Aquatic Faunal Survey of the Alto Purus National Park, Peru

路易斯安那大学拉斐特分校获得了一个奖项，以支持一个项目，该项目将编制一份关于上普鲁斯国家公园水生动物物种的完整清单，这是秘鲁亚马逊热带雨林中一个鲜为人知的脆弱地区。主要目标是：（1）发现科学上的新物种;（2）自然历史博物馆收藏的研究和教学收藏品;（3）互联网和印刷的野外指南，附有插图识别键、照片和相关数据库;（4）用于测试复杂热带生态系统中物种起源和维持假设的数据;以及（5）长期生物多样性监测计划。该项目将协调来自北美、南美和欧洲的科学家的努力，提供多种学生培训机会，并增进对生物多样性的了解，这是一个生物资源丰富但受到威胁的地区。 本科生和研究生将接受分子和形态学分析先进方法的培训。新热带鱼类约6,000种，占世界淡水鱼类的一半以上，约占所有脊椎动物物种的10%。这一详细的物种一级清单的结果将直接解决物种丰富的热带水生动物的起源和维持的假设，并有助于阐明亚马逊水生生物多样性的结构。国际科学与工程办公室协助资助该奖项，以表彰美国学生强大的国际合作和国际经验。

An award is made to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in support of a project will produce a complete list of the aquatic animal species of the Alto Purús National Park, a poorly known and vulnerable region of tropical rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon. The main goals are: (1) Discovery of species new to science; (2) research and teaching collections deposited in museums of natural history; (3) internet and printed field guides with illustrated identification keys, photographs and associated databases; (4) data for testing hypotheses on the origins and maintenance of species in a complex tropical ecosystem; and (5) a long term biodiversity monitoring plan. This project will coordinate efforts of scientists from North and South America and Europe, provide multiple student training opportunities, and advance knowledge of the biodiversity a region with rich but threatened biological resources. Undergraduate and graduate students will be trained in advanced methods of molecular and morphological analysis. The approximately 6,000 species of Neotropical fishes represent over half of the world's freshwater fishes, and about 10% of all vertebrate species. The results of this detailed species-level inventory will directly address hypotheses on the origins and maintenance of species-rich tropical aquatic faunas, and help illuminate the structure of Amazonian aquatic diversity. The Office of International Science and Engineering is assisting in funding this award in recognition of the strong international collaboration and international experience for US students.