Drones
Aerobotany
Citizen scientists discover species in the Amazon Rainforest
Citizen scientists at Rainforest Expeditions discovered eight new species in 2016 alone , contributing to advancing cutting-edge research in the Amazon rainforest
. Award-winning Peruvian ecotourism operator , Rainforest Expeditions , announced today the launch of its citizen science program Wired Amazon , a collection of field projects that allow onsite and offsite community volunteers to contribute to long-term research and conservation efforts in Tambopata National Reserve .
The first two projects to launch include :
• Aerobotany - citizen scientists have the opportunity to review aerial photos of the rainforest canopy from the comfort of their homes . The footage is captured by drones that monitor the canopy over 50 meters above the forest floor . This online project is the brainchild of Dr . Varun
Swamy , an ecologist who has been doing research in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest since 2003 .
• Discover a New Species : Barcode Tambopata - guests at Refugio Amazonas Lodge help researchers with the analysis of field data and cataloging some the rarest species of insects . This project is linked to the International Barcode of Life project ( BOLD ), which is building a DNA barcode library , the foundation of a future
DNA-based identification system for every living organism on Earth . Scientists are discovering , on average , one new species per month .
Wired Amazon allows citizen scientists to earn travel credits by categorizing photos taken in the Amazon through the Zooniverse platform . Volunteers earn $ 1 in travel credits for each classified photo , up to $ 300 per person , which can be redeemed at Rainforest Expeditions lodges during Science Season .