Mamiraua Research Articles

Birdwatching in the Mamirauá Lake as an appeal to ecotourists/birdwatchers.

The Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve fits the profile of a good destination for birdwatching, because it has high species diversity, bilingual guides, updated bird lists, field guides and adequate infrastructure. In this paper we present the bird species observed during a regular type of tourist activity held in Uakari Lodge and also relate the richness and diversity of birds to fluctuations in water level during several months. The study was conducted between June 2009 and September 2011, and it took a total of 68 boat trips, 480 ecotourists, adding up to a total of 238 hours. 134 bird species were recorded, which corresponds to 37% of the number of species that occurs in the Mamiraua SDR. Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex) and Striated Heron (Butorides striata) were seen at all the trips. Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela) and Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricolis) were observed 62 times. Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta) and Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) came right after, with 61 sightings. The distribution of observations of attractive species really provide the more informed ecotourist some real entertainment, as to which would be the best time of year to visit the Mamiraua SDR.

REPORT OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HUMAN-INTENTIONALLY-ENTANGLED AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN (<i>Inia geoffrensis</i>) CALF AND ITS RELEASE IN TEFÉ RIVER, AMAZONAS STATE, BRAZIL

The Amazon river dolphin or boto ( Inia geoffrensis ) interacts with human fishing activities throughout its range in South America, which causes local communities to have negative reactions to the species’ presence. Here we report the encounter with a human-intentionally-entangled boto calf with a plastic bottle in Tefe river, and its successful release. At least another similar case occurred in 2009 at the nearby Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve, which suggests boto calves may be an easy target for human agonistic behavior towards the species. Educational programs at riverside and native communities should be implemented in order to ensure the conservation of this dolphin in the Central Amazon.

TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS THAT MARKET PAN-AMAZON ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONS: POSITIONING MAMIRAUÁ AND GATHERING INFORMATION FOR AMANÃ.

Travel agencies and tour operators have a role in mediating the marketing of a tourism destination between supplier and end consumer. Knowing the characteristics of such agencies and operators and how they operate is essential for existing community-based tourism (CBT) destinations and for those under planning. Several national and international travel agencies and tour operators market package tours to Uakari Lodge, which is the only place for accommodation and visitation of the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve - SDR Mamirua. In turn, the neighboring Amana Sustainable Development Reserve - SDR Amana is the subject of a study to analyze the feasibility of implementing a community-based ecotourism project. This study investigates the occurrence of Uakari Lodge in tourism distribution channels websites in order to measure how it ranks in these distribution channels, as well as to identify key competitors to Mamiraua. Also were analyzed hereby, the number of guests to Uakari Lodge between 1998 and 2009 as well as the proportion of visitors who bought package tours through travel agencies and operators in this period, thus allowing to identify the most important commercial partners. The 30 most frequent tour operators were considered key informants and they were sent a questionnaire about Amana. The results thereof will help update Mamiraua’s marketing strategy and plan for tourism in Amana.

Depredation by Jaguars on Caimans and Importance of Reptiles in the Diet of Jaguar

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest Neotropical felid and in many parts of its range reptiles form a significant but relatively minor component of its diet. However, in the seasonally flooded varzea forests of the Amazon, terrestrial mammals, which form an important component of jaguar diet in other habitats, are largely absent and jaguars switch to alternative prey, including arboreal mammals and reptiles. In the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve in the western Brazilian Amazon, we document predation by jaguars on two species of caiman (Caiman crocodilus and Melanosuchus niger), which are abundant in this varzea habitat. The smaller C. crocodilus seems to be particularly vulnerable because of its size and tendency to spend more time on land than the larger M. niger. Jaguars not only kill and eat caiman but are also a significant predator on eggs of both species. We place our findings into the context of jaguar predation on reptiles by reviewing studies of jaguar diet in a variety of biomes.

Population Dynamics Modeling of Arapaima gigas

Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) has been of the most important natural fishing resources of the Amazon region. Due to its economic importance, and the necessity to preserve the species hand, field research concerning the habits and behavior of the pirarucu has been increasing for the last 20 years. The aim of this paper is to present a mathematical model for the pirarucu population dynamics considering the species peculiarities, particularly the male parental care over the offspring. The solution of the dynamical systems indicates three possible equilibrium points for the population. The first corresponds to extinction; the third corresponds to a stable population close to the environmental carrying capacity. The second corresponds to an unstable equilibrium located between extinction and full use of the carrying capacity. It is shown that lack of males’ parental care closes the gap between the point corresponding to the unstable equilibrium and the point of stable non-trivial equilibrium. If guarding failure reaches a critical point the two points coincide and the population tends irreversibly to extinction. If some event tends to destabilize the population equilibrium, as for instance inadequate parental care, the model responds in such a way as to restore the trajectory towards the stable equilibrium point avoiding the route to extinction. The parameters introduced to solve the system of equations are partially derived from limited but reliable field data collected at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR) in the Brazilian Amazonian Region.

NOVAS INFORMAÇÕES SOBRE A DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE <i>CACAJAO CALVUS</i> NA RESERVA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL MAMIRAUÁ

Populations of two forms of uacaries, red and white, are found at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR). Ayres (1986) notes that two skins of red uacaries were brought to Tefé (Amazonas state) from Auati-Paraná area, northern bank of Solimões river, inside the known geographical distribution of white uacaries, suggesting that a zone of contact between these two forms. The objective of this study was to gather information on the distribution of C. calvus at MSDR, both with interviews and direct observation. Parallel transects for active search were made at sites indicated by the inhabitants of the local communities. Nine communities confirmed the presence of white uacaries, while red uacaries were confirmed at seven communities. A small area of complete absence of the species was reported between Auati-paraná channel and Japurá river. A zone of contact between the two forms was indicated at Paraná do Aiupiá. For direct observation of the animals, 82.5 km were covered along Aiupiá channel, where white uacaries were observed in seven occasions, all at the right bank. Red uacaries were also spoted seven times, at the left bank. Further investigations at this area are being conducted in order to define the peripatry of both taxa, with big consequences to the conservation of the species.

The Amazon floodplain Demonstration Site: Sustainable timber production and management of Central Amazonian white-water floodplains

Within the frame of the UNESCO Ecohydrology Program, the present Demonstration Project aims at the enrichment of degraded várzea forest patches with economically important timber species in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), western Brazilian Amazon. Enrichment plantations will reduce exploitation pressure in the natural environment and will contribute to the conservation of várzea forests and its ecological integrity by introducing alternative sources of income for the inhabitants. We present preliminary results from an interdisciplinary research, including data about the use and the net present values of timber trees in western Brazilian várzea; growth models and management criteria of the most exploited timber species; and germination experiments, which demonstrate that várzea timber species are easy to germinate, without requiring complicate treatments and expensive materials. These data allow for the initialization of timber species reproduction at larger scales, and provide the scientific basis to enrich degraded várzea forests with economically important timber species.

Entre "tradicionais" e "modernos": negociações de direitos em duas unidades de conservação da Amazônia brasileira

Enfocaremos o Parque Nacional do Jaú e a Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável de Mamirauá, nos quais grupos reivindicaram direitos jurídicos específicos baseados na etnicidade. Refletiremos sobre como a taxonomia população tradicional foi empregada para categorizar os residentes no interior e no entorno dessas áreas e como tal uso convergiu ou se distanciou de propostas conservacionistas.

Critères de gestion dérivés de l’analyse de cernes pour Figus insipida Willd. (Moraceaea) dans des forêts inondables amazoniennes

Ficus insipida Willd. (Moraceae) is a fast growing tree species of early successional stages in the Amazonian nutrient-rich white-water floodplains (varzea). The species is one of the most economically important low-density wood species in the community-based forest management project in the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR) in Central Amazonia, where timber species are managed using a polycyclic selection system with a minimum logging diameter (MLD) of 50 cm and a cutting cycle of 25 years. In this study we analyze the floristic composition, stand structure and forest regeneration of a natural 20 year-old stand at an early successional stage and we model tree growth of diameter, height and volume of F. inspida based on tree-ring analysis to define management criteria. The volume growth model indicates that the preferred period for logging should be at a tree age of 17 years when the current annual volume increment peaks. This age corresponds to a diameter of 55 cm, which would be an appropriate MLD.

Diet of Podocnemis unifilis (Testudines, Podocnemididae) During the Dry Season in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil

ABSTRACT Stomach contents of Podocnemis unifilis sampled in white water varzea forest during the dry season in the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve (Middle-Solimoes River) had plant material in 100% of cases, with Poaceae and Bombacaceae the most frequently recorded. Poaceae leaves (67.7% frequency) and seeds (21.5% frequency) were common, as were fibers of the fruit Pseudobombax munguba (Bombacaceae; 38.5% frequency), with fruits in general contributing 45.9% of volume. Animal material was consumed in much lesser quantities—only 0.8% of total volume—but had a 37% frequency.

Social Organization and Participatory Resource Management in Brazilian Ribeirinho Communities: A Case Study of the Mamirauà Sustainable Development Reserve, Amazonas

This article examines the experience of a conservation with development project in the Brazilian Amazon in promoting sustainable resource management based on community participation. It describes the ecological and socioeconomic context for the project's activities in the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), and the formal structures established for community participation in resource management. The practical experience of project implementation in the MSDR to date is outlined and discussed relative to the nature of customary social organization in the local ribeirinho communities. The discussion identifies several constraints on the functioning of the formal structure for community participation in a society characterized by extensive kinship networks, a high degree of mobility, and dependency on outside interest groups.