In just a few days, Team Brain Scoop is embarking on an exciting journey to the Peruvian Amazon. Our mission is to discover both known and unknown species, including reptiles, amphibians, plants, birds, mammals, fish, and insects. This three-week expedition will take us deep into the neotropical forest, far from the reach of cellphones and social media, where we’ll face the challenges of weather, insects, and potential diseases.
Our adventure begins with a four-day journey to our camp in Peru, involving three flights, a half-day boat ride, and a helicopter trip. We’ll land in a remote area between the Tapiche and Blanco rivers, accompanied by a team of researchers. Our goal is to document and conserve the rainforest, a vital task in preserving the planet’s biodiversity.
For over two decades, The Field Museum’s conservation team, known as “The Action Center,” has been working with local scientists and communities in Central and South America. Their annual expeditions aim to study and protect the natural wonders of these regions. This diverse group of experts, including ornithologists, ichthyologists, herpetologists, geologists, botanists, and anthropologists, explores uncharted areas of the rainforest, often places not yet mapped by Google.
After documenting the area’s biodiversity, they compile a comprehensive report to present to the local government. This can lead to the protection of the surveyed area, potentially designating it as a national park, which helps prevent illegal deforestation and mineral extraction.
Conservation is crucial, but you can’t protect what you don’t know exists. The Action Center has discovered over 150 new species and protected 32 million acres of wilderness in the last twenty years. Team Brain Scoop is thrilled to join this Amazon adventure, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the natural world.
To prepare for this mission, we interviewed colleagues experienced in field research. Here’s what they shared:
Bill has participated in 30 to 40 expeditions over the past 20 years, spending about two months each year in the wild. Corine has been on sixteen expeditions and counting, while Anna has done fieldwork for nearly a year. These researchers have traveled to diverse locations, including Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Uganda, South Africa, Madagascar, Borneo, Australia, China, and more.
Fieldwork often presents unexpected challenges. Anna shared a story about a wild boar invading her site, while Corine recounted being stalked by a jaguar. Bill had an eventful day in Tanzania, discovering a new bat species while falling through a ceiling into a hospital room.
Health issues are a common concern during expeditions. Corrie returned from Africa with a tick in her nose, while Corine has dealt with Giardia, amoebas, dengue, and Leishmaniasis. Bruce has contracted malaria three times, and gastrointestinal issues are almost inevitable in the rainforest.
Despite the challenges, fieldwork leads to incredible discoveries. Bill found a new species of shrew and a new genus of primate in Tanzania. Corine discovered a unique white-sand forest in Peru, home to many endemic species. Josh rediscovered Rockefeller’s Sunbird in Congo, a bird not seen for fifty years.
As we prepare for this expedition, we can’t fully anticipate what lies ahead. Emily imagines returning with some gastrointestinal issues, while Tom jokes about coming back with a monkey companion. The jungle promises to be a completely different environment, filled with eye-opening experiences and fascinating wildlife encounters.
With our cameras, lenses, and essential gear packed, we’re ready to explore the wonders of the Peruvian Amazon. This journey will undoubtedly expand our understanding of the natural world and contribute to the crucial work of conservation.
Conduct research on a specific group of species found in the Amazon, such as reptiles, amphibians, or plants. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, focusing on the importance of these species to the ecosystem and conservation efforts.
Work in groups to plan a simulated expedition to the Peruvian Amazon. Consider logistics such as travel, equipment, and health precautions. Present your plan, highlighting how you would document and conserve biodiversity during your expedition.
Analyze a case study of a successful conservation effort in the Amazon or another rainforest. Discuss the strategies used, challenges faced, and the impact on local biodiversity. Share your insights in a written report or class discussion.
Create an interactive map of the Peruvian Amazon using digital tools. Include key locations from the article, such as the Tapiche and Blanco rivers, and highlight areas of significant biodiversity. Present your map to the class, explaining its features and significance.
Participate in a fieldwork simulation exercise where you encounter unexpected challenges similar to those described in the article. Work in teams to develop solutions and strategies to overcome these challenges, and reflect on the experience in a group discussion.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
(Emily) – In three days, Team Brain Scoop is setting out for the Peruvian Amazon. We’re in search of known and unknown species: reptiles, amphibians, plants, birds, mammals, fish, and insects. Our expedition will last three weeks in the jungle. Cameraman Tom McNamara and I will venture deep into the neotropical forest where few have journeyed. We’ll be well out of range of cellphones, facing the realities of weather, insects, and disease, and there will be no social media. The journey to our camp in Peru will take four days, involving three airplanes, a half-day boat ride, and a helicopter trip—landing in a little-charted region between the Tapiche and Blanco rivers, with a crew of a few dozen researchers. The objective? To document and conserve the rainforest.
For the past two decades, The Field Museum’s conservation team, known as “The Action Center,” has collaborated with local scientists and communities, making annual expeditions to Central and South America to study and preserve the natural wonders that remain. This diverse group of scientists—ornithologists, ichthyologists, herpetologists, geologists, botanists, and anthropologists—identify uncharted areas of the rainforest, essentially places that Google Maps hasn’t reached yet. They spend a few weeks documenting the area’s biodiversity and, at the end of their time, compile a cohesive report of their findings to present to the governing bodies of that country. This can lead to protecting the surveyed area, potentially designating it as a national park, which helps prevent illegal deforestation and mineral extraction.
The challenge of conservation is that you can’t protect an area if you don’t know what’s there. That’s where the Action Center comes in. In the last twenty years, they’ve discovered over 150 new species and protected 32 million acres of wilderness. So, Team Brain Scoop is joining this Amazon adventure—a journey to the limits of our knowledge about the natural world. In 72 hours, we’re packing up and shipping out with The Action Team. We can’t know what to expect. I imagine I’ll come home with some gastrointestinal issues and a variety of unidentified ailments. Tom will probably return with a monkey companion.
To prepare for this mission, we interviewed colleagues experienced in field research. Let’s see what they have to say.
(Emily) – How many field expeditions have you been on?
(Bill) – In the past 20 years, I’ve probably been on about 30 or 40. I spend roughly two months of the year in the bush.
(Corine) – Sixteen and counting. We leave in three weeks.
(Anna) – I’ve done fieldwork for a little less than a year.
(Emily) – Where have you conducted your fieldwork?
(Corrie) – I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world—Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Uganda, South Africa, Madagascar, Borneo, Australia, and China.
(Bruce) – I work on rats, bats, and cats in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Kenya—mostly tropical countries.
(Josh) – I’ve done two trips to Malawi, one to Uganda, one to Congo, and one to Brazil.
(Corrie) – Oh! And Costa Rica too.
(Bruce) – You can plan for an expedition, but they don’t always go as expected.
(Emily) – That’s good advice.
(Anna) – A wild boar started foraging around my site, so I marked my territory to deter it. Mama came back with her two babies and challenged my space, so I had to scare them away.
(Emily) – So do you recommend marking the perimeter of our work sites?
(Anna) – Apparently, it works better for boys.
(Emily) – Interesting.
(Anna) – Well, except it might attract them back.
(Emily) – Today I learned.
(Corine) – I was stalked by a jaguar, and last year in Peru, I was mistaken for a rival group, leading to a helicopter intervention.
(Bill) – We were looking for bats in Tanzania and ended up in a local hospital after a child led us there. I discovered a new species of bat while climbing, but I fell through the ceiling into a room where a child was getting inoculated. It was quite an eventful day.
(Tom) – That’s incredible.
(Emily) – What complications have you faced?
(Corrie) – I came home from Africa with a tick in my nose. I had no idea until I got back.
(Emily) – Did you report that to Customs?
(Corrie) – I know, smuggling ticks.
(Emily) – That’s unfortunate.
(Corine) – I’ve dealt with Giardia, amoebas, dengue, and Leishmaniasis.
(Bruce) – I’ve contracted malaria three times. Expect gastrointestinal issues, even if you’re careful.
(Emily) – What’s it like dealing with gastrointestinal issues in the rainforest?
(Anna) – It’s a whole different experience. You think you have control, but everything changes. Everyone with you will understand because it happens to them too.
(Emily) – What notable discoveries have you made on expeditions?
(Bill) – We discovered a new species of shrew and a new genus of primate in Tanzania.
(Corine) – We found a unique white-sand forest in Peru, home to many endemic species.
(Josh) – I rediscovered Rockefeller’s Sunbird in Congo, a bird not seen in about fifty years.
(Bill) – Every trip redefines our understanding of the planet. Each new discovery helps us understand the edges of biodiversity.
(Emily) – What do you think it will be like for me?
(Corrie) – You might find yourself collecting specimens like Darwin did, unable to let go of what you find.
(Emily) – That sounds accurate.
(Tom) – I don’t know if I can fully prepare for this. It’s going to be a completely different experience.
(Emily) – Interview with Tom McNamara: cameraman and field expert. What do you think about the jungle?
(Tom) – If it comes down to me and a monkey, I’m not backing down.
(Emily) – There’s a romance to these expeditions, but many realities go unaddressed. One concern I have is how women manage their periods in the field.
(Emily) – What are you packing for the trip?
(Tom) – Camera, lenses, a Swiss Army knife, a hat, and some music.
(Emily) – Can you take a look at this?
(Tom) – Is this a fish that can swim upstream?
(Emily) – Yes, it’s known for being dangerous.
(Tom) – That’s concerning.
(Emily) – What do you think about Anna’s perimeter technique?
(Tom) – I respect her instinct, but it’s an interesting approach.
(Emily) – What do you think will happen?
(Tom) – My world is about to expand, and I’ll be in a completely different environment. I can only imagine the wildlife we’ll encounter. It’s going to be an eye-opening experience.
Biodiversity – The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. – The Amazon rainforest is renowned for its incredible biodiversity, hosting thousands of species of plants and animals.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and environments. – Conservation efforts are crucial to maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems and preventing species extinction.
Rainforest – A dense, tropical forest with a high amount of annual rainfall. – The rainforest canopy is home to a diverse array of organisms, many of which are yet to be studied in detail.
Expedition – A journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration or research. – The scientific expedition to the Galápagos Islands provided valuable insights into the unique adaptations of local wildlife.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The discovery of a new species of frog in the rainforest highlights the importance of ongoing biological research.
Fieldwork – Practical work conducted by a researcher in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office. – Fieldwork in the Arctic requires careful planning and adaptation to extreme weather conditions.
Challenges – Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome, especially in a scientific or environmental context. – One of the major challenges in conservation biology is balancing human needs with the protection of natural habitats.
Discoveries – The act of finding or learning something for the first time, often leading to new knowledge or understanding. – Recent discoveries in marine biology have revealed previously unknown deep-sea ecosystems.
Environment – The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity. – Understanding the impact of pollution on the environment is crucial for developing sustainable practices.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, often used in the context of ecosystems or organisms. – The health of coral reefs is a vital indicator of the overall condition of marine ecosystems.
