The project
The Amphibian Projects aims to study critical in the area of conservation. Frogs have been dramatically impacted by climate change which makes them a priority to research and protect.
Volunteer work
- Tadpole Monitoring: IPBio collects tadpoles and monitors their development to study the embryological process as well as a the presence of a deadly fungus called Bd
- Amphibian Ethology in Captivity: IPBio has species of frogs in captivity to study their food preference and mating habits
- Amphibian inventories: IPBio wishes to understand the distribution of amphibians, understand their reproductive habits, track species composition and well-being as well as potential find new species. IPBio has 6 different sites each with 5 pitfalls each. Volunteers will need to open the pitfalls for 48 hours and visit the sites to collect data such as species, photograph, size, any diseases found or other relevant information for statistical analysis. This role demands volunteers who can deal with highly exhausting activities as a lot of hiking is required in difficult conditions.
Living at IPBio
Volunteers will stay at the
Darwin Guest House, situated on the reserve itself, which accommodates
up to 8 people in 2 rooms. This house has a bathroom with a hot shower
and has a fully equipped kitchen where volunteers can cook. In addition,
IPBio is in the process of constructing a new house to accommodate more
volunteers, interns and researchers. It is the volunteer’s
responsibility to maintain and clean the house; we take this very
seriously. Shops are in the town of Iporanga 6km away from the reserve,
which you can walk to or get a taxi, where there are various shops with
all you will need.
Every day you will wake up to the sound of
birds, monkeys and frogs and can explore the reserves grounds. Our town
is called the Cave Capital of Brazil so volunteers often visit our state
parks to explore the caves. Hike into the dense forest and visits to
waterfalls are also common activities. Bouy cross, big balloons, are
used to drift down the rivers, some of the river route are 3 hours long!
After work volunteers can swim on the reserve deck, organize dinners,
watch movies, read and go wildlife watching. On the weekend we often
have a barbecue or organize dinner at a restaurant. Often there are
social events or parties in the community that volunteers can go to.
Location
The Atlantic Forest stretches from the northeastern to the southern regions of Brazil
and northern Argentina and southeastern Paraguay. Five hundred years ago, the
Atlantic Forest of Brazil covered approximately 330 million acres, but today only 7%
remains. In the Ribeira Valley, our region of the Atlantic Forest, we are at the footsteps
of 21% of the 7% that is left, it being largest contiguous section of the Atlantic Forest.
Despite the forests diminished state it still ranks as a global conservation priority.
Although it is now just a small fraction of the size of the Amazon rainforest, the
Atlantic Forest still harbors a range of biological diversity similar to that of the Amazon.
The Atlantic Forest harbors around 2,200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and
amphibians – 5% of the vertebrates on Earth. This includes nearly 200 bird species
found nowhere else.
The Betary Reserve is located next to one of the most famous
Brazilian State Parks named PETAR. The region is called the Cave Capital as it known
for containing over 300 spectacular caves, some which are accessible to tourists.
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