Natural Environments of Ecuador
Biology 5535 U/G

 Between 14 and 27 May 2002, three faculty and nine students participated in a course entitled "Natural Environments of Ecuador." This experience centered around visits to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) and Rio Guajalito Protector (sic) Forest (BPRG).

The Tiputini Biodiversity Station, which is located approximately 300 km ESE of Quito in the Amazonian Basin, encompasses approximately 650 ha. To reach TBS, we took a 45 minute flight from Quito to Coca, transferred to a motorized boat for a two hour trip down the Napo River to Pompeya, rode overland by bus to reach the Tiputini River, then traveled two hours downstream to the station. On the lands around the station proper are a series of trails that provide access to upland and seasonally flooded rainforests, swamps, and a small lake. A 40-meter tower provides access to the canopy. Because of the remote location of TBS and its history as part of the traditional territory of the Waorani people, the region has been well protected. It is touted as being one of the best places in Ecuador to see wildlife. During our visit we saw nine species of primates and approximately 200 species of birds while hiking the trails and traversing the river.

The Rio Guajalito Protected Forest is approximately 60 km west of Quito. It was reached after a four-hour bus ride. BPRG, which encompasses nearly 500 ha, lies between 1800 and 2400 meters elevation. It includes both low montane evergreen forests and montane cloud forests. BPRG was unilaterally declared a scientific station and private reserve by its owner, Vlastimil Zak. It was subsequently declared as a Protected Forest by the Ecuadorian government. Because it is situated in an area of contact among three zones of endemism, BPRG contains a high diversity of flora and fauna. We tabulated an additional 100 species of birds during our visit. Dr. William S. Birkhead

Images From The Course
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