course_info_packet2011

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AMAZONPIRE

PASIFieldCourse,2011:

InformationPacketAPanAmericanAdvancedStudiesInstitute(PASI)inPeru

CourseDates: June28July15,2011

PASIisacollaborationbetweentheNSFfundedAmazonPIREproject(aU.S.Brazilpartnershipincluding

theUniversityofArizona,HarvardUniversity,theUniversityofSoPaulo,EMBRAPA,theBrazilianInstitute

forAmazonResearch(INPA),,AsociacinparalaConservacindelaCuencaAmaznica(ACCA)/Amazon

ConservationAssociation,andtheRAINFORAmazonAndesProject(aU.K.Perucollaborationincluding

OxfordUniversity,Pontificia Universidad Catlica del Per,

andotherinstitutionsinPeru)

www.amazonpire.org


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Table of Contents

1 WELCOMETOPASI2011FIELDCOURSE! 12 COURSEDETAILS 2

2.1 Course Organization and Activities 2

2.2 Course Themes and Objectives 3Methods explored during the PASI will include: 3Course organization entails: 4

2.3 Field sites: the Amazon-Andes Transect 4

2.4 Instructors 7

2.5 Course materials and readings 11

2.6 Student Presentations 11

3 PREPARINGFORTRAVEL 12

3.1 A word on International Courtesy 12

3.2 Preparing Travel Documents 12

3.3 Arranging Air Travel to Cusco, Peru 13

3.4 Health and tropical disease 13

3.5 Money 16

4 TRAVELINPERU 17

4.1 What to Bring 174.1.1 Essential Travel Documents and Money 174.1.2 Essential equipment for field course 184.1.3 Clothing and Personal Items 18

4.2 Arriving in Cusco 204.2.1 . Immigration and Clearing Customs 21

4.2.2

Drinking water and bathroom use

214.2.3 In Cusco: Hotel 22

4.2.4 From Cusco: Transport to Wayqecha Biological Station field site 224.2.5 From Wayqecha: Transport to Tambopata (Explorers Inn Lodge) field site 22

4.3 Field Dangers 22

4.4 International/Emergency Contact Information 23


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5 ANTIDISCRIMINATIONANDANTISEXUALHARASSMENTPOLICY 23

APPENDIXA. Emergency Contacts FormB. Assumption of Risk and Release FormC. Syllabus and Schedule


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1 Welcome to PASI 2011 field course!

Tropical Ecology and Biogeochemistry, from Andean Cloud Forests to theLowland Amazon

The Amazon Basin contains the largest extant tropical forests on earth, withunparalleled biological diversity, and a vast store of organic carbon. It is a potentengine in the global water and energy cycles. Large changes in Amazonianbiodiversity, together with those in biogeochemical cycling of carbon and water,expected to occur with climate change or deforestation, could have global as well aslocal impacts. It is, therefore, critically important to understand the ecological andbiogeochemical mechanisms that drive forest-climate interactions in the Amazon.

For the past three years, the Amazon-PIRE Field Course has offered an intensiveintroduction to the science and field methods for understanding tropical forestecology and the associated biogeochemistry of water, carbon, and trace gases. In

2011, Amazon-PIRE is offering a Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute (PASI),an intensive field engagement with problems in Tropical Ecology, Biogeochemistry,and Climate. The theme of PASI field projects will be: "What is the future ofAmazon forests under climate change?" We will use ecosystem transitionsalong a Peruvian elevational gradient from a 3,000 m Andean cloud forest to alowland Amazon forest site as a model for addressing this question.

Just as important, the course provides a foundation for sustained internationalcollaboration between South American and U.S. participants. Our intention is toprovide post-doctoral and graduate students with an introduction to advancedtopics in field methods, which they can use as a springboard for their own related

research questions.

In addition to the scientific foundation of the course, you will also have theopportunity to experience the culture of ancient Peruvian civilizations, as well asthe beauty of Perus natural landscapes.

The purpose of this document is to provide you with the information and tools youneed to prevent unpleasant surprises. Please read the following informationcarefully and BRING THIS PACKET WI TH YOU TO PERU.

Please also check our w ebsite (http:/ / ww w.amazonpire.org/ ) regularly

for updates, as this may include late breaking information about the course, anddetails about arrival in Cusco and the trip from Cusco to Wayqecha and Tambopata.

Feel free to contact us with any questions.


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Course Coordinators

Scott Saleska, Amazon-PIRE Director Eric Coso, ProfessorAssociate Professor, Ecol & Evol. Bio Pontificia Universidad Catlica del Per

University of Arizona Lima, Per(520) 626-1500 [email protected]@email.arizona.edu

Marianne Ritter, Program Coordinator Yadvinder Malhi, ProfessorAmazon-PIRE Professor of Ecosystems ScienceUniversity of Arizona Oxford University(520) 626-6942 Oxford, [email protected] [email protected]

Luciana F. Alves, Research Fellow Megan MacDowell, DirectorAmazon-PIRE Amazon Conservation AssociationUniversity of Arizona Washington, DC - USA

[email protected] [email protected]

2 Course Details

2.1Course Organization and ActivitiesThe PASI will take place along an elevational gradient, from the Andean CloudForest to the Lowland Amazon of Peru, in fully equipped field sites.

For two weeks we will have opportunities for intensive interaction with renowned

experts in ecosystem dynamics, remote sensing, eco-hydrology, plant physiology,and trace gas dynamics.

Our goal is to integrate focused instruction, interactive discussion, and short field-based research projects.

The course is organized in two parts: (1) group projects in the field and (2)discussions/presentations concerning the questions the projects will address.

The group projects are the most important part of the course. Most of theseprojects will focus on comparing some aspect of ecosystem function (from

biodiversity to the cycling of carbon and water) between a high elevation cloudforest site (the Wayqecha field station, where the course will start) and a lowlandtropical forest site (Tambopata Reserve, including the lodge at Explorer's Inn). Theprojects will be conducted under the guidance of a course mentor. Other facultymembers are available for discussion of each topic as well.

For the projects, we will be bringing a wide range of equipment and instrumentsthat will allow us to address the questions of each project. In addition to the field


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projects, there will also be opportunity to explore, via discussions with socialscientists and policy makers, the human dimensions of climate change andsustainability in the Amazon, focusing on policies like those for Reducing Emissionsfrom Degradation and deforestation, known as REDD.

An online course reader of materials will be provided in advance of the course,and this will include a list of project ideas. A larger electronic archive of referencesand articles will also be available.

The primary language of the course lectures will be English, but we will organizeopportunities for U.S. participants to acquire basic Spanish and Portuguese beforeand after the course (eventual acquisition of the relevant foreign language is a goodpredictor of success in long-term international collaboration). Based on previousexperience, we expect the discussions and informal interactions to include a mix ofEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese, with interpretation flowing freely in bothdirections.

Please note that lodging at the upper site, in the Andean Cloud Forest, will belimited and we expect that some people will be lodged in tents on a campingpavilion at the site, with easy access to facilities such as showers.

2.2Course Themes and ObjectivesThe PASI's overall motivating question is:

What is the future of Amazon forests under climate change?

We will use an ecosystem transition along a Peruvian elevational gradient as amodel for addressing this question.

The group projects are the core activity of the course: these are intensely focusedshort field research projects, intended to be conducted in groups of 5-6 with 1-2mentors each. These group projects will be designed by students in collaborationwith their instructor/mentors to address cutting edge research questions with openended outcomes, with the results of each project presented to all participants of theInstitute on the last day.

The intent of the group projects is to test new ideas by collecting and analyzingdatasets that could form the basis of international research projects to be pursuedafter the PASI (for example, as graduate or post-doctoral research projects).

Methods explored during the PASI will include:

eddy covariance methods in conjunction with plot-based forest inventoriesand measurements of water isotopes in vapor and liquid

gas exchange methods to investigate ecophysiology of canopy leaves andwhole-forest canopies

Taxonomy and phylogeny of tropical vegetation communities


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more intensive monitoring plots have been established, together with a weatherstation.

Facilities at Wayqecha

Accommodations and dining facilities for up to 40 visitors (approximately 30lodged in rooms or cabins, and the balance in well-equipped outdoor campingfacilities).

A multipurpose meeting space with lab tables and benches 12 km of well-maintained, geo-referenced trails An on-site automatic weather station A scientific library, including in-house field guides to local plant and animal

communities A canopy walkway

The lowland site is in the Tam bopat a Nat iona l Reserve , with lodging at theExplorer's Inn.

The site is set at the confluence of the La Torre and Tambopata Rivers, 40 longmiles upriver from the bustling frontier town of Puerto Maldonado, in the provinceof Madre de Dios.

Facilities at Explorers Inn

Explorer's Inn tourist lodge (http://www.explorersinn.com/) located insidethe Tambopata National Reserve

a total of 70 beds in single, double and triple bedrooms spread out in a seriesof thatched bungalows, built on raised platforms to protect from flooding.

Each bedroom has a porch, complete mosquito netting, and a privatebathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. A main lodge building, which includes the dining room, bar and reception A laboratory


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Fig 4. Tambopata forest plots and Tambopata river

Fig 5. Tambopata Explorers Inn Lodge accommodations and lab facilities

These sites have diesel-generated electricity that supports use of computers andother equipment during the daytime, and potable water.

NOTE: The facilities are considered well-equipped for field stations in the Amazon,however, there are still limitations. There is:

- No telephone;

- No cellular signal;- Intermittent and slow internet access (when available, but be prepared for no

access anywhere),- Communication by radio;

2.4 Instructors


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Bradley Boyle (Research Associate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University ofArizona) Dr. Boyle's research focuses on how history and phylogeny interact withcontemporary biotic and environmental factors to determine major patterns of plantdistribution and diversity. He has conducted plant inventories in Canada, USA,Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru, and is co-developer of several biodiversityinformatics projects, most recently the iPlant Taxonomic Name Resolution Service(http://tnrs.iplantcollaborative.org). Since 1997, Dr. Boyle has coordinatedgraduate courses in plant systematics and ecology for the Organization for TropicalStudies in Costa Rica.

Francina Domnguez (Assistant Professor, Atmospheric Sciences, University ofArizona) Dr. Domnguez is a hydroclimatologist working on land-atmosphereinteractions, particularly the contribution of evapotranspiration to precipitation atthe continental scale. She also works on future climate change and how it willimpact the surface hydrology. While her work has mostly relied on numericalmodeling, one of her current projects uses water vapor isotopes to study thepartitioning between evaporation and transpiration in different ecologic systems.

Brian Enquist (Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona)Dr. Enquist is a broadly trained ecologist and plant biologist interested in (i)understanding how functional attributes of plants influence larger scale ecological,ecosystem, and evolutionary dynamics and (ii) the origin and maintenance offunctional and phylogenetic diversity. His research uses trait-based, physiological,and theoretical approaches to better understand variation in whole-plant physiologyand growth and the structure and functioning of plant communities and terrestrialecosystems. A common theoretical theme focuses on the origin and ramifications ofbiological scaling laws via developing and assessing metabolic scaling theory. Hehas worked in tropical forests since 1992 focusing on monitoring and understanding

temporal and spatial variation in tropical forest structure and diversity.

Rachel Gallery (Staff Scientist, National Ecological Observatory Network [NEON];beginning August 2011 - Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources and theEnvironment, University of Arizona) Dr. Gallery is an ecologist whose interestsinclude the maintenance of diversity in plant communities, soil microbebiogeography and the biodiversity-promoting roles of cryptic plant-microbeinteractions. For the past ten years, her research has used experimentalmanipulations of plant and microbe communities, microbiological culturing, andcontemporary genetic tools to investigate the strength of plant-microbe feedbackson tropical seedling community dynamics.

Frank Hajek (Director, Servicios Ecosistmicos Per and Research Associate,Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University) With a background inengineering, conservation and business, Frank worked in biodiversity research andprotected area management between 1998 and 2008, first as countryrepresentative for the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Peru and then as ChiefTechnical Advisor to the Zambia Wildlife Authority. Since 2009, he has led a hybridstart-up to develop ecosystem service schemes in southeastern Peru. His research


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interests include conservation innovation, man's relationship with nature, and thevaluation of nature's services.

Joost van Haren (Assistant Research Professor at Biosphere 2, University ofArizona) A recent graduate, specializing in biogeochemistry, Dr. van Harensdissertation focused on plant soil interaction and how this affects greenhouse gasproduction. From 1996 to 2004, he was in charge of the analytical facilities atBiosphere 2, where he currently heads up the research in the tropical biome ofBiosphere 2.

Travis E. Huxman (Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Director UABiopshere 2, Director UA Science: Flandrau, University of Arizona) Dr. Huxmansscholarship focuses on trying to understand the evolution of functional traits inplants and the impacts of climate change on ecosystems. He investigatesphysiological or plant-mediated processes from the spatial scale of cells to that ofwhole landscapes. His current research program aims to understand how climate-ecosystem interactions influence the coupling of carbon and water cycles across

diverse biome types from around the world.

Daniel Metcalfe (Assistant Professor, Forest Ecology and Management, SwedishUniversity of Agricultural Sciences) Dr. Metcalfe has 6 years of research experiencein both montane and lowland tropical forest across South America. His researchbroadly addresses the underlying controls upon, and potential consequences of,shifts in terrestrial carbon cycling using a range of techniques to track the flow andstorage of carbon in vegetation subjected to a range of different experimentaltreatments (e.g.: drought, fire, fertilization) at sites both in the tropics and inSweden. He was, until recently, responsible for coordinating measurements oncarbon stocks and fluxes at sixteen forest plots in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, including

those situated near the course field sites.

Tracey Osborne (Assistant Professor, School of Geography and Development,University of Arizona) With graduate training from the interdisciplinary graduateprogram the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley,Dr. Osbornes research focuses on the social dimensions of climate changemitigation in tropical forests. She has investigated questions of sustainabledevelopment and resource access for local producers of carbon offsets in LatinAmerica. She is interested in bridging the social and natural sciences in ways thatproduce broader environmental impacts.

Yadvinder Malhi (Professor of Ecosystem Science, Oxford University, UK) The broad

scope of Dr. Malhis research interests is the impact of global atmospheric changeon the ecology, structure and composition of terrestrial ecosystems, and inparticular temperate and tropical forests. This research addresses fundamentalquestions about ecosystem function and dynamics, while at the same timeproviding outputs of direct relevance for conservation and adaptation to climatechange.


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Scott Saleska (Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University ofArizona, US Director of Amazon-PIRE) With a background in physics, ecology, andatmospheric science, Dr. Saleskas research focuses on how climate interacts withplant physiology, demography, and ecological processes to influence or controlbiogeochemical cycling from local to global scales. He has worked in the Amazonregion since 1999. He is Principal Investigator on the grant that funds the U.S.component of Amazon-PIRE, from the National Science Foundations Office ofInternational Science and Engineering.

Miles R. Silman (Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Center forEnergy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University) His work centerson the response of tropical forests to past and future climate change with particularemphasis on community ecology, species distribution and species migration inspace and time. Dr. Silman has over 20 years of experience working in the Andesand Amazon and is a coordinator and founding member of the Andes Biodiversityand Ecosystem Research Group.

Norma Salinas Revilla (University of San Antonio Abad, Cusco) Norma leads theBotany Department at the National University of San Antonio Abad, Cusco(UNSAAC). UNSAAC was created in 1692, and is one of the oldest universities inSouth America. Professor Salinas Revilla specializes in botany and ecology, and isthe Director of CEPLAM. She collaborates with Drs. Meir, Malhi and Silman on someprojects. Her work centers on the response of tropical forests ecosystems to pastand future climate changes in the tropical Andes, with particular emphasis on plantcommunity ecology, species distribution and the decay of organic matter in theforest.

Scott Stark (Senior graduate student and Amazon-PIRE graduate fellow, University

of Arizona) With an undergraduate and field background in empirical tropical andtemperate plant community ecology, Starks graduate research is aimed atcombining metabolic scaling theory with small-footprint LIDAR remote-sensingmeasurements to understanding how community processes play out across sizeclasses in tropical forests to influence ecosystem processes like carbon flux.

Rafael Silva Oliveira (Associate Professor, Plant Biology, University of Campinas,Brazil) With a background in plant functional ecology, and ecohydrology, Dr.Oliveiras research focuses on the interface and feedback between plants and theirenvironment, with a special emphasis on how plant function influences hydrologicalprocesses. He has worked in tropical forests in the Amazon, Atlantic rainforests andCerrado savannas in Brazil.

Robert Sanford (Program Director, National Science Foundation, also Professor,Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Denver) With a background in forestecology, and soil science, Dr. Sanford's research focuses on how roots and soilcharcoal influence and interact with biogeochemical cycling. He has worked in theAmazon region since 1980, and in the tropics since 1977. He has been on leavesince 2009 from the University of Denver as a rotator and director of two programsat the National Science Foundation.


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2.5Course materials and readingsKey course materials will be provided in a bound notebook to you before the coursebegins. These include:

- Detailed schedule and syllabus for the course.- A description of all course projects.

- Key journal articles chosen by the faculty that include required andsupplemental readings for the course lectures, and background material tohelp guide the course projects.

The pdfs of these materials and a longer electronic archive will also be madeavailable through the course website. However, internet access at the fieldresearch stations is extremely limited, so we recommend that you bring a hardcopy with you on your journey, both for reading during the long airplane and boattrips, and to consult during the course.

For background information about the Amazon basin, tropical forests, and Peru in

particular, we recommend:

A Mega-Dam Dilemma in the AmazonA huge dam on Peru's Inambari River will bring much-needed development to theregion. But at what cost?

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/A-Mega-Dam-Dilemma-in-the-Amazon.html#ixzz1FHuxPvla

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112489035

A neotropical companion (1999), by John C. Kricher. This book gives a goodreview of the plant and animals in the Amazon ecosystems of the new world

tropical forests. Though not a field guide to plants or animals, it provides anexcellent source of examples of ecosystem interactions.

The Last Forest (2007) Mark London and Brian Kelly. A very readable accountof all sides involved in Amazon deforestation that also excellently captures atravelers impressions of Amaznia.

2.6Student PresentationsAt the outset of the course, we will ask everyone to give a brief (2-minute)presentation that describes you and your research interests.

Research project presentations will take place on the last day of the course, whenyou and your group will make a presentation of the findings of your researchproject to the other students and faculty. These will each be 15-minutepresentations, using approximately 15 slides, followed by questions and discussion.In order to facilitate analysis of data and preparation of presentations, it isimportant for you to bring a laptop computer as part of your participation in thecourse (see section 4.1.2, Essential materials for the field course).


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3 Preparing for travel

3.1A word on International CourtesyU.S. participants will be guests in Peru and we expect respectful behavior towardsthe local people and fellow course participants during your trip and the field course.

Avoid any illegal activity or behavior Violations are taken seriously, and could leadto significant jail time for the individuals involved, and very possibly cause the endof this research program for everybody.

U.S. customs also strictly prohibits the entry of animal and plant materials.

For information regarding traveling safely in Peru, please refer to the U.S. StateDepartment site: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html

3.2Preparing Travel Documents(NOTE: you should already have secured a passport

by the time you receive this information packet)

PASSPORT: valid for at least 6 months prior to its expiration date, and with atleast one blank page available for the visa stamp. If you do not have a U.S.passport, or if you have a passport that will expire soon, please coordinate withMarianne Ritter to have it renewed as soon as possible.

VISA: You will not need a visa for entry into Peru.

VACCINATION RECORD (Yellow Booklet): Officially titled the InternationalCertificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, this World Health Organization-approveddocument is a record of your vaccinations, in particular the yellow fevervaccination. This can be provided to you by your doctors office. Yellow fever is arisk, and is recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) for travel tolowland areas of Peru (including one of the sites of our PASI). See:http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/yellow-fever-vaccine-requirements-and-recommendations.htm

The Peruvian Ministry of Health, however, requires a yellow fevervaccination for entry into Peru. See website:

http://www.minsa.gob.pe/portada/viajeros.asp

A yellow fever vaccination is also required for entrance into the Tambopatafield site , sowe therefore require that you obtain a yellow fevervaccination, and bring with you to Peru your yellow W orld HealthOrganization record ("Yellow Booklet") (see section below on Health and thewebsite for The US Center for Disease Control:http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/peru.htm


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Also, please read medical information from the US Department of State regardingtravel in Peru: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html#medical

IMPORTANT FORMS: Before you leave for Peru, we will ask that everyonecarefully inspect the risk assessment (attached) for Peru sites, sign a standardUniversity of Arizona Release of Liability form and fill out an emergency contactform (see attachments). Please return these documents to Marianne beforedeparture. There will be some additional forms for you to fill out and those will beemailed to you before your departure.

AIRLINE TICKETS: If you have obtained funding for travel (or are covering ityourself) please feel free to purchase your airline tickets to meet the schedule ofthe course. We will also be arranging travel through a travel agent that is familiarwith bookings to Peru. Please contact Marianne directly about this option for travelarrangements (see section below on Travel Arrangements for more details).

3.3Arranging Air Travel to Cusco, Peru(NOTE: you should already have secured plane reservations

by the time you receive this information packet)

There is only one port of entry in Peru - Lima. Nearly all flights to Peru from the USgo via Miami, Houston or Atlanta. Delta, Continental, and American airlines are themain carriers serving Peru from the US. From Europe, the most common routes arevia Amsterdam on KLM, via Madrid on Iberia, or via Frankfurt on Lufthansa.

We can help in booking the ticket and finding good fares. If you want to book yourticket yourself here are some options:

- Use a travel agent, e.g., those that specialize in adventure or foreign travel,- Book your ticket through internet sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, etc.

Check your medical or homeowners insurance policies to see if you areinsured for travel (for example, standard UA student medical insurance

covers students while traveling). If not, consider purchasing special travelcoverage, which is relatively inexpensive. If you purchase travel insurance, makesure that you get the coverage you want, which might include emergency medicalcare, evacuation and hospitalization.

3.4Health and tropical diseaseWhile the image of the Amazon forest conjures up fear and wonder for manyAmericans, our research sites are exotic but not especially dangerous. We haveyears of experience in the field without serious disease or injury, and malaria is notendemic in this region of the Amazon. Field sites are equipped with first aidequipment. The forest has hazards familiar in Arizona (poisonous snakes, scorpions,and centipedes) that can pose some risk if cornered. In case of emergency,


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Wayquecha is approximately a six hour drive from Cuzco and Tambopata is aroundthree hours by boat from the town of Puerto Maldonado. As stinging insects are ahazard to those with allergies, susceptible students and researchers are required tocarry injectable epinephrine (Epipens is available by prescription). The field coursewill include a safety training component to inculcate basic precautions for field workand basic first aid.

It is important to behave responsibly and safely since we will be in remote areasand the consequences of injury are serious.

Mountain sickness: or soroche, is a risk for people visiting high-altitude placessuch as Cusco (around 3,300 m asl) or Wayqecha (2,950 m asl) and need to betreated seriously. Anti-nausea medication should be on the list along with plansfor altitude sickness. The use of alcohol at high elevations can be dangerous, so itsuse is discouraged.

More information about mountain sickness is found under Medical Facilities and

Health Information:http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html#medical

The basic health-related requirements for participating in the course are:

You must haveproof of health insurance to participate in this course (seeattached emergency contact sheet). If you do not already have healthinsurance, you must arrange for coverage during the course.

If you are allergic to insect stings or to particular foods or medications, or haveother medical conditions that could pose a potential problem, please inform theAmazon-PIRE office before your departure.

You must provide us with at least one emergency contact person prior totravel.

Prior to travel you should consult your health care provider, travel clinic (forstudents at the University of Arizona, you can also consult the Campus HealthCenter Immunizations/Travel Clinic, and arrange for vaccinations there), or healthdepartment on the recommended immunizations and medication. The CDC website(http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/peru.htm) is also an excellent source ofmedical travel information.

Another useful site for information is: http://travel.state.gov/. If you have a

question about any of the vaccines, or whether you should not get one, werecommend that you speak to your healthcare professional. There is moreinformation regarding vaccine and reactions to vaccines at:http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/should-not-vacc.htm#hepa. You mayconsider having a physical and dental check-up prior to your trip. There is basicand emergency equipment at our field site, but specialized medical attention is notavailable onsite.


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We are not medical professionals, but can offer the following recommendationsbased on information from official travel websites regarding diseases andrecommended immunizations:

Recommended vaccinations: yellow fever (required for entrance into field site),hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, diphtheria, tetanus/diphtheria, and polio. You verylikely already have the last three vaccinations on this list, but diphtheria andtetanus might not be current. Please check the CDC website for recommendationsabout routine vaccinations: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/peru.htm

Since the course is taking place in the winter and because of its high elevation,you will most likely not be exposed to many insects at Wayqecha, the upper site.Tambopata, however, is located in the lowlands and you can expect to encountermosquitos and other biting insects during both the day and night. Each bed atTambopata is equipped with a mosquito net (see photo 5), but it is recommendedthat you bring an ample amount of mosquito repellent with DEET as well as wearlong-sleeve cotton t-shirts and field pants.

Some basic background on tropical diseases is outline below:

Yel l ow f ev e r : there are occasional outbreaks of yellow fever in some areas oftropical South America, therefore, yellow fever vaccination is recommended fortravel into the Amazon region. Plan a visit to your local travel health department orclinic well in advance to obtain the vaccination, and make sure to include yourvaccination record (a standard yellow card) among your travel documents (seesection on Essential Travel Documents, above).Hepat i t i s A: make sure you are immunized against hepatitis A. If you have hadthe first step of the vaccine within the past year, get a booster that will give you

protection for 10 years.Hepat i t i s B: make sure you are immunized against hepatitis B.D engue : Dengue is characterized by muscle, joint pain, and fever, which typicallylast up to a week or more before subsiding. There is no vaccine against the denguevirus (carried by mosquitos), and primary prevention is insect repellent and amosquito net. Dengue is endemic in some cities of South America (including PuertoMaldonado), but relatively rare in the forest, where we will be spending most of ourtime.Malar ia : is currently very rare in the city of Cusco and the surrounding region,however, there is a risk in some forested areas of the Amazon region. Most of theresearch and teaching staff who have been working in the Amazon for many yearsdo not take medical malaria prophylactic because there isnt recent malaria

incidence in the areas where we work, and we feel that mosquito netting largelyminimizes the residual risk. If it makes you feel more comfortable, you may obtainmalaria prophylactic (e.g. mefloquine, often called by its brand name Lariam,doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil, brand name Malarone) from your doctorbefore the trip. Malaria medicines can have side effects, and not everyone can takethem. It is important to check w ith your doctor to advise you regarding riskand medications.Chag as d isease: though rare around Cusco, one can easily prevent this


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potentially debilitating and deadly disease. The best method of prevention isa mosquito net.Sch is tosomias is : this disease can be transmitted by swimming in contaminatedrivers and lakes.Le ishman ias is : this disease is caused by protozoan parasites which aretransmitted to humans by the bite of certain sand flies (genus Lutzomyia), causingskin sores/ulcers which can lead to severe tissue damage if left untreated.Treatment is traditionally by a month-long course of heavy metal (antimony)injections, though new oral treatments with fewer side effects are becomingavailable. Daytime insect precautions are strongly recommended, as well as amosquito net, long-sleeve shirts and field pants, and insect repellent with DEET.

3.5MoneyMoney in Peru is the Nuevo sol (or sol), whose symbol is S/. The value of the Nuevosol varies slightly from day to day.See http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ for daily values.

You can change US dollars into Nuevo soles (S/) in some US airports (e.g.Miami, Atlanta), and in many major Peruvian airports. Perhaps the most efficientapproach is to use your ATM/bank card to make withdrawals from within Peru. Thisis easy at most airports, and within the city of Cusco there are a large number ofbanks with ATM machines that will accommodate international withdrawals. Suchmachines are clearly labeled with logos indicating access to international banknetworks such as VISA and CIRRUS, or StarNet. Be aware that after 9 pm and onSundays you might be limited on how much cash may be withdrawn. You may alsochange currency to Peruvian soles from U.S. dollars, etc. You should bring with yousome Peruvian Nuevo soles equivalent to $US100-$200 in small amounts (5 and 10sol bills) in case you encounter any problems withdrawing money from ATMs. You

can also exchange currency in your bank before your departure.

You may also use a Visa credit card for purchases at many large shops and mosthotel lodgings. Although the option to pay by credit card is increasingly frequent inthe Peru (especially in the large cities like Lima and Cusco), it is not universal.

It is good practice to notify in advance both your credit card company and the bankwhich holds your ATM card that you will be traveling abroad to Peru. This willincrease the odds that your bank will not invoke security precautions and suspendyour card due to unusual or unexpected activity.

No money will be needed at the field station; accommodations and meals are pre-paid by Amazon-PIRE. However, Tambopata has a bar, so if you would like topurchase drinks there, you should bring some Peruvian money. Also, you may wishto bring some Peruvian money in case there is an option to pay for laundry servicesat the field site.


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4 Travel in Peru

4.1What to Bring

4.1.1 Essential Travel Documents and Money

When you travel, be sure to bring these essential travel documents:

Your valid passport. Make sure it has at least two pages with space forentry and exit stamps

Youryellow bookletcontaining your vaccination record. This booklet isprovided to you by your physician or through the campus health travel office.

A copy of this information packet; Emergency contact information for you to contact in case of problems:

ACCA Cusco OfficeAv. Oswaldo Baca 402 -Urb. Magisterio Cusco - Per(084)222-329 / (084)252-937 (http://www.acca.org.pe/)

24-hour cell phone emergency number: 984-903017

(NOTE: 51 in the numbers above is the Peruvian country code, and is onlyused when dialing from outside Peru.)

Comment about travel documents: in all likelihood you will not be asked to showthe documents listed above except for the passport. However, occasionallyPeruvian officials will seek to verify that foreign involvement in Peruvian projects isin fact properly authorized, and if this occurs, having the documents listed abovewill be necessary. Please bring them.

Money for Expenses: You should be prepared for certain expenses in Peru,including:Cost of meals and incidental transportation (e.g. taxis from the airport, which

usually are charged at a rate of S/ 15 per taxi).Cost of any additional overnight stays in Cusco may cost $35(for a hostel) or

more, depending on accommodations and in Lima $50 or more, depending onaccommodations, which can be paid for with visa credit card).

The bureaucracy for foreign involvement in scientific activities in Peru sometimesseems onerous, but as international researchers we are guests of a foreign country.It is thus important that we all be respectful of Peruvian sovereignty and

regulations in exchange for the privilege of being able to continue scientific work inPeru.

Emergency Travel Money: It is advisable to make sure you have about US$100-200 in Peruvian currency. Also bring an ATM or Visa card. (See section 3.5

Money about changing money or using ATMs in Peru).


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4.1.2 Essential equipment for field course

Most of the equipment and materials for the course are supplied by Amazon-PIRE.

Several additional items, however, are needed for you to be prepared for work inthe field and for study, including:

- Laptop computer. Essential for data entry, reading of electronic documents,data analysis, and preparation of your groups presentation on the last day (youprobably will not be able to use your computer for internet access, as there is oneslow connection to a single community computer).- Memory stick/ flash drive. To back-up and share data.- Copy of this information packet.- Your Amazon-PI RE Course Reader. (see section 2.5, Course materials andreadings). This will be sent to you shortly before the course.

- Day pack for field use. Good for carrying samples, notebooks, poncho/umbrella,camera, and other essentials for a day in the forest- Water bottle or canteen: large, since you will drink a lot in the forest.Camelbak for hands free access to drinking are popular.- Pocket knife. A good field scientist does not leave home without it, the Swissarmy knives or leathermans are especially handy (make sure they are packed inchecked baggage).- Watch. A simple cheap and water resistant digital watch makes coordination andsampling easier during a field campaign.- Lecture notebook. For taking notes during the lectures. Or use your laptop ifyou prefer.- Field notebook(s). Waterproof rite-n-rain notebooks and waterproof pen(s) or

pencils are recommended and easy to get (any University bookstore has them).Bring multiple of each since the notebooks are small and fill up rapidly and pens areeasily lost in the forest.- Felt pens (sharpies) for marking samples.- Clip-board. Handy surface to take notes, especially the metal closable onesare very good.-Plastic ziplock bags, one pack of 100 zippered sandwich bags is sufficient.

4.1.3 Clothing and Personal Items

LODGINGLodging at Wayqecha, the upper site, will be in cabins and by camping in

tents, at a sheltered pavilion set up for this purpose, with nearby facilities.Approximately 5-7 of the participants will be camping here. Let us know if youhave a strong preference either for camping or for cabin lodging, it will facilitate thelodging assignments.


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Lodging at Tambopata, the lower site, will be in light cabins with beds.

PACKINGTravel as light as possible, but please note that you will be in two different climaticzones. It will be winter in Wayqecha, and because of the high elevation, nighttemperatures can reach close to freezing. There is no heat in the cabins, so pleasebring clothing that you can layer. For clothing at Tambopata, since temperatureswill be warm, light weight clothing is best as it is cooler, holds little water and driesfast. A backpack may be the best type of luggage to carry because of field sitesbeing located in either steep terrain or by the river, and the likelihood of having tocarry your luggage for at least short distances. We will be spending most of ourtime in the forest, as such bring clothes and personal items (clothes, hat, glasses,watch, etc.) that you do not mind getting sweaty, muddy, or lost.

There is limited space for luggage in the boats to Tambopata and you will only beallowed one small suitcase, rucksack or backpack. Any excess luggage can be leftahead of time in the lodges office in Puerto Maldonado. You will have to take care

of your own laundry at the basecamp (where water is available for washing),although there may be an option for you to pay basecamp employees to dolaundry.

- Shirts. Bring two or more long-sleeve field shirts for work in the forest (to protectagainst sun and insects), and short-sleeve T-shirts for comfortable wear in camp inTambopata. In Wayqecha you will need lightweight sweaters during the day andwarmer clothing at night.- Pants. Light-weight field pants from which the pant legs can be unzipped areconvenient for combination field and camp wear.- Shorts. During classroom and leisure time at camp, shorts or skirts are theoptimum clothing items at the warmer Tambopata site.- Underwear. Light-weight as well, but bring as many pairs as you can fit.Underwear is also great to fill suitcase spaces.- Socks. Simple socks, long enough to tuck pant legs into for protection when antsare crawling up your pant legs.- Footwear. Solid boots like timberlands or rubber boots are recommended. Soleswith excellent profile are recommended for scaling fallen trees and walking on wetclay-rich soils. At camp at Tambopata you can wear flip-flops, or sandals. Runningshoes are recommended for the avid runner and sports person. Make sure thatyour footwear is comfortable and broken in.- Light sweater/ jacket. The climate is warm and nights are mild at Tambopatabut in Wayqecha, bring a medium weight sweater, jacket, and gloves.

- Laundry bag/ pillowcase. Good for keeping dirty clothes between washings-Hat . The sun is very strong, even though it is often rainy and shady within theforest. We recommend that you bring a shade hat, which will also protect your headand neck from falling insects.- Bandanas. Come in handy to keep sweat out of your eyes.- Sunglasses. Same with the hat; Polarized sunglasses provide eye protection,especially along the river.


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- Spare eyeglasses, contact lenses, or prescriptions. It will not be possible toreplace lost eyeglasses, contact lenses, or prescriptions once at the course site.- High rated sunscreen. Sun protection is essential in Peru. Sunscreen is availablein Lima, Cusco, and Puerto Maldonado.- Insect repellant. Insect repellant with high DEET content works.- Rain-poncho. Bring a light foldable rain poncho to protect you, your fieldgear and notebooks against strong tropical downpours.- Umbrella. Like a rain-poncho, it may come in handy in the forest, and intown.- Flash light. The generator at Wayqecha and Tampobata sites will be turned offaround 10-11 pm, which leaves the camp pitch-black. Head-lamps are especiallyhandy.- Extra batteries. If you run out during the course, it will not be possible topurchase any additional batteries close to the field camps.- Digital camera. This may be a trip of a lifetime, therefore, you will be glad toshare it with your family and friends.- Binoculars. To observe flora and fauna up close

- Music. MP3 player or iPod make travel more enjoyable and are good to providepersonal space in crowded conditions.- Silica gel (or dry rice grains). To keep important things dry.- Clothespins. To hang your clothes to dry, close bags, etc.- Toiletries. Make sure you bring your preferred soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc.These items are available in Cusco or Puerto Maldonado, but very likely not yourbrand, nor do they come cheap.- Personal medical supplies. Field camps have basic infirmary supplies forgeneric first aid, and the PIRE project will bring wilderness first aid supplies. But ifyou have any medical condition that requires medication, includingallergies/sensitivity to bees and/or other insect stings, please bring an abundant

supply of the prescription or epipens with you. You may consider bringing a basicpersonal first-aid kit as well, including antihistamine (for allergies), antihistaminelotion (for insect bites), an antiseptic ointment (like Neosporin or somethingsimilar), Tylenol/Aspirin, antacid, anti-diarrheal, antibiotic topical cream, anti-nausea/motion sickness, alitude sickness medicine. You may obtain from yourdoctor a prescription for a strong systemic antibiotic (like Cipro) for emergency usein the event of serious intestinal upset or other infection.- Hammock. Hammocks are not generally used in Peru, and lodgings are notusually outfitted with hammock hooks (as, for example, in the Amazon of Brazil).- Sleeping bags/ tents. Sleeping bags and tents will be provided for anyone whowishes to camp at Wayqecha.- Bedclothes/ towels. Not supplied at field camps, so bring a towel and a set of

sheets and a pillow for use on your bed in Peru.

4.2 Arriving in CuscoYou should be arriving in Cusco no later than midnight on the night of the June28th, since we will transfer to Wayqecha in the afternoon of the 29th. You may alsoarrive in Cusco a day earlier, which will allow you to adjust to the altitude and getto know the area before the class starts.


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4.2.1. Immigration and Clearing Customs

All nationalities need a tourist card called tarjeta de embarque to enter Peru, issuedon the plane before landing in Lima. You will also be given a Customs form to fillout about what you are bringing into the country. Filling these out should be

straightforward. On the entry/exit card, there is no option for declaring yourpurpose to be research or education, but you may check that the purpose of yourvisit is Other. (For Customs, if you are bringing equipment into the country forresearch or for the PIRE course, please consult further with Joost about thenecessary documents for temporary importation of goods).

At your initial port of arrival in Peru (Lima) you will have to first go throughimmigration, showing your passport, and receiving from them a copy of your

Tarjeta de Entrada/Salida, the entrance/exit card. KEEP YOUR COPY . You willbe asked for it again by immigration upon your departure from Peru.

Then you can pick up your checked bags in order to clear customs, after which theycan be re-checked for your connecting flight.

When going through customs after baggage claim, each person will need to push abutton. If the light is green, they hand over their customs declaration then walkright through. If the light is red, their bags will be searched.

CAUTIONARY NOTE: airline officials at domestic points of departure in the U.S. willoccasionally tell you that your bags are checked all the way through to your finaldestination, but unless your final destination is also your port of entry (e.g. Limaitself), this is incorrect! Bags must be claimed at a port of entry in order to clearcustoms.

Another note: For internal flights, you will need to pay an airport tax, at the PuertoMaldonado airport, so please have some cash available. The procedure is first tocheck in at the counter, then pay the tax, then proceed through the securitycheckpoint to board the airplane.

4.2.2 Drinking water and bathroom use

We advise against drinking water out of the tap from city water supplies in Lima,Cusco or other towns of the Peru. Bottled water is readily available at most hotels,restaurants, and shops. Water at the field site is filtered from deep wells onsite and

is regularly and safely used as a source of drinking water and cooking by campresidents and researchers.

When using toilet facilities in bathrooms while traveling in Peru, place no wastepaper, not even toilet paper, into the toilet, as plumbing systems are sensitive andwill easily clog. Bathrooms are typically equipped with separate waste receptaclesfor the disposal of used toilet paper. Please use these.


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4.2.3 In Cusco: Hotel

Please confirm with us before you leave that we have your correct flight informationfor arrival into Lima and Cusco. For most participants, we plan to arrange to havesomeone meet you at the airport, with transport to taxi to hotel. If you want to

make your own arrangements, please let us know .

We plan to stay at:CLUB HOTELAdress: Av. Tomasa Titto Condemayta 903 - WanchaqPhone: 084 -223320Cuscohttp://www.peruhotel.net/hotels-in-peru/cusco-hotels/club-hotel-cusco.html

If you have enough time, you may have time to sightsee in Cusco. We will havesome suggested plan of activities for you.

4.2.4From Cusco: Transport to Wayqecha Biological Station fieldsite

The course will begin on June 29 at Wayqecha Biological Station (see syllabusschedule attached as an Appendix to this information packet).

A bus will transport everyone from Cusco to Wayqecha. The plan at this writing isfor the bus to depart the hotel at 8 am, arriving between 1 and 2pm.

4.2.5From Wayqecha: Transport to Tambopata (Explorers InnLodge) field site

A bus will transport everyone from Wayqecha to Cusco early in the morning of July6th. This trip will take approximately 6-6/12 hours to arrive in Cusco. We will thenleave by bus on July 7th, for a 10-12 hour trip along the picturesque highway toPuerto Maldonado. Upon arrival to Puerto Maldonado, the group will check into ahotel to spend the night. In the morning of July 8th, a bus will pick up the group atthe hotel and take us to the dock for transfer to Tambopata. Please be dressed infield clothing for the 3 hour boat trip.

4.3Field DangersThe biggest danger in a tropical forest such as the Amazon is getting lost! Close onthe list to becoming lost is the risk of injury from an accidental fall. Therefore it isstrictly required that all students enter the forest with at least one person familiarwith the forest.


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Yes, the forest contains more exotic potential dangers, like jaguars, poisonoussnakes, huge stinging ants, and black scorpions. These tend to loom large inpeoples imagination, but the chances of encountering, let alone get bitten or stungby a creature that poses imminent serious or life-threatening injury is relativelysmall.

At the same time, it is important not to be cavalier about the risks inherent inworking and living at a remote site with little in the way of infrastructure andlimited medical facilities. All participants should understand and acknowledge thatthe PASI 2011 field course at forest sites involves an element of risk. This riskincludes, but is not limited to, getting lost in the forest, serious or life threateningphysical injury, contracting insect-borne illnesses, and possible encounters withlethally poisonous snakes, scorpions, spiders and other wild animals and somedangerous plants.

Thus, it is important to at all times be aware of your surroundings and do not try todo something rapidly or without first taking a good look around for potential

danger. While in the forest follow the suggestions of the local guides, who areintimately familiar with the dangers of the forest and can help you from disturbingpotentially dangerous animals.

4.4 International/Emergency Contact Information

In Wayqecha:ACCA Cusco OfficeAv. Oswaldo Baca 402 -Urb. MagisterioCusco - Per(084)222-329 / (084)252-937

Celular : 984-903017

In Tambopata:PERUVIAN SAFARIS S.A.Av. Elmer Faucett s/n km 6.30Puerto MaldonadoMADRE DE DIOSTelf: 829-700-090

The field camp is outfitted with a radio connection and limited internet access.Occasional email is the main option for external communication. In case of an

emergency, friends and family can contact the ACCA Cusco office who can radioa message to the field station during business hours.

5 Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Sexual Harassment PolicyThe University of Arizona prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment,on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteransstatus, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Sexual harassment is a form of sex


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discrimination that is specifically prohibited by this policy. The Universitys SexualHarassment Policy is based on the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of1964, the Education Amendments of 1972, and other applicable laws that prohibitdiscrimination because of sex. A pdf copy of the policy can be obtained at thefollowing website: http://fp.arizona.edu/affirm/shpolicy.htm.

Anyone interested is encouraged to review the policy, regardless of whether youare concerned about an offense, an allegation of offense, or just interested.

phone (520) 626-6942 and/ or email at: [email protected] or

[email protected]


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APPENDIX

A. Emergency Contacts FormB. Assumption of Risk and Release FormC. Syllabus and Schedule


29/35

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the instructors and staff at field work locations are not trained medical personnel. If I require medical treatment or

hospital care in a foreign country during my travel, the University is not responsible for the cost or quality of such

treatment or care, or injuries arising from or related to such care.

5. Personal Property: I understand that I assume the risk of damage to or loss of my personal property and that

neither the University of Arizona nor the Amazon-PIRE/PASI Project is responsible for my personal property at any

time during the Amazon-PIRE/PASI Field Course, including any damage to luggage or personal effects during air

travel , river travel, or road travel to or from any site or location within or en route to Peru.

6. Standards of Conduct:

A. I understand that each foreign country has its own laws and standards of acceptable conduct, including dress,

manners, morals, politics, drug use, and behavior. I recognize that behavior which violates those laws or standards

could harm the Universitys relations with those countries and the institutions therein, as well as my own health and

safety. I also understand that the University is not responsible for providing any assistance, legal or otherwise, in

dealing with the laws or standards of foreign countries. I will become informed of, and abide by, all such laws and

standards for each country to or through which I will travel, and accept any consequences of violations thereof.

B. I agree to comply with the Universitys rules, standards, and instructions for student behavior. I waive and release

all claims against the University that arise at a time when I am not under the direct supervision of the University or

that are caused by my failure to remain under such supervision or to comply with such rules, standards, andinstructions.

C. I agree that the University has a right to enforce the standards or conduct described above, in its sole judgment,

and that it will impose sanctions, up to and including expulsion from this travel and/or the University, for violating

these standards or for any behaviors detrimental to or incompatible with the interest, harmony, and welfare of the

University, other participants or third parties. I recognize that due to the circumstances of foreign study programs,

procedures for notice, hearing, and appeal applicable to disciplinary proceedings at the University do not apply. If I

am expelled, I consent to being sent home at my own expense with no refund of fees.

7. Assumption of Risk and Release of Claims: Knowing the risks described above, and in consideration of being

permitted to participate in this travel, I agree, on behalf of my family, heirs, and personal representative(s), to

assume all the risks and responsibilities surrounding my travel as part of this University program or activity. To the

maximum extent permitted by law, I release and indemnify the Arizona Board of Regents, The University ofArizona, and the officers, employees, and agents, from and against any present or future claim, loss, or liability for

injury to person or property which I may suffer, or for which I may be liable to any other person, during my

participation in this travel activity (including periods in transit to or from any country that is part of this program).

I have carefully read this Assumption of Risk and Release before signing it. No

representations, statements, or inducements, oral or written, apart from the foregoing written

statement, have been made.

Signature: ______________________________________________ Date: ________________________________

File completed forms with the UA Academic Department that is Sponsoring the Travel.


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C. Syllabus and Schedule

1. Syllabus

As indicated by the course description, the proposed course consists of three

integrated components: focused instruction, interactive discussion, andfield-based short research projects.

The Focused instruction component covers the core subject matter and associatedfield methods of the course, including: Ecology and Botany of the Andean slope of the Peruvian Amazon. Ecophysiology of tropical trees Soil biogeochemistry and fluxes of CH4, N2O and CO2 Remote sensing of tropical forest structure and function (including ground-

based surveys with upward-looking LIDAR and using hyperspectral imagingto characterize leaf traits)

Biological scaling laws and methods, from leaf traits to landscapes

Biosphere-Atmosphere water, energy and carbon dioxide exchange

The material will be developed in lectures and associated course readings(which will be drawn from the primary literature).

The lectures will be complemented by the second component, interactivediscussions on selected evenings. These discussions will focus on cutting edgedebates and questions about tropical forest function and climate, where theprincipals involved in the debates include the course instructors. These questions,along with associated key references are: What is the carbon balance of tropical forests? (Phillips et al, 1998; Saleska

et al, 2003; Malhi et al, 2009a; Aragao et al, 2009) and can we reconcile methods-based controversies about this question? (e.g atmospheric vs. ground basedmethods: Wofsy et al., 1988; Chou et al. 2002; Lloyd et al. 2007; Gatti et al,2010 or selection bias in forest plot selection: Fisher et al. 2008 vs. Gloor et al.,2009) What is the seasonality of tropical forest metabolism? (Borchert, 1983; VanSchaik et al; 1993; Huete, et al., 2006; Saleska et al., 2009) What is the effect of climate extremes on tropical forest function? (Hutyra etal., 2005, 2007; Fisher et al 2007; Nepstad et al. 2007; Phillips et al., 2009) And,can we use remote sensing methods to reliably assess forest response to climatevariation? (Saleska et al., 2007 vs. Samanta et al., 2010; Brando et al., 2010) What is the fate of biological diversity of tropical rainforest systems? (Bush

et al, 2005; Silman et al, 2006) Is the distribution and abundance of tropical tree species and their associatedtraits also important for biogeochemistry? (van Haren et al., 2005, 2010; Townsendet al., 2008; Baker et al., 2009) What is the fate of Amazon forests under climate change? (Betts et al.,2004; Malhi et al, 2008, 2009b)


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The third component is group research projects It is with projects at thedifferent sites that we will directly explore the theme of the course: Can we usedifferences along the transect in climate, forest structure, ecophysiology,hydrology, and soil biogeochemistry to give insights into the fundamental question:What is the future of Amazon forests under climate change? We will bring to thefield a suite of equipment and instruments to enable sophisticated measurementand analysis for cutting edge experiments and projects. The instrumentationincludes:- Licor 6400 photosynthesis systems for leaf-gas exchange and florescencemeasurements (e.g. Dominguez et al., 2005; Doughty et al. 2006);- Hyperspectral leaf absorbance/reflectance scanning systems forcharacterizing the optical properties (and hence photosynthetic capacity) of leaves(e.g. Rascher and Pieruschka, 2008);- Portable backpack LIDAR system for measurement of forest canopystructure (e.g. Parker et al., 2004);- Balloon system and associated gas analyzers for conducting atmosphericprofiles of CO2 and water vapor to enables estimates of nighttime boundary layer

budgets (Acevedo et al. 2008);- Portable gas chromatograph system for measurement of important green-house gases: methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide (van Haren et al; 2010);

Proposed research projects enabled by this instrumentation includes:(1) Are previously detected differences in aboveground productivity and biomass(Malhi et al., 2006, 2009a) of forests along the Amazon transect reflected indifferences in physical forest structure along gradients from cloud forest to lowland?This student project will use ground LIDAR surveys in RAINFOR forest survey plotsto detect and quantify forest structure, and possibly to compare to recentlycompleted airborne LIDAR surveys.

(2) Community ecology and ecophysiology from cloud forest to lowland:a. At each site a project will compare canopy ecophysiology in RAINFOR plots(which ties in with already-published papers on tree growth rates): what is therelation between tree growth, height from the water table, and pre-dawn waterpotentials and ecophys measurements (and associated leaf spectra?)b. at sites with tower or canopy access, we will focus on canopy as well assubcanopy plants; looking for relations between, e.g., eddy flux tower-derived lightresponse curves and leaf level light curves or other ecophys/spectralcharacteristics.(3) We will conduct a project on soil fluxes and nutrient dynamics in cloud andlowland forests (or to test a hypothesis motivated by Zimmerman et al. 2009b thatthere is no differences across tree lines). CO2, N2O, CH4 fluxes will be measured

along with the soil type and nutrient status.(4) We will use balloon measurements of CO2 in the atmospheric boundary layer tointerpret eddy flux tower data in complex forest terrain (as in Acevedo et al.,2008).

These projects provide the opportunity for multiple-layered collaborationbetween groups. For example, measurements of leaf optical properties, which can


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be remotely sensed, can be overlaid on a project measuring leaf ecophysiology sothat the two measures may be compared in a systematic way.

2. PASI Course Schedule

Planning Schedule: 28th June to 15th July 2011

Tuesday 28th JuneArrival in Cuzco. Group check-in into hotel early. Optional short tour around thehistoric center of Cusco. Meet for group dinner and outline travel schedule for thenext day.

Wednesday 29th JuneLeave around 8 a.m. on several minibuses/one large bus for Wayqecha, arrivearound 1-2 p.m.14:00 14:20: Introduction to the course (Scott Saleska)14:20 14:40: Wayqecha Biological Station

14:40 15:00: Cloud forest diversity, biogeochemistry and climate (Miles Silman/Dan Metcalfe)15:00 17:00: Guided walk around the Wayqecha Moore monitoring plot and/orcanopy walkway.18:00 19:00: Dinner19:30 21:30: Overview of group projects and break-out discussions amongproject groups (ALL INSTRUCTORS)

Thursday 30th June Tuesday 5th JulyMorning: fieldworkAfternoon: field or lab work (Group Projects)

After dinner: RESEARCH SEMINARS, INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES Research seminars with tutorial front end; related to work that is or could be,

happening in Peru (field projects) Interactive discussions/debates: these will be split into daily themes: Tropical

climatology (Monday), Forest carbon inventory methods (Tuesday), Plantecophysiology (Wednesday), Remote sensing and modeling (Thursday)

Wednesday 6th JulyLeave around 7 a.m. on several minibuses/one large bus for Cusco, arrive aroundlunchtime. Check entire group into one hotel by late afternoon.

Thursday 7th July

Leave around 9 a.m. by bus from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado (10-12h trip). Groupcheck-in into hotel in Puerto Maldonado.

Friday 8th JulyEarly am transfer to boat, travel by boat up the river and arrive at Tambopata(Explorers Inn Lodge)

INSTRUCTOR PRESENTATIONS.


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15:00 15:40: Lowland forest diversity, biogeochemistry and climate (ScottSaleska/Yadvinder Malhi)16:00 17:00: Guided walk18:00 19:00: Dinner19:30 21:30: Planning meeting among groups (All instructors)22:30 00:00: Optional guided night walk through the forest.

Saturday 9th Wednesday 13th JulyMorning: fieldworkAfternoon: field or lab work (Group Projects)After dinner: RESEARCH SEMINARS, INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES

Thursday 14th JulyGROUP PRESENTATIONSFinal analysis of project data and writing of 20-minute presentations

Friday 15th July

Leave Tambopata around 6:00 a.m., Departure by plane to Cusco/Lima. Leave thatday or the next from Cusco to final destination.