Note these are topic areas for which there will be expertise on site to supervise. You will need to complete background reading to develop your own dissertation/thesis proposal from within these topic areas.

PP201 Niche separation in Tamarins, Howler Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys and other primates

Multiple primates species can be found in rainforest habitats such as the Peruvian Amazon. In order to combat competition associated with several similar species living in close proximity, each species has evolved to occupy a specific niche within the habitat. These adaptations include differences in dietary requirements (frugivorous, folivorous and insectivorous primates), preference for different habitat types within the forest (e.g. flooded forest, tierra firma forest and palm swamps) and variation in habitat use within the same forest type (e.g. occupying different heights within the forest canopy or variation in activity budgets). Twelve species of primates have been recorded in the Pacaya Samiria National Park and this topic examines how the various species separate their niches. Data could be gathered on encounter rates of various species from replicate observations in a range of differing habitats/forest types as a means of investigating habitat preferences. During primate encounters the troop size, position in the canopy, behaviour and food preferences may also be recorded to further investigate niche separation between primate species. Projects may focus on two or three sympatric species or may investigate niche separation across all primate species in the park.

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PP202 A comparison of the large mammal and primate fauna in various habitat types

Transects have been installed through the forest in the Pacaya Samiria National Park and these are being surveyed every couple of days during the survey season. In addition boat based transects are being completed along the edges of the conservation areas and along internal oxbow lakes wherever possible. The reserve is rich in primate species with 12 species having been recorded (including Red Howler Monkey, Saki Monkey, Tamarin species etc) as well as a range of other mammal species (eg Giant Armadillo, Tayra, Jaguar, Kinkajou, Giant River Otter, Pink River Dolphin). Visual sightings of species could be recorded along the transects with DISTANCE analysis used to estimate the abundance of the most frequently encountered species. However, signs of other species on the walking transects (eg spoor, scats) could also be recorded and where holes are identified a fibre optic camera used to determine the occupancy of the holes. In addition sand traps could be set up along each of the walking transects and checked regularly for signs of tracks. The transects run through different habitat types (varzea or flooded forest which will be most dry at the time of sampling, aguajale palm swamp and tierra firma forest) and the usage of these habitat types by various primate and large mammal species can be compared. Patch occupancy and DISTANCE based statistics can be used for this project.

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PP203 A comparison of the bird fauna in the river edge, varzea, aguajale and tierra firme forest types in Pacaya Samiria

This topic will utilise the existing transects that pass through varzea (flooded forest which will be mostly dry in the July survey season), aguajale palm swamps and tierra firma forests. Point count sites could be installed on the transects to represent the different forest types and replicate point count sites made over the period from 0530 - 0930 hrs each day. At each point the number of birds seen or heard over a 15 minute period could be recorded with the times of each of the species records noted together with numbers observed. At each site a sound recording of the 15 minute sampling period could be made and analysed for species presence to compare with the observations made from the point count surveys. In addition in the late afternoon boat point counts could be completed along the edge of rivers and oxbows. This topic will be led by an experienced ornithologist with extensive knowledge of the calls of the 450+ species that may be encountered during the survey. Projects within this topic area are guaranteed large numbers of data points as well as the opportunity to see many of the exotic Amazonian species (eg macaws, toucans, kingfishers etc).

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PP204 The importance of the Pacaya Samiria National Park for water birds

One of the main reasons for the designation of the Pacaya Samiria National Park is the protection of the extensive water bird populations that utilise the wetlands during the dry season in particular. This topic could complete replicate point counts on a variety of habitats along the river and adjacent wetland areas. At each site the habitat being used by each of the bird species could be noted (eg open water, open water on the river edge, wading in >0.1m water, wading in waters edge to 0.1m, lower shore, upper shore etc). These data could then be analysed to estimate populations of herons, egrets, cormorants, screamers, waders, ducks and other water birds utilising the Reserve as well as the habitat preferences of each of the main species

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PP205 A comparison of fish diversity in different habitats

This topic could be developed in a number of ways. For example one project could compare fish communities in a range of habitats in the Reserve, including shoreline edge of oxbow lakes with connections to the main river still remaining, open water areas of oxbow lakes still connected to the main river, edge and open water areas of oxbow lakes not linked to the main river and the main river edge. Sampling could be done using 30m X 3m gill nets with 3 - 4 inch mesh and fished for as close to 1 hour as possible. Large catches of fish can result in piranhas attacking the gill netted fish and on these occasions the net has to be retrieved before the full hour has passed. When this happens the nets needs to be repositioned until constant fishing effort has been achieved. Replicate sites could be chosen to represent these habitat types and multiple one-hour catches made at each of these sites. Projects on fish diversity are guaranteed a large amount of data points.

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PP206 Amphibian diversity and abundance in Pacaya-Samiria

The Pacaya-Samiria Reserve contains a large diversity of amphibians. This diversity, however, is not well understood, and a detailed survey of the amphibian populations in the three principal forest types in Pacaya Samiria (varzea - flooded forest, altura - terra firme, and palm swamps) would provide vital baseline information. Students could utilise transect surveys, combined with pitline traps for the smaller species, to sample the amphibian diversity throughout Reserve. DISTANCE and other catch per unit effort measurements could then be used to assess the amphibian density.

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PP207 Niche separation in caiman species

There are three caiman species (Common, Black and Smooth-fronted) found in the Pacaya Samiria National Park. This topic could examine the habitat usage and feeding ecology of the three species to identify how they separate their niches. Spotlight surveys could be completed along the edges of the main river and in a series of oxbow lakes within the forest, some of which are still connected to the main river and some of which are totally separated during the dry season. The species, estimated size and habitat usage of each of the caimans observed during these surveys could be recorded. Animals smaller than 2.5m would be captured by noose wherever possible and more detailed measurements (eg length, weight, sex etc) recorded from these captured animals. Diet of the captured caimans could be examined by flushing out the contents of the stomach, filtering the regurgitated food and classifying the main constituents. The high abundance of these species and the length of the survey season should ensure a good number of data points for this study.

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PP208 Habitat selection and ecology of Pink and Grey River Dolphins

The pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) and grey dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) are endemic to the Amazon Rivers and function as indicator species for the general health of aquatic habitats. This topic could examine the health of the aquatic systems in the Peruvian Amazon by evaluating population trends of river dolphins. Dolphins make an excellent indicator species, because they rapidly move out of polluted or degraded habitats, and in turn quickly indicate changes in the condition of aquatic systems. The dolphins are also easy to count and observe, since they frequently surface and are large-bodied and very distinctive. Fixed width transects along rivers, lakes and channels using small boats could be used to determine species, count numbers, determine group size and determine age classes. In addition, hydrophones could be used to help identify the main activities. Comparisons could be made on how the two species of dolphins use the different aquatic habitats.

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PP209 Habitat selection and breeding success in river turtles in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

Before designation of the Pacaya Samiria National Park there was extensive exploitation of the two largest species of river turtles, with a substantial demand for turtle eggs in Iquitos market. Populations of the Yellow-spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) and Giant Amazonia River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa) at this time were low. However since effective protection was introduced together with a head start programme where eggs of the two species were removed from their wild nests, replanted at guard stations, hatched and released back into the river, the populations have recovered with high numbers of the Yellow-spotted River Turtle present. Since 1996 on average 73,000 yellow-spotted turtles hatchlings have been released each year with 16,000 Giant River Amazon turtle hatchlings also released each year. There is a third much smaller unexploited species of turtle - Podocnemis sextuberculata and no Head Start programme has been necessary for this species. The effectiveness of the Head Start programme can be judged from historical records of numbers of nest sites of the two large species and by comparing the changes in ratios between the two larger and the smallest species since the Head Start programme was implemented. Projects could also be developed on the nest sites of the three species to determine the main features determining nest site selection (eg height above river level, proximity of vegetation, substrate type etc) in the three species. The Yellow-spotted River Turtle can be censused by boat surveys using paddles only - outboard engines affect the numbers of turtles seen. Habitat selection by the Yellow-spotted River Turtle could be studied from replicate boat transects of the river as well as in adjacent lakes and sidewaters to determine the preferred habitat of different size groups of this species.

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