Caimans, Amazon River

The goal of this project is to help develop conservation strategies in the western Amazon that confront the current threats from climate change. Research has shown that aquatic species are impacted by droughts, whereas intensive floods are advantageous for these species. Sustainability of hunting in flooded forests is dependent on healthy fish populations, since decreases in hunting are compensated by increases in fishing. Thus, sustainability of resource use in flooded forests must include aquatic species because of the interaction of hunting and fishing. 

The spectacled caiman, black caiman and smooth fronted caiman use the aquatic/terrestrial interface habitats. There has been a gradual decrease in common caiman and black caiman. The smooth fronted caiman has had more stable populations. Since fish comprises the major part of adult caiman's diet, they have direct impact on fish populations.