Proyecto Ashaninka

Research Opportunities - Further Work - Expedition Ideas

There is great scope for follow up work in this area. This expedition has shown the potential for collaborative work between the Ashaninka, Peruvian organisations and universities and others. Developing ongoing partnerships would be of benefit to all.

In particular:

Since there is evidence of endemic species, species capture and recording is likely to be a fertile area for further work. More surveys need to be conducted at specific sites over long timescales, to compile complete species inventories.

Studies comparing several different areas and habitats need to be conducted to examine the nature of the community heterogeneity that our results hint at. These studies could have important implications for management of the area, and for wider amphibian conservation efforts.

With changes in land use, development and ecotourism likely in the area in the coming years, comparative studies need to be conducted to examine the effects on herpetofaunal communities. Our work can be used as a simple baseline for certain comparisons.

Water quality analysis is an interesting and important area for further work; the use of such analysis for signs of illegal activities is a stated need, and our results from inside the community areas were of considerable interest.

Understanding Ashaninka hunting activities and animal stocks of the area would provide input into management plans and guidance for the communities.

There is a need for an analysis of the economic activities of the Ashaninka communities as well as potential opportunities, assessing their long-term viability and impact.

Coupled with economic analysis, research into natural resource management (including hunting activities and animal stocks as above) for the Ashaninka community areas and Ashaninka Communal Reserve would be of great benefit to the people that live there.

Well-funded and longer expeditions should aim to enter the Ashaninka Communal Reserve for biodiversity studies. Leading up to a 3000m plateau, the flora and fauna are expected to be very different. In the region called mayoventi there are supposed instances of 1000m deep canyons and natural bridges which would be of interest to kast specialists.

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with the Expedition team to discuss further possibilities; contact details are given in the expedition report.

	Since there is evidence of endemic species, species capture and recording is likely to be a fertile area for further work. More surveys need to be conducted at specific sites over long timescales, to compile complete species inventories.
	Studies comparing several different areas and habitats need to be conducted to examine the nature of the community heterogeneity that our results hint at. These studies could have important implications for management of the area, and for wider amphibian conservation efforts.
	With changes in land use, development and ecotourism likely in the area in the coming years, comparative studies need to be conducted to examine the effects on herpetofaunal communities. Our work can be used as a simple baseline for certain comparisons.
	Water quality analysis is an interesting and important area for further work; the use of such analysis for signs of illegal activities is a stated need, and our results from inside the community areas were of considerable interest.
	Understanding Ashaninka hunting activities and animal stocks of the area would provide input into management plans and guidance for the communities.