring of plant diversity at sites outside of the Andes-Amazon region. We are currently working with BRIT Research Botanist Bob Johns in New Guinea. This new project will allow the team the opportunity to collect, inventory and document vegetation in the forests of New Guinea. We have also begun to collaborate with the University of Minnesota, The New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
Harvard University,
and Conservation International-Melanesia in the creation
of the Digital flora of New
Guinea. You can learn more about this project by viewing the Digital Flora of New Guinea site (http://ng.brit.org/) that premiers the New Guinea Atrium with over 2,300 collections by George Weiblen of the University of Minnesota and his collaborators.