The Amazon Research Center Lodge
Bringing Science to Life
The Amazon Research Center Lodge (ARC) is formally recognized by the organization CONCYTEC (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación) as an official Research Institution. CONCYTEC is the official Peruvian governmental organization in charge of generating and promoting the scientific and technological development of Peru. For many years, the facilities of the ARC have offered unique opportunities for scientists, students, and interested travelers to participate in scientific investigations in the Amazon Rainforest. Dozens of scientific publications have been generated on subjects ranging from anthropology to forestry to zoology
An Unforgettable Adventure in the Heart of the Amazon
History of the ARC
The Amazon Research Center (ARC) Peru Lodge was launched in 2007, as a long-term conservation initiative undertaken in consultation with government offices in Iquitos, Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Chicago Botanical Garden, and the Tahuayo River communities Comite de Gestion. The ARC is within a national conservation reserve, the Area de Conservacion Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo (ACRCTT). It is a 1 million acre (445,000 ha) uninhabited reserve which Amazonia Expeditions helped to establish. A Rapid Inventory study by the Field Museum, as well as other independent studies have described the ACRCTT as having the greatest biodiversity yet documented in a lowland Amazonian forest. Over 100 species of non-volant mammals, 16 species of primates and over 600 species of birds have thus far been documented.
Documenting the Activities of the Rainforest
The Amazon Research Center Trail Grid
Click to Expand and View Forest Types on the Grid
Documenting the Activities of the Rainforest
The Amazon Research Center Trail Grid
The centerpiece of the ARC research facilities is the Trail Grid system. Located behind the Research Center Lodge, it contains approximately 52 miles (84 km) of trails spread over more than 1000 acres (2200 ha) and slicing through four different ecosystems. It is the largest scientific trail system offered in the Amazon and comes equipped with motion activated cameras for population studies. Twelve species of primates have significant populations on the grid and some 50 additional species of mammals are found, including apex predators such as jaguar and puma. While about half of all research at the ARC takes place on the trail grid, other research opportunities utilize the many lakes and rivers, native communities downriver and other unique ecosystems found near the main tourism lodge.
Amazon Research Center Residents
Amazonia Expeditions started with a biologist’s expeditions deep into the rainforest to conduct avian studies for the Chicago Zoological Society – and that commitment to scientific inquiry has never left us. Below you can learn about some of the ongoing research projects run by our hosted researchers across a variety of study areas. Our Amazon Research Center offer a unique opportunity for scientists, students and interested travelers to participate in scientific investigations in the Amazon rainforest. From wildlife population studies, to behavioral research and beyond – we welcome novel research proposals and volunteers alike as part of our greater mission.
Dr. Larissa Barker
Dr. Barker is a behavioral ecologist from Austria who is now a career Fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London's School of Biological Sciences. After collecting the data for her undergraduate thesis in Honduras she fell in love with tropical fieldwork and has continued to work across the tropics for the last 9 years. Larissa completed her PhD fieldwork here in the reserve looking at the impacts of anthropogenic noise on pygmy marmoset behavior. After successfully handing in and defending her PhD thesis she came back to work at the lodge as the staff biologist. She is continuing her work with the pygmy marmosets with a focus on how human presence impacts their anti-predator behavior using machine learning algorithms to speed the processing time of video data used to capture fine-scale animal behaviors. Once tested on pygmy marmosets, this style of data processing will be further refined through tests on new species including white-lipped peccary.
Malika Gottstein
2019-2021 staff biologist Malika Gottstein had already spent time studying in Peru at the Estación Biológica Quebrada Blanco - a biological station managed by the German primatological center near the Amazonia Expeditions Lodges. She completed her masters degree at the station and continued working there afterwards before meeting founder Paul Beaver. They agreed for Malika to join the Amazonia team to lead a few different projects focused on the Saki Monkey troops that make their home in the rainforest around our lodges. The main projects were focused on the feeding ecology of the sakis, the sakis' fleeing behavior, a kinship analysis, and to determine if there might be an additional subspecies of saki monkeys in the region. While Malika does not believe there is an additional species of Sakis, the data is still being processed on their fleeing behavior and the kinship analysis, and you can read about the published piece on the Saki's feeding ecology below!
Abigail Morris
2021-2022 staff biologist Abigail Morris was interested in studying how animals respond to environmental changes of varying degrees - which made the seasonally flooding forests around the Amazon Research Center lodge a perfect location for her to perform her research. She decided to continue the work of 2019-2021 staff biologist Malika Gottstein and focus on the elusive Saki Monkeys. She and guide Aladino Sr. would go out into the forest each day to track down different troops of Saki Monkeys and document how many individuals there were, if they were eating, what they were eating, and take photographs to build up a base of data to pull longer term trends from. To learn more about the research and their conclusions read our full post on Abigail and Malika's time in the Jungle!
Dr. Paul Beaver
Dr. Paul Beaver has been a pivotal figure in the conservation and research efforts in the Tahuayo River basin since 1980. A biologist and founder of Amazonia Expeditions, Paul has dedicated his career to studying the unique ecosystems of the Amazon, assisting a variety of scientists and mentoring many students. His most recent focus has been on documenting the remarkable recovery of the endangered Giant River Otter populations in the Tahuayo River basin. Through close collaboration with local communities and ecotourism initiatives, these efforts have played a significant role in reversing the decline of this species, showcasing the profound impact of sustainable conservation practices.
How Can Travelers Participate in Amazon Research Projects?
Participate in Research and Conservation in the Amazon
Saving the Wolf of the River
Lend a Hand in our Conservation Efforts
Saving the Wolf of the River
At Amazonia Expeditions, we are dedicated to the research and preservation of the Giant River Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), an endangered species thriving in the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area. Known as the “River Wolf,” these remarkable otters, reaching lengths of up to six feet, are vital indicators of a healthy ecosystem within the Amazon Rainforest.
Historically, hunting for their pelts drastically reduced their numbers. However, through our community-based ecotourism initiatives and conservation efforts, we’ve seen a significant rebound in their population over the past decade. By partnering with local communities, we have successfully shifted from hunting to sustainable practices, including wildlife tracking, and guiding.
Our guests can play a crucial role in this conservation journey. Visitors can contribute to our ongoing research by photographing the otters’ heads when they periscope out of the water to document the patterned colors on their neck as seen in the accompanying photo. This is the easiest to do during July, August, and September, when water levels are low and can be sent to Dr. Paul Beaver with the date and sighting location which can be provided by your guide . These photos help us monitor and identify individual otters, aiding in population studies and ensuring their continued protection.
Student Research Opportunities
In addition to hosting experienced researchers – Amazonia Expeditions also offers 6-8 student internships at our rainforest lodges each year. These internships could contribute to standing projects run by Amazonia or to research being performed by hosted external scientists. Below are some examples of the kinds of projects that are available – inquiries about internships can be sent directly to Dr. Paul Beaver for further consideration.
Wildlife Population Studies + Primate Research
Student Research Internships
Wildlife population study – Ongoing inventory of population data on key species. The data collected includes date, time, species, GPS location, nearest grid coordinate, group size, perpendicular distance from the nearest individual of the group to the trail, distance surveyed, and transect code. Camera traps are used to collect data on many terrestrial species and attempts are now ongoing to explore drone camera technology on arboreal species.
Primate Research – Current research on primates is helping to safeguard the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo’s spectacular primate fauna: 16 species representing every South American primate family and spanning the continent’s range of body size. Primate census of the trail grid was initiated in 2007 and continues to the present time.
Wildlife Populations Studies + Primate Research
Student Research Interships
Featured Amazon Research at the ARC
Monk Saki Feeding Ecology – Malika Gottstein and Abby Morris 2023
Wildlife biologists Dr. Malika Gottstein and Abby Morris investigated dietary composition and identified important feeding plants in a seasonally flooded forest within the Tamshiyacu–Tahuayo reserve in a study that spanned 20 months and documented 459 feeding events to better understand their feeding habits.
Impact of Noise Disturbance on Pygmy Marmosets – Larissa Barker 2022
Staff biologist and member of the Conservation and Behavior Lab, Dr. Larissa Barker, studied the impact of our lodge’s human visitors on pygmy marmoset behavior using passive acoustic monitoring to quantify seasonal and spatial differences in the noises produced by humans and pygmy marmoset vocalizations.
New Species Described: Inpabasis intermedia – Tim Faasen 2021
Damselfly specialist Dr. Tim Faasen identified and described a new species of damselfly: Inpabasis intermedia, from specimens collected in the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo reserve during a 2009 survey. Faasen also presented a key for identifying males and females across all known species of Inpabasis.
Land Snail Rapid Survey – Dan and Judy Dourson 2013
Authors and wildlife biologists Dan and Judy Dourson completed an rapid assessment of land snails in the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve in 2013 . During this survey they documented 15 species of land snails with a total of four that could not be identified to species which include two that may have been previously undescribed.
A Secluded Stay in the Heart of the Jungle
Visiting the Amazon Research Center
For travelers staying with us in the Amazon for at least 5 days – there is the option to stay at the ARC for all or part of your trip. While the accommodations of this lodge are more modest – guests who are visiting the jungle to experience its spectacular biodiversity will find the pristine, undisturbed forest it provides access to well worth it. The ARC is the only existing man-made structure in the million acre ACRCTT conservation zone with the nearest human habitation over 15 km away. The ecological diversity and species diversity is greater here than at our main Tahuayo lodge, although from each lodge one can find a number of interesting species not found at the other lodge.
What Our Guests Are Saying
★★★★★
“Our time in the jungle was an absolute highlight on our trip to Peru! Truly amazing! …Again, we had the most wonderful time. Almost more than words can say. The jungle and the Tahuayo Lodge hold very special places in our hearts and CAN NOT WAIT to return. Thank you again for offering such an amazing trip.”
Erika
★★★★★
“I saw tons of wildlife and it was fantastic being able to customize my experience with my private guide. A big thanks for all the work you do to benefit the community and the rainforest and for being an ethical tour company that doesn’t allow tourists to fondle captive wildlife.”
Ashlyn H
★★★★★
“All the staff were so friendly and helpful. We appreciated that the staff is well paid with full social benefits (health, retirement, paid vacation)”
Brett C
★★★★★
“Our trip was INCREDIBLE. The lodge was great, the food was amazing, and the staff were all so friendly. We loved our stays at the B&B, the main lodge, and the ARC.”
Renee
