Investigating the BIodiversity of Soil and Canopy Arthropods

Investigaciones sobre la Biodiversidad de los Insectos de laSelva Centro-Americana

Inventaire de la Biodiversité des Insectes du Sol et de la Canopée

Main sponsors:Solvin-Bretzel & Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Scientific coordination:Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) &

Canopy Raft Consortium (CRC)

First phase: 22 September to 31 October 2003San Lorenzo Forest, Panama

This presentation concerns the main period of field workin Panama in 2003.

It is only indicative, aimed at participants, and cannot beviewed as a comprehensive user manual of the differentcanopy access facilities that will be in operation during theproject.

The aim is to familiarize the participants with the logistics ofthe project and to pre-empty potential problems as much aspossible.

Prepared by Y. BassetVersion: 03/09/03

DISCLAIMER

All photos in this presentation are copyrighted,please do not distribute them further

Team spirit and work

The IBISCA project will be both exciting and challenging,

particularly in the field.

We all have different research interests, but team work

and spirit for this project are essential if we want to succeed.

Please keep this in mind and enjoy your canopy experience

in Panama.

The IBISCA project at glanceAims

Study sites

Logistics

Canopy access

Sampling programs

Planning

Field work

Seasonal replication

Focal taxa and processing of the material

Barro Colorado Island

Significance of the project

Participants

Sponsors

IBISCA - Aims and Outline

We propose to study the vertical stratification and beta diversity of

arthropods in a rainforest in Panama, using the state-of-the art methods of

canopy access, namely canopy fogging, canopy cranes, and canopy raft and

peripherals. The canopy raft and fogging sites will provide spatial replication

during a field study of 5 weeks, whilst seasonal replication will be controlled

for at the crane site, during a one year period. We will study the arthropod

fauna of 9 sites within the San Lorenzo Protected Area with an international

team of 30 entomologists, seconded by many colleagues for the taxonomic

study of the material. Each participating entomologist will be responsible for

a particular sampling protocol (9 different collecting methods in total) and

will study 1-2 focal taxa (total 40 focal taxa studied).

Study sites

All sites will be located in the San Lorenzo Protected Area (near Colon,

Caribbean coast, 9º17’N, 79º58’W; alt. 130 m). This tropical wet evergreen

forest averages 3152 mm of annual rainfall and an annual air temperature of

25.8ºC. Three sub-sites will be within the perimeter of the San Lorenzo

Canopy Crane and will allow for seasonal replication. The Canopy Raft, a

400m2 platform of plastic beams and netting, will be set up with minimal

damage on the canopy at 3 sites. In addition, the Canopy Bubble will run

along a 1km transect, yielding access to 2 further sites. Last, one Ikos

(icosaedron, ‘tree house’) will represents the ninth study site. Canopy fogging

will be performed at all these sites (at 3 surrogate sites for the crane sites).

All study sites will be located within a 2-3km radius of the crane site.

Canopy Raft (400 m2):3 sites elsewhere

R1

I1

Positions and distances not exact and not to scale

Total 9 sites: 3C, 3R, 2B, 1I, all within 2-3 km of the crane site

B1

B2

Ikos (more or less 400 m2):1 site, not suitable for all programs

Canopy Bubble: one transect of1km, with two sites of 400 m2

Crane perimeter (0.85ha) in which3 sub-sites of 400 m2 each will bedelineated

3 ‘crane sites’ (400 m2), close to thebotanical plot, in which fogging andWinkler programs will be performed

Crane botanical plot (6ha):no destructive studiesallowed within

240m

54m

400m

SITES

R3

R2

C1

C2 C3

C2’C3’

C1’

20m

20m

20m

20m

20m

20m

20m

20m

Buffer zone: 200mActivities within C1, C2 and C3should be 3m away from 20seedling stations managed byS.J. Wright

Logistics

Most of participants will be based on Barro Colorado Island (BCI).

Daily boat and 4WD vehicles will assure transportation from BCI to the

study sites. Other participants will be based in Panama City, working at

STRI and the University of Panama. The main laboratories and headquarters

of the project will be based at BCI. Basic accommodation for night work will

be provided at the crane site. Participants will switch activities from field

work to laboratory work (half of the time each) during a five week period.

Seven technical staff from CRC, including 3 professional tree climbers, will

Assist the project. The tree climbers will help mainly with the 9 core sampling

programs (see below).

LOGISTICSTocumen Airport

Panama City

Samatour busca. 20km, $20

Hotel Via EspanaSTRILabo University

Barro Colorado Island

Gamboa

Samatour busca 20 km, $2045 min.

Dredging division

BCI boats:Jacana Mon-Fri 07h15Las Cruces Sat-Sun 08h00Water taxi Mon, Wed 13h00(see detailed timetable)

Laboratories (wet and dry)HQAccomodation and meals23 people at any time

Lancha

Near Gatun’s locks

IBISCA boat daily (1)06h30/17h30ca. 30 min.Max 15 people and equipment

IBISCA 4WD (1)irregularly, dailywhen crane in useca. 80km, 2 hours 1/2leaves STRI (parking lot)at 05h30

Crane garita

IBISCA 4WD (2)daily07h00/17h00ca. 30 min.;road locked by gate

1

2

3

4

1: Crane sites: 5 min. walk2: Bubble sites: 10 min. walk or 4WD3: Raft sites: 4WD + 15 to 30 min. walk4: Ikos: 4WD + 15 min. walk

Rest areaEquipmentTent for night work

3

3 Gatun’s locks:waiting time variable

Maps

PanamaCity

BCI

1

2

3

4

Roads in red; boat trips in blue1 = Gamboa2 = Gatuns’locks3 = Lancha4 = Study sites

Colon

Inset

Tocumenairport

Panama Canal

STRI center in Panama City

Main entry

Parking lotcrane car leaves here at 05h30

Canopy Access -San Lorenzo Crane

Managers: S.J. Wright, M. Samaniego & Y. Basset

Timetable: 08h00 to 14h00; night work needs to

be scheduled through M. Samaniego or Y. Basset

Access: see guidelines next page

Restrictions: No destructive sampling allowed

(Winkler and fogging programs); lower canopy may

need to be accessed through single rope

techniques.

Steps to work with the San Lorenzo Crane

1. 08h00. Crane operator gives you a radio (channel ‘Smithsonian - Grua’) and

climbs in the cabin. He then lowers the cable and crane hook.

2. You engage the crane hook into the large gondola ring. Operator lifts off

slightly the hook so that you can insert the security cables on both small safety

rings of the gondola.

3. You climb onboard the gondola and tell the operator with the radio that you

are ready. He lifts up the gondola and you close the door.

4. You proceed, giving directions to the operator (see basic terms next page)

5. 14h00. You go down and follow the procedures in reverse order: open the

door before touching ground, help the operator to land the gondola into

the 4 ground holes, disengage security cables and unhook the gondola.

Crane - basic terms

Up = arriba

Down = abajo

Right = derecha (for the operator)

Left = izquierda (for the operator)

Forwards = adelante, al frente

Backwards = atrás

Stop = alto

More = más

Less - menos

To the ground = a tierra

Thanks = gracias

Hook

Ring

Gondola

Safetyring

Safetycable

Canopy Access - Canopy Raft

Manager: G. Ebersolt

Timetable: 24 hours/day (night work needs to be scheduled)

Access: with single rope techniques

Restrictions: 4 people on the raft at a

time, including a technical staff;

lower canopy may need to be

accessed through single rope

techniques (helmet required

during the climb).

Canopy Access - Canopy Bubble

Managers: D. Cleyet-Marrel & L. Pyot

Timetable: 06h00 to 10h00 (?); 16h00 to 18h00 (?) and

night; needs to be scheduled through D. Cleyet-Marrel,

L. Pyot, B. Corbara or Y. Basset

Access: through the direction of D. Cleyet-Marrel or L. Pyot

Restrictions: unsuitable when windy; two 500m linear transects;

lower canopy needs to be accessed through single rope

techniques.

Canopy Access - Ikos

Manager: G. Ebersolt

Timetable: 24 hours/day (night work needs to be

scheduled)

Access: via single rope techniques

Restrictions: a discrete sampling point not suitable

for all sampling programs; lower canopy needs to

be accessed through single rope techniques.