Publications
Biogeography and climate change threats of supersect. Tacsonia (subgenus Passiflora), in Peru
Climate change threatens to reduce the suitable habitat for Tacsonia species, part of the Passiflora genus, by 20%–60% by 2100, according to a biogeographical study in Peru. The research integrated distribution patterns, endemism, protection coverage, and ecological niche modeling to assess vulnerability. Most occurrences were found between 3,000 and 3,500 meters elevation, with Cusco and Cajamarca regions hosting the highest richness. Thirteen species are endemic, including five restricted to specific regions. The study also identified critical habitats within protected areas like Río Abiseo National Park, while projecting significant habitat loss under future climate scenarios.
A New Species of Marmosa (Mammalia: Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) from Parque Nacional del Río Abiseo, Peru
Researchers have identified a new species of didelphid marsupial, Marmosa chachapoya, within the subgenus Stegomarmosa, from Río Abiseo National Park, Peru. This discovery, based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analysis alongside unique morphological traits, highlights the park's remarkable mammalian diversity. The new species is distinguished by its gray-based buffy-reddish ventral fur, narrow rostrum with an elongated premaxillary process, absence of postorbital processes, and diastemata among specific teeth. This finding underscores the importance of protected areas like Río Abiseo in conserving biodiversity.
A hint on the unknown diversity of eastern Andes: high endemicity and new species of mammals revealed through DNA barcoding
A recent DNA barcoding study of Parque Nacional del Río Abiseo (PNRA) in Peru's eastern Andes reveals unprecedented mammal diversity, with 23 non-volant small mammal species identified—16 during a single 15-day sampling expedition. Strikingly, only four of these species matched known taxa, suggesting that at least 12 may represent new or undescribed species. The study highlights PNRA as a hotspot for endemism and beta diversity, with 69% of recorded species (11 out of 16) previously unknown from other sites. Phylogenetic analyses indicate diverse phylogeographic affinities, though limited comparative data hinder deeper historical reconstructions. This research underscores the region's untapped biodiversity and the urgent need for taxonomic attention to address significant sampling biases in Andean studies.
Patrones de fragmentación en las zonas de amortiguamiento de las Áreas Naturales Protegidas en la región San Martín, Perú
A recent study reveals that buffer zones of protected areas in the Peruvian Amazon, including Río Abiseo National Park, are experiencing moderate forest fragmentation. Researchers quantified land cover and forest loss between 2017 and 2021, finding significant deforestation rates in three sites—Río Abiseo (-0.71%), Cordillera Azul (-1.30%), and Alto Mayo (-1.87%)—while Pacaya Samiria remained stable. The analysis used spatial data from Esri Land Cover and Geobosque to assess fragmentation metrics, highlighting the vulnerability of these critical conservation areas to habitat loss.
Aportes al conocimiento del armadillo peludo de nariz larga (Dasypus pilosus)
Research on the hairy long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus pilosus) reveals it as an opportunistic insectivore, primarily consuming underground larvae and colony-forming insects, with a preference for hymenopterans, lepidopterans, and coleopterans. This species, endemic to Peru's montane forests, was documented in Río Abiseo National Park during a wildlife inventory, where eight specimens were collected. Stomach content analysis provided insights into its dietary habits, while a review of previous records suggests it may also inhabit grasslands near forest edges and in the jalca region. The study indicates that D. pilosus is present in conservation areas across San Martin, Amazonas, and Cajamarca, emphasizing the need for further research to inform effective conservation strategies.
List of bats register at high altitudes in Río Abiseo National Park
Researchers have documented 16 bat species at unusually high altitudes within Río Abiseo National Park, exceeding previously reported altitudinal ranges for four of them. This finding challenges assumptions about the distribution limits of bats, which typically avoid elevations above 2000 meters. The study, conducted through four expeditions between 1987 and 1990, collected data on species from the Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae families, providing a critical baseline for comparison with other high-altitude bat populations globally.
Gestión de los incendios forestales en el Páramo y las Yungas de la Reserva de Biosfera Gran Pajatén: prevención, respuestas y aprendizajes.
In the Reserva de Biosfera Gran Pajatén, a UNESCO-recognized site spanning nearly 25,097 km² across three Peruvian departments, integrated fire management strategies have been developed to protect the delicate ecosystems of the Páramo and Yungas. The Bosque Modelo Río Huayabamba - Abiseo (BMRHA), established in 2015, combines conservation efforts across multiple concessions and the Río Abiseo National Park, serving as a model for sustainable fire prevention and response in Sudamérica. This initiative highlights the importance of collaborative management in preserving mixed natural and cultural heritage sites, offering lessons for global biodiversity conservation.
A new species of Petracola (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Río Abiseo National Park, San Martín, Peru
Researchers have identified a new species of lizard, belonging to the genus Petracola within the family Gymnophthalmidae, from Río Abiseo National Park in Peru. This discovery contributes to the biodiversity documentation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is renowned for its unique geological formations and high species diversity. The study employed morphological analysis to distinguish this new species from its known relatives, focusing on key characteristics such as scalation patterns and body structure. The findings highlight the importance of Río Abiseo National Park as a critical area for conservation and further exploration of its rich faunal diversity.
Plan de negocios para implementar una empresa de turismo con enfoque en adultos mayores en el departamento de San Martín - Tarapoto
Río Abiseo National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, offers diverse tourism potential, including archaeological sites like Gran Pajatén and natural wonders such as Ahuashiyacu Falls. A business plan proposes targeting the adult tourism segment (60+ years), leveraging San Martín's competitive advantages in cultural, historical, and gastronomic attractions. The study highlights Tarapoto's role as a key tourist hub, generating 55.94% of visitors to the region. It builds on Peru's global recognition as a premier destination since Machu Picchu's designation as one of the New7Wonders (2007) and its consecutive wins in World Travel Awards for gastronomy (2011, 2013). The plan integrates hypothesis-based market analysis to address the growing demand for senior-friendly tourism experiences.
Trade-Offs Among Aboveground, Belowground, and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Along Altitudinal Gradients in Andean Tropical Montane Forests
Andean tropical montane forests (TMFs) exhibit substantial carbon storage capacity, with total carbon stocks averaging 229.02 ± 68.06 Mg ha⁻¹ across altitudinal gradients in Ecuador and Peru. The study reveals a trade-off among aboveground carbon stock (AGC), belowground carbon stock (BGC), and soil organic carbon stock (SOC) driven by precipitation seasonality, particularly at higher, colder altitudes where greater seasonality promotes faster nutrient turnover but less SOC accumulation while increasing AGC and BGC. Climate factors, including annual mean temperature and precipitation patterns, explain the observed differences in carbon partitioning between sites. This finding highlights the complex interactions shaping carbon storage in TMFs, emphasizing their role as critical global carbon reservoirs.
Four new species of terrestrial-breeding frogs of the genus Phrynopus (Anura: Terrarana: Craugastoridae) from Río Abiseo National Park, Peru
Researchers have identified four new species of terrestrial-breeding frogs within the genus Phrynopus, significantly expanding the known diversity of this group. These discoveries, made on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental near and within Río Abiseo National Park in Peru, include Phrynopus anancites, P. capitalis, P. dumicola, and P. personatus, each exhibiting distinct morphological traits such as coloration, skin texture, and habitat preferences. Notably, one specimen of P. dumicola was found infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fungal pathogen linked to amphibian declines. The study highlights the biodiversity richness of Río Abiseo National Park, which harbors these frogs in diverse habitats ranging from wet montane grasslands to tropical montane rain forests at elevations between 2800 and 3850 meters.
A new species of Pristimantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Río Abiseo National Park, Peru
Researchers have identified a new species of Pristimantis frog within the Río Abiseo National Park, Peru. This discovery, documented through morphological analysis, highlights distinctive features such as a broad, fleshy snout process and unique coloration patterns, including rusty reddish-brown dorsum with lighter blotches or tannish-brown chevrons. The new species differs significantly from its closest relative, P. phoxocephalus, in size, presence of dentigerous processes on the vomers, inner tarsal folds, heel tubercles, and groin mottling. Specimens were collected at elevations ranging from 2650 to 3000 meters, with adult females measuring 24.9–34.2 mm and males 15.3–23.5 mm in snout-vent length. This finding contributes to the biodiversity documentation of the Río Abiseo National Park.
A New Species of Marsupial Frog (Anura: Hemiphractidae: Gastrotheca) from the Río Abiseo National Park in Peru
Researchers have identified a new species of marsupial frog, Gastrotheca phelloderma, within the Río Abiseo National Park in Peru. This discovery, based on 29 specimens collected between 1989 and 1999, distinguishes the species by its unique dorsal markings—two reddish-brown paravertebral ridges with prominent warts—and granular venter. Unlike other Gastrotheca species, it lacks integumentary-cranial co-ossification and produces tadpoles rather than exhibiting direct development. The study highlights its close resemblance to G. phalarosa but differentiates it through distinct skin texture, coloration, and anatomical features such as a palmar tubercle and inner tarsal fold. This finding contributes to the understanding of biodiversity in the Andes and underscores the importance of protecting such unique species within UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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