The Paraguay-Paraná Hidrovia

Gwynn Lyons

As we know, the biodiversity of the Pantanal hinges on the plentiful sources of water that it holds for a large part of the year. As you may not know, however, the Paraguay-Paraná Hidrovia is a waterway that will run through- and significantly disrupt- the Pantanal if it is successfully completed. In this post, I will attempt to shed light on this development and explain how it would negatively impact the Pantanal's ecology.

The Hidrovia was first proposed in the 1980's by the governments of Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay as a solution to the problem of commercial transportation among these five countries. The Hidrovia would allow landlocked countries to export their products to seaside countries, benefitting the economies of all parties involved. Specifically, it would involve deepening the shallow river channels to 2.8 meters, allowing larger barges to pass through.

At first, the problems with this plans did not manifest themselves. Then, in 1997, a panel of experts analyzed the effects of the proposed plan on the Pantanal. They saw that lowering the level of the Paraguay River by only 25 cm, a side effect of creating the Hidrovia, would cause a reduction of the flooded area of the Pantanal by 22%. That's about two to three times the area of the Everglades! In addition, the decreased velocity of the river water, another by-product of the Hidrovia, would increase the accumulation of sediment and decrease water quality. This effect could be grave for people who depend on the Pantanal for drinking water.

The construction of the Hidrovia could also negatively affect the indigenous people of the Pantanal. These inhabitants would likely be unable to get the government to recognize their territorial rights, a step that would be necessary when entrepreneurs and land speculators arrive to capitalize on the economic promise of the area. Eventually, the indigenous people would be displaced by the economically-motivated developments near the Pantanal. This phenomenon- the exile of native people by opportunistic newcomers- has already happened many times throughout history, and it would be unfortunate if it happened again here.

Currently, the decision about whether to go through with the construction of the Hidrovia is pending. I hope that the governments that are responsible for making this decision weigh the ecological and cultural effects heavily against the economic gains so that we don't lose an area whose biodiversity and inhabitants are unique and irreplaceable.

More information can be found here.

Spotlight on a Unique Bird: the Guira Cuckoo

Guria Cuckoos are often seen huddled together on branches

I was researching the birds that we might come across in the Pantanal when I discovered an article on the Guira Cuckoo. It is unique among its relative species for many reasons, among which are its communal breeding and its gregariousness. Most cuckoos are obligate parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in other birds' nests and rely on the other birds to rear their chicks. The Guira Cuckoo, however, forms groups of 6 to 8 birds that will lay their eggs within a single nest. Competition between parents is rife within nests, which is often detrimental to the survival of their chicks. Approximately one in four of the chicks survive to fledgling, with the other three quarters of chicks dying from being destroyed, buried or killed during stand-offs between parents.

The Guira Cuckoo has a broad range across most of South America, including eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. Although it is found most commonly in drier habitats, it is one of the most common cuckoos throughout its range. Birders commonly spot Guira Cuckoos in the Amazon River Basin and the Pantanal.

Sources:
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=204056
Macedo, Regina HF, Mariana Cariello, and Laura Muniz. "Context and frequency of infanticide in communally breeding Guira Cuckoos." The Condor103.1 (2001): 170-175.
Macedo, Regina H. "COMMUNAL GUIRA CUCKOO (GUIRA GUIRA) IN." The Auk 109.4 (1992): 786-799.

Threats to the Pantanal Biodiversity

I came across the website pantanal.org , there they list several potential harms to the pantanal due to economic and infrastructure development. I thought this was interesting seeing as we learned how in the past trip to Madagascar, students of Dr. Bob were discussing the ethics of their trip and how they could reduce their carbon footprint etc. These examples listed are interesting and we might want to think of ways in which we can minimize our harm to the environment while on the trip.

The GASBOL project caught my eye because I am interested in energy and I thought it we could explore how energy and oil & gas development might harm the region.

This is actually the longest gas pipeline in all of South America and spans a little under 2,000 miles. It brings gas from Bolivia to the Brazilian industrial coast, mainly Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro.

The project was developed in two stages and the red part, which spanned past the Pantanal was finished in 1999. The project cost about $2.1 Billion. Although this pipeline has clear economic advantages for both Brazil and Bolivia, the verdict is not our on how much this will affect the Pantanal. I thought this was interesting given the Keystone debate here in the states given the potential harm to natural habitats yet in the worlds most pristine wetlands, such a large pipeline exists.

-Enrique

Giant Armadillos: Elusive Creatures of the Night

So I stumbled upon this fascinating website that runs different conservation projects in the Pantanal. One project that caught my eye was the "Giant Armadillo Project". 
Woah, giant armadillos? That sounded super cool and I wanted to share some info about these shy and elusive creatures with you! 

First of all as you may have guessed the Giant armadillo is the largest species of armadillos, they can apparently grow up to four and a half feet long and weigh up to 130 pounds. So these guys are pretty darn big, which may mean we should have a good chance of seeing on while we are in the Pantanal, right?
Sorry armadillo lovers, this guy is rarely seen and is facing a very serious threat of extinction. In fact, they are so rare that we barely know anything about them even though they live all over South America. On the website it describes them as having "cryptic behavior" which just means they behaviors are still a mystery to us. 
These armadillos also have low population densities. So unlike the herds of Capybaras we will encounter these quiet giants don't hang out in large groups, making them much harder to track. 
So the Royal Zoological society of Scotland has taken a special interest in these creatures and are conducing the Giant Armadillo Project in the Pantanal. It's aim is to establish the first long term study of giant armadillos in these Brazilian wetlands. They hope to understand the function of the giant armadillos in the ecosystem by using camera traps, radio transmitters, burrow surveys and resource mapping. 
Since the project started they have expanded it to look at other armadillos in the area and even the giant anteater whose niche seems to overlap with the armadillos. 
They have also made video diaries of some footage they've collected of these creatures. So if you want to see a minute in the life of a giant armadillo check out the video below. 

Thanks all!
-Martell 

Sources: http://www.rzss.org.uk/conservation-programmes/projects/current-projects/giant-armadillo-project
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12336131

Hydrodynastes gigas and Snake-Bite Physiology

Marcio Lisa Photograph

Hydrodynastes gigas, also known as the false water cobra and the Brazilian smooth snake, is a species of snake that inhabits the Pantanal, as well as other tropical wetlands in South America.  I want to write about it because I am instinctively afraid of snakes and salamanders, but am also fascinated by them.

H. gigas is interesting/perfect fodder for nightmares because it can swim, is well camouflaged, and venomous.   Worse/better yet, it can reach 9-10ft long.  It is active during the day and believed to be highly intelligent.  Unfortunately for its scariness-level, its bite is not fatal to humans.  Although the venom is powerful, it is produced only in very small quantities.  The mechanical damage inflicted by its teeth is usually more dangerous than the venom, which causes hypersensitivity, pain, itching, excessive swelling, and bruising.

Luckily, if one of its fangs gets too old or breaks off, a new one will grow in and replace it.  For most snakes, the new fang "locks" into place, attaching so that the venom glands squeeze the poison out.  The venom travels through the groove in the fang and into the open wound.  Unlike vipers (such as the South American rattlesnake, another Pantanal inhabitant) H. gigas has rear fangs, which are smaller, less mobile, and in the back of the mouth.  In the case of H. gigas, venom comes from the Duvernoy's gland.
(click here for more about snake fangs)

Water Story

I thought I would share my water story! Growing up, I lived nearby a creek that my family would frequently visit. It ended up being an important part of my childhood, and I even wrote my Stanford application essay on it:

A circle spreads across the water, a sign that a fish just caught a fly. Minnows chase each other and a sun perch lazily swims by. The wind rustles through the leaves and the chatter of squirrels fills the air. Bees busily pollinate flowers as a garden snake slithers across my path. From childhood, Big Bear Creek has been an important part of my life.

As I walk down to the creek from my house, I notice the wild Mustang grapes, and I remember the time that we collected them and made jelly. The cool water is inviting, despite its murky appearance; I give in to the temptation, cast off my shoes, and walk in. The mud squishes in between my toes and I smile as I pass the rope swing that my brother and I frequently used. I walk past the little cove on the bank, a prime location for bass fishing. My father always uses expensive gear, but my brother and I have proven that a wiggly worm and a simple rod work best. I still remember the day that I was brave enough to unhook a fish by myself.

                I step on a shell, and pick it up to examine it. I remember how my brother and I loved to collect things from the creek and take them to the Nature Exchange at the zoo, where we would receive points for researching our specimens. These frequent trips to the zoo intrigued me; I decided at a young age that I wanted to become a research scientist.

                As I sit down by the creek and start digging my hand into the moist earth, searching for onions that we can use in soups, I let out a peaceful sigh as I wonder at the beauty of the creek, sunlight dappling its surface. As I think about what matters to me, I realize that this is it. Big Bear Creek represents my love of nature, family, curiosity and the joy of living—these

are the things that really matter to me. 

-Catie

Arena Pantanal

Hey everyone!

I'm sad I can't be there today to see more of the presentations! Hopefully we'll get to see those animals in the Pantanal, and you all can point them out to me :)

I thought I'd do a little post today as a follow up to some of the posts that people have written about the Arena Pantanal and what it means for the people and the environment in the Pantanal.

June 12 is probably the most pressing deadline in Brazil right now: the start of the World Cup! Making these deadlines has proven to be an issue, and this has created the need for a lot of cheap labor in the area. In order to keep on schedule and have the stadium built in time and with the budget in mind, over 100 Haitian workers have been brought in to complete the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá. However, this has brought about difficult working conditions, blazing heat, safety issues, and unstable accommodations. Many of the larger building companies are able to provide somewhat for their employees, but the smaller contractors have left many of these Haitian workers, who paid $2500 to come to Brazil to work, without resources. This has been termed the "subcontracting fever" wherein urban constructors are unable to provide for their workers due to underestimating the time and resources needed. Despite all these conditions, Haitian workers are often left with no choice but to leave the country to provide for their families, especially since the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake still has a strong presence.

When I was reading the news about Brazil and the World Cup, it made me think about the various aspects of large scale sporting events. Sure, they are enjoyable, but they also have several other consequences. One would hope that the planning would be done to make sure workers are treated fairly and the timelines are reasonable, but it does not seem to be the case in this Brazilian World Cup. It is also sad that such a large-scale, international event also features unfair treatment of so many people.
The issues I and my classmates have covered with the World Cup are only a few of those likely faced by the Brazilians, the small number of issues brought to light by the media. It will be very interesting to see how the workers and locals feel about the World Cup after we have gone.

We may not be spending much time in the city, but I thought this picture provides a sharp contrast to the wildlife (hopefully unadulterated) that we will encounter!

- Nicole