How can so many species live together along the slopes of the Andes?
	How do species replace one another with elevation?
	How distinct are these Andean faunas and floras from others in South America?
	Are each of the vertebrate species "habitat" to a plethora of parasites?

Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve is located in southeastern Peru.  It is one of the largest and biologically richest protected areas in the world.  Gazetted in 1973, it covers 18,812 km², roughly the size of Wales or Massachusetts.  Its habitats range from lowland tropical forests to montane cloud forests and moist pajonal grasslands. 

These differences reflect variation in elevation, from 365 m (1200 ft) at Boca Manu to the 3450 m (11320 ft) crest of the eastern Cordillera at Puesto de Vigilancia Acjanaco.

Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru.  The red box encloses our field camps 
(map adapted from MacQuarrie 1992).

introduction continued >>