Join Laura Marsh at the Los Alamos Nature Center on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. to hear about her Houseboat Amazon expedition. Her team was seeking a particular species of saki monkey that had not been seen since the 1930s. Marsh will give updates on the Brazil rainforest fires and the progress of the documentary being made about her research. Photo Courtesy PEEC
PEEC NEWS
Hear about Dr. Laura Marsh’s four-month expedition into the flooded depths of the Amazon rainforest on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Marsh and her team were seeking a particular species of saki monkey that had not been seen since the 1930s on their quest. Learn about the trials and tribulations of this research excursion at this presentation, which begins at 7 p.m. The talk is free to attend and open to the public.
Marsh’s “Houseboat Amazon” expedition featured a team of international researchers, local guides, conservations and photographers. They endured difficult conditions on their journey. The team usually rose before dawn and put on heavy long pants, long sleeves, boots and a hat in 100 percent humidity and up to mid-90 degree temperatures to go slogging through various habitats, covered in biting insects and mud. Their fieldwork often had to cease due to intense pouring rains and sometimes the researchers had to swim across channels in all of their clothing with all of their gear.
In addition to giving an overview of ups and downs of the excursion, Marsh will discuss what she and other researchers learned about hunting, fishing and forest use by local people. She will provide several new updates at this program and plans to address the Brazil rainforest fires, give some history and context to what is happening currently and talk about what we can do. Marsh will also update the audience on the progress of the documentary being made about this excursion and show new videos about their fieldwork and some behind-the-scenes footage.
For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call (505) 662-0460.
PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit www.peecnature.org.