Background
This brief summary is an
overview of the present project with Southern Muriquis (Brachyteles
arachnoides – PRIMATES)
developed at Carlos Botelho State Park, southern region of
São Paulo State, Brazilian Tropical
Atlantic Forest. You are going to find here initial information
about the project and its activities and the present set
up for
volunteers position, which is based on
our experience of almost three years working with foreigners
students and volunteers. Considering that
from 20 up to 40 volunteers has been applying per year since
them and that from 4 up to 6 are selected to the position,
you
are kindly requested to follow these basic
guidelines for the selection process. This project has actually
two field positions
available, for a desirable minimum period of two months months;
longer periods can be discussed. Volunteers
are asked to contribute with a project expenses fee plus
all their own expenses. Transport from
Airport at arrival and accommodation during the period of
your commitment are provided. It is offered
the opportunity of learning and experiencing field
biology and related field primatology activities and techniques,
with southern muriquis, the largest neotropical
primate species at a pristine forest
field site.
General Background
Brazil’s Atlantic Forest is one of the five leading
biodiversity world hotspots, accounting for at least
2% of the world’s total species of endemic plants
and vertebrates, as well being one of the most depleted
habitats (only 7.5% of its primary vegetation remains – 78,330
Km2 of primary and secondary). The best-preserved
forests today can be found on the steep mountains of Sao
Paulo
State.
Application Instructions & Checklist
The flagship species of this ecosystem is also the largest
Neotropical primate species, the woolly spider
monkey or muriqui, endemic to this ecosystem, and on the
verge of extinction with critically endangered
status (IUCN 2000). Carlos Botelho State Park (24o44’ -
24o15’ S, 47o46’ - 48o10’ W)
is considered the most important site for southern muriqui
research containing between 500-800 animals
and supporting the longest systematic research project conducted
in the biome. Data collected in this field
study are for a long term study, which is ongoing for the
last ten years systematically. Information
on the basis of diet selection, apart of being urgently needed
from wild animals, will contribute to
the knowledge of the patterns of natural food for muriquis.
The overall significance of this study
is to relate issues of diet selection and food processing contributing
to conservation and the scientific scenario of field primatology
in Brazil, the lead world’s leader in primate biodiversity.
Study Site
The study site, Carlos Botelho State Park, is located in
the south region of Sao Paulo State, south-eastern
Brazil. This protected area of Tropical Atlantic Forest has
37,432.48 ha along the Atlantic Escarpment,
Paranapiacaba Hill, that is the main divide sheds between
the Vale do Ribeira and Paulist Planalt.
The headwaters of the Paranapanema River are located in the planalt
and those of in the Vale do Ribeira. Altitude in the area
varies from 30- 970 meters, 24o44’ a
24o15’ S and Longitudes 47o46’ a
48o10’ W (See Map 1 for details) The climate according
to Koppen, is classified as Cfa or Cfb and rainfall is present
throughout the year. The temperature varies
between 03o C-28o C (minimum and maximum for the last ten years),
with average of 19o C. The average annual rainfall for the
study site during the last 20 years was
1685 mm. The vegetation is typical of Tropical Rainforest,
and corresponds to Tropical Latifoliated
Humid Slope, representing a primitive vegetation covering
through its extension. The park is one
of the areas of Paranapiacaba ecological continuum, decreed
as World Heritage Area by UNESCO,1999. (See Map 1 and Figure
1).
Animals
Wild Animals
The group study is estimated to consist between 29 - 35
animals, of all ages at a sexual ratio 1:1
Personal working in the field site for the project
Principal Investigator: (currently in Brazil)
01 Local Field Assistant, eleven years of local experience
(Brazilian)
01 Field Technician (Brazilian)
Up to 3 Brazilian interns
up to 3 foreign volunteers
(Please check with Dr. Talebi about the planned field
team constitution at your proposed period
for the position).
Institutions (out of date, there are more institutions now
that we have as partners)
Carlos Botelho State Park – Forestry Sciences Dept – Sao
Paulo – Brazil;
Paraná Federal University, Nutrition Dept. – Animal
Nutrition Laboratory – Curitiba, Parana, Brazil;
Curitiba Zoological Park – Curitiba City, Parana State – PR – Brazil.
PRÓ-MURIQUI ASSOCIATION– www.promuriqui.org.br
(under construction) São Paulo – SP– Brazil.
University of Cambridge – Dept. of Biological Anthropology – Cambridge
- England - UK;
University of Hong Kong – Dept. of Anatomy – Hong
Kong - China; University of Stirling,
Scotland, UK University of São Paulo, Dept of Animal Reproduction,
Veterinary Faculty, São Paulo, Brasil
Aims
It is expected to put the volunteers and technicians in contact
with neotropical field primatology, allowing
the student to have a clear idea of how to develop field
data collection using basic techniques
in the field of primates behavioural ecology. Future collaborations
will be welcomed and for example we have
an ex-volunteer working with us for her PhD after just recently completing
her M. Sc. of Science at University of Cambridge – UK.
Daily Activities and Timetable
The day activity starts around 5:30, going off to the forest
around 6:00 AM and coming when the work
day finishes, which varies for each season, but never earlier
than 19:00 hs. The routine includes walking
in the trails in steep hill mountains forest, and if were
tourism the classification would range
between heavy for extreme. You will need to be or to become
(normally within a month time) physically
well fit. It is expected that a minimum of 5-10 KM of walking
every day, sometimes less, sometimes more
and full commitment for working at any weather temperature conditions.
It is not necessary previous experience but this a strong
sense of commitment within activities and timetables fundamentally.
The activities can be resumed as locating and following the
subgroups of woolly spider monkeys in the
forest, marking food trees, collecting botanical material
(for later same day processing for taxonomy
identification), measuring trails, GPS plotting, sometimes
walking fast or even running over hills
of no more than 100 metres length with a maximum 30o steep
topography, sometimes not moving for until three four hours, which depends of course
on the muriquis activities. Others
activities not described here of general field biology work
are also included in the daily activities. After
the full day of field work, returning to the camp, evening
activities includes processing botanical
material, phytochemical computer processing techniques and
transcriptions of data for paper sheets
as well computer sheets. Depending on the number of people
presently involved we organize evening
turns, which some people stay in the lab and others go back
home for setting up food as well shower,
etc. It is expected that around 21:00 pm all activities have
been done, with 10:00 PM silent starting
for rest, with a new day starting next morning 5:30 AM.
Further training includes behavioural and ecological data
sampling, since the conception of the questions, through elaboration of sheet samples, and sampling
of data in the field.
If you have already previous training within some topics, you should
be requested to participate in also helping
in training others team members. When M. Talebi is around
it is also expected to that monthly or
fortnightly presentation of essays and data discussion to
be done, within related or specific topics
, including group presentation and discussion. Overall,
we have a friendly approach to life and appreciate good music
and good wine but work serious and hard
as this sort of activity requests. The accommodation shared
is very simple and basic with all people sharing the same house. Personal commitment
for cleaning, keeping in
order, cooking and for the collective peace of mind and interaction
is essential. If you consider working
in this atmosphere you probably will become a good friend
of us as many of others Brazilian or foreign volunteers that worked with us before.
Weekly Timetable
After initial three month of “getting used to”,
when volunteers are granted a full day and half of resting
physically. Afterwards, normally you are going to have one
day off per week when you are expected
for going down to the town for Internet and personal shopping.
Timetables are flexible according with
demand, but normally includes at least one full day of computer
and laboratory work, and five days of field work.
Monthly Timetable
The student will have one extra day per month free to get
out of the station, for example to visit Sao
Paulo city, located three hours driving from the station.
Our experience however has showed that
some people would prefer to not get this offer and plan a
week off in the middle of the period.
*** Important Note ***
It will not be allowed to collect any kind of personal data
except those ones for the main research undergoing.
This is a strict rule, and failing this task will promote
to the intern be disconnected immediately
since collecting natural material without federal permission
is considered a state and federal offence in Brazil. Collaborations for specific projects
are decided upon invitation, after the
trainee has accomplished her (his) tasks within the initial
6 months proposed.
Timetable for participation
Contact info@promuriqui.org.br
If more than two applicants selected express the commitment
to participate, it can be discussed simultaneous periods
Certificate
A certificate of participation from Pro-Muriqui Association
will be given for the
participants, under a final report presentation.
Conditions:
Before selection:
To provide evidences of being able to:
1) Pay the costs for airfare and local travels as well food
and personal expenses (estimative: food
and personal expenses: most likely US$ 80-100 per month (including
extra-personal expenses as internet, etc, not including drinks and beverages)
2) Payment at arrival of the project expenses fee (unique
standard contribution – Euro 300,00 – three hundred
Euros, independently of the lenght of stay at the project);
3) To show evidences of a life and international health insurance
(declaration before arrival and show evidences upon arrival);
PS: a telephone line is available for receiving calls at
the field camp. No inter-city, interstate or international calls are allowed.
After Selection:
4) To be able to work as a team member;
5) To be able to develop basic skill communication issues
in Portuguese;
6) To produce and commit to all activities requested;
7) To produce requested temporal reports as well a final
report of the activities developed in the project.
8) To agree with the internal policies for housing and work,
being disconnected in case of incompatibilities
for following schedules (topic added based in previous experiences
of peole not willing to cooperate with house-work)
9) After returning to the host country, to promote an academic
or student way of disseminating the activities
like presenting a talk in your University. Mauricio Talebi
will be happy to attend if it is possible.
Information for applying
02 or more printed/ emailed letters of recommendation;
Application Questions Full answered (below);
One page declaration that you agree with the general
conditions exposed above (money, insurances,
condition of work, etc – addressed to Dr. Mauricio
Talebi, Project Director, Pró- Muriqui
Association, Carlos Botelho Sate Park, Brazil).
Full up to date C.V (With 2 recent (and similar as you are)
passport picture size, which can be scanned. (This is due to the airport and bus stations purposes
and is essential)
Application Questions
1) Date available for starting;
2) Total period available;
3) Food restrictions or food related issues
4) Narrative of previous experience with related activities
with wild animals, captivity and wild animals,
including dates, length, city and countries, as well specific
activities as equipments used (no more than 1000 words);
5) Drive License and drive ability: car, 4 wheel truck
and motorcycle; to list which ones with license or just
ability
(ability is essential at least for cars, if not, able to
learn)
6) Expected Items of yours expenses that you can fund.
( ) Airfare
( ) Project Expenses Fee
( ) Food and personal expenses
7) Justification of around 400 words explaining: Why you
want to participate of this project??
8) Justification of no more than 400 words: Why you must
be the selected technician for working
within this project
9) Explanation of no more than 400 words about the contribution
of this training period in this project
for your personal career.
10) If you would be willing to fundraise money in your
local community or town for paying your expenses
previously of coming of Brazil (not mandatory, just in
case if interests you).
11) Full contact details (if not available in your CV).
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO RE-INCLUDE
YOUR CV EVEN THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SENT IT BY EMAIL. (info@promuriqui.org.br)
• PS: All material should be sent by applications
BY E.MAIL
**** PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE TWO RECENT PICTURES
(SCANNED ONES OK) FOR AIRPORT COLLECTION
PURPOSES. TRY TO INCLUDE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU UPON YOUR
ARRIVAL, AT LEAST THE SAME HAIR COLOUR…(ALSO
BASED ON OUR
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES AT AIRPORTS...). APPLICATION WITHOUT ANY
OF THE ITEMS REQUIRED AND STATED ABOVE WONT BE CONSIDERED.
