Biodiversity of river corridors in tropical forests: present state, human impacts and restoration perspectives

The 2010 is the year of biodiversity and so nowadays the questions about our knowledge, negative influences and ways to conserve biological diversity arise more than ever. Proposed project aims to meet this worldwide initiative and contribute to our knowledge on biodiversity hotspots in South America. The main goals of the project are to:
1) improve information on the fauna of two geologically and biogeographically different ecosystems (Venezuelan table mountains, Andes in Ecuador)
2) compare diversity (biological, genetic) in the original, untouched areas with those negatively affected by humans,
3) evaluate potential of the preserved areas to serve as source ofbiodiversity in the renaturation processes.