A full list of the numerous projects, publications and presentations delivered by Las Cuevas since becoming operational in 1995 is presented below

(Researchers - if your projects not listed and should be please let us know)

The list reflects the great diversity and depth of work undertaken at Las Cuevas, and demonstrates that Las Cuevas has become a thriving and internationally important centre for biodiversity  research. You will see that there has been a steady increase in the number of Scientists and Students working at Las Cuevas, with people from Belize, USA and Canada studying alongside those from Britain.

Whilst there have been are many significant achievements in the last 5 years, we would highlight these in particular:

• Between 2001 and 2003 staff at Las Cuevas played a leading role in providing objective and informed data to the international debate surrounding a proposed dam at Chalillo on the Macal River. The wildlife impact assessment field work and report carried out by Las Cuevas provided the most respected and valuable basis for decision making. Uniquely, Las Cuevas was able to provide unbiased, accurate and valid information to all parties including the Government of Belize, NGOs, campaigners, media and developers.

• The Harpy Eagle Project, based at and supported by Las Cuevas, is an exciting programme aimed at re-introducing one of the world’s largest eagles into part of its former range. The successful release of the first 4 eagles has taken place at a ‘hack’ site run by Las Cuevas. This has been a flagship project for the Meso-American Biological Corridor.

• Important studies of Jaguar and Ocelot abundance and behaviour have been based at Las Cuevas, using innovative photo-trap technology.

• Other pioneering work has involved the development of live web-casts from Las Cuevas to the Darwin Centre in London and to the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

• Finally, it is worth noting that Las Cuevas has been responsible for environmental impact assessments for other protected areas of Belize and thus plays a wider role in promoting professional conservation efforts throughout the country.

 Research Projects at Las Cuevas between 1998 - 2003:

Publications:

Barnes, M. J. C.  2001. Moths of Belize An illustrated catalogue of the larger moths of Belize.  http://www.mbarnes.force9.co.uk/belizemoths/belizehome.htm

Blackmore, S. (1999). Las Cuevas Research Station: Update to Management Plan 1999. 8

Blackmore, S., Knapp, S., Minty, C. & Sanders, L. (1998). Las Cuevas Research Station:

Blackmore, S., Sutton, D. & Monro, A. (1995). Las Cuevas Research Station: First

Caro, T.M., Kelly, M.J, Bol, N., Matola, S. 2001. Inventorying mammals at multiple sites in the Maya mountains of Belize. Journal of Mammalogy. 82(1):43-50 [peer-reviewed].

Dyson, E. An investigation into the influence of environmental variables on the distribution of bryophytes in Belize.  MSc Thesis, Imperial/NHM.

Fitzherbert, E. & Gardner, T.  2001. Project Anuran. FROGLOG, Number 48. (Dec. 2001). http://www2.open.ac.uk/biology/froglog/FROGLOG-48-1.html

Gardner, T.  (in press).  Declining amphibian populations: a global phenomenon in conservation biology.  Animal Biodiversity and Conservation.

Gardner, T.  Project Anuran. Belize Research Group Meeting, University of Warwick, September 2001.  (contributed talk).

Gardner, T. & Fitzherbert, E. 2001. Project Anuran: a multi-species monitoring

Gardner, T. , Fitzherbert, E., Hill, N., Williams, L.  2001.  Project Anuran Phase I. Main report.  An ecological research project concerned with the assessment and monitoring of anuran populations in the region of Las Cuevas, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize.  University of Edinburgh. (June 2001.)  117 pp. (pdf, www.projectanuran.org) [report]

Gardner, T., Bol, M., Bucknill, F., Coc, N., Fitzherbert, E., Hart, N.  2001.  Project Anuran Phase II.  Preliminary Report.  An ecological research project concerned with the assessment and monitoring of anuran populations in the region of Las Cuevas, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize.  University of Edinburgh. (September 2001.) 26 pp. (pdf, www.projectanuran.org) [report]

Garwood, N. (1999). A new Forest Dynamics Plot in Belize. Newsletter of the Center for Forest Dynamics

Garwood, N., Parrish, T., Dalling, J., & Vogel, J.  2002. Untangling the species complex of Trema micrantha (Celtidaceae): morphology and molecules. In Programme & Abstracts of the 35th Annual Meeting, Population Genetics Group: 21. [abstract] [SPIS No.: 1319].

Garwood, N., Parrish, T., Dalling, J., & Vogel, J.  Untangling the species complex of Trema micrantha (Celtidaceae): morphology and molecules. 35th Annual Meeting of the Population Genetics Group, University of Leeds, January 2002. (contributed poster).

Garwood, N.C. Plotting and networking in a Floral Maze. Tropical Botany Day, The Natural History Museum, June 2001. (invited talk) [ SPIS No.: 1323].

Garwood, N.C. The Fifty Hectare Plot at Las Cuevas. Belize Research Group Meeting, University of Warwick, September 2001. (contributed talk).

Godfray H. C. J., Lewis O. T., Memmott J.  1999.  Studying insect diversity in the tropics. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B 354: 1811-1824.

Hayward, A. 2001. Tank bromeliads in Chiquibul Forest: their associated diversity and conservation value.  MSc. Thesis.  Imperial College/NHM.

Kamau, E., Garwood, N., & Barrett, J. Genetic structure at the margins of a widespread tropical tree species: a study of Schizolobium parahyba in Belize. Belize Research Group Meeting, University of Warwick, September 2001).  (contributed poster).

Kamau, E., Garwood, N., Barrett, J., & Vogel, J. 2001. Genetic structure at the margins of a widespread tropical tree species: a study of Schizolobium parahyba in Belize. In Timetable, Abstracts & Participants of the Third Biennial Conference of the Systematics): 68. [abstract] [SPIS No.: 1318].

Kamau, E., Garwood, N., Barrett, J., & Vogel, J. Genetic structure at the margins of a widespread tropical tree species: a study of Schizolobium parahyba in Belize. The Third Biennial Conference of the Systematics Association, Imperial College, London, September 2001. (contributed poster).

Knapp, S.  2001.  Student Page.  Stacey Smith [studies pollination of Solanaceae at Las Cuevas].  Plant Cuttings, Issue 6 (July).

Lewis O.T. 2001. Effect of experimental selective logging on tropical butterflies.  Conservation Biology 15: 389-400 APR 2001

Lewis, O. Effect of experimental selective logging on tropical butterflies. Royal Entomological Society Conservation Special Interest Group, November 1999, and Butterfly Conservation International Symposium, Oxford, September 1999.  (contributed talks).

Lewis, O. Effect of experimental selective logging on tropical butterflies.  Third International Butterfly Ecology and Evolution Symposium, Colorado, August 1998. (contributed poster).

Lewis, O. Structure of a diverse tropical forest insect-parasitoid community.  ECOSUR, Chiapas, Mexico, March 2000, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, October 2000. (invited seminars).

Lewis, O. Structure of a diverse tropical forest insect-parasitoid community.  - Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, January 2002. (invited seminar).

Lewis, O. Structure of a diverse tropical forest insect-parasitoid community. 21st International Congress of Entomology, Brazil, August 2000.

Lewis, O. Structure of a diverse tropical forest insect-parasitoid community. British Ecological Society Winter Meeting, December 1999.

Lewis, O.T. and Morris, R.J.  Spatial patterns of herbivore and parasitoid attack in a tropical forest: implications for the maintenance of tropical diversity (in preparation).

Lewis, O.T., Memmott, J., LaSalle, J., Lyal, C.H.C., Whitefoord, C. and Godfray, H.C.J. (712002). Structure of a diverse tropical forest insect-parasitoid community. Journal of Animal Ecology 71: 855-873.

Longhorn, S.  2001.  Genetic evaluation of CITES II protected spiders of the genus Brachypelma (Theraphosidae); including an outline of non-lethal tissue sampling.  MSc. thesis.  Imperial College/NHM.Management Plan 1999/00–2003/04. 19 pp. incl. appendices.

Miller, B.W. 2001.  Preliminary survey of the bats of Las Cuevas BM Field Station, and Ek Tun lodge property on Macal River. June 16-20, 2001. WCS Tropical Forest and Reserve Planning Project Technical Report.  21pp.

Miller, T. Inside the Chiquibul: Exploring Central America's longest cave(photographs by Stephen Alvarez). National Geographic. April 2000 [popular science article].

Minty, C.  “Those Dam Canadians”. Acadia University, January 2002. (invited talk).

Minty, C.  Co-Management of Protected Areas in Belize.  Meso-American Biological Corridor (Belize) Working Group, Belmopan, November 2001. (contributed talk).

Minty, C.  Impact of Chalillo Dam. Presentation to Mr Keith Martin MP Canadian Alliance, Chaa Creek, August 2001. (invited talk).

Minty, C.  Las Cuevas Research Station. Cleveland Heights Tropical Group, Cleveland. December 2001. (invited talk).

Minty, C.  Money, Macaws and Mahogany. Presentation to Geography Dept, University of Edinburgh, September 2001. (invited talk).

Minty, C.  Wildlife on the Macal River. Belize Research Group Meeting, University of Warwick, September 2001 (contributed talk)

Minty, C.D., Bol, N. & Meerman, J. 2001.  Rapid Management Assessment of Victoria Peak National Monument.  31pp. [report].

Minty, C.D., Bol, N., Meerman, J. & MacGill, J. 2001.  Rapid Management Assessment of Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve. 30pp. [report].

Minty, C.D., Bol, N., Vasquez, M. & Wilson, R. 2001.  Rapid Management Assessment of Five Blues Lake National Park.  27 pp. [report].

Minty, C.D., Sutton, D.A., Rogers, A..D.F., Bateman, R.M., Penn, M., Stafford, P.J. & Sanders, L.M. 2001. Wildlife Impact Assessment: Macal River Upper Storage Facility. 54 pp. + appendices. [report].

Morris, R.J and Lewis, O.T. (2002). The role of indirect interactions in structuring tropical insect communities. Oikos 97: 308-311.

Murray, M.R & Penn, M.G., 2000. Kriging soil depth: the benefits of prior statistical investigation. In Proceedings of Geostat (2000), (eds) Atkinson, P.M, Riding, A.E. & Tate, N.N. University of Leicester, pp. 101-105 [peer-reviewed paper].

Murray, M.R., Zisman, S.A., Furley, P.A., Munro, D.M., Gibson, J., Ratter, J., Bridgewater, S., Minty, C.D. & Place, C.J. 2003. The mangroves of Belize - distribution, composition and classification. In: Forest Ecology and Management 174 (2003) 265–279

Parrish, T., Garwood, N, Dalling, J., & Vogel, J. 2001. Untangling the species complex of Trema micrantha (Ulmaceae): morphology and molecules. In Timetable, Abstracts &

Participants of the Third Biennial Conference of the Systematics Association: 71. [abstract] [SPIS No.: 1319].

Parrish, T., Garwood, N, Dalling, J., & Vogel, J. Untangling the species complex of Trema micrantha (Ulmaceae): morphology and molecules. The Third Biennial Conference of the Systematics Association, Imperial College, London, September 2001. (contributed poster).

Parrish, T., Garwood, N, Dalling, J., & Vogel, J. Untangling the species complex of Trema micrantha (Ulmaceae): morphology and molecules. Belize Research Group Meeting, University of Warwick, September 2001. (contributed poster) [SPIS No.: 1319].

Pearce, F.  2001. Concrete jungle - Dam set to go ahead despite danger to wildlife. New Scientist 172: 4-4. Dec 29 2001.

Pearce. F.  2001.  Impact of Belize dam in dispute.  New Scientist.com (19 December)

Peña Chocarro, M., Tun, J. & Knapp, S. Arboles del Mundo Maya: un proyecto de colaboración. V Congreso Mesoamericano, San Salvador, El Salvador, October 2001.  (contributed). [SPIS No. 405].

Penn, M.G & Furley. Plant diversity in tropical forests and the role of soil micro-variation. Carnegie Trust meeting. Edinburgh, May 2001. (invited talk) [SPIS- 1088].

 Penn, M.G.  Spatial analysis of forest composition, Belize. AGI, London, September 2001. 

Penn, M.G., Furley, P.A. & Murray, M. (2001). Spatial analysis of micro-environmental change and forest composition in Belize. In: Millington, A. (ed). GIS and Remote Sensing in Biogeography and Ecology.  Kluwer Publishing, pp 162-178. [SPIS No.: 1088].

Puplesis, R., Diškus, A. & Robinson, G.S. 2002. New Neotropical Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from the western Amazonian rainforest and the Andes of Ecuador.  Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, London, Entomology, 71: 19-58, figs 1-102.

Puplesis, R., Diškus, A., Robinson, G.S. & Onore, G. 2002. A review and checklist of the Neotropical Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera).  Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, London, Entomology, 71: 59-76, figs 1-23.

Purplesis, R. & Robinson, G.S., 2000. A review of the Central and South American Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) with special reference to Belize.  Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, London, Entomology. 69(1): 3-114, figs1-223. [peer-reviewed article].

Queenborough, S.  2001. Botanical inventory of 1 ha of deciduous forest in Belize.  MSc Thesis.  Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh/ University of Edinburgh.

Queenborough, S.  2001. Botanical inventory of 1 ha of deciduous forest in Belize. British Ecological Society Winter, Meeting 2001. (contributed poster).

Queenborough, S.A., Bol, N.C., Bridgewater, S. (manuscript). Relationships between the tropical deciduous forests of Belize.

Rogers, A.D.F., Sutton, D.A. and Stafford, P.J. (eds). 2001. The New Millennium Expedition: Joint Services Scientific Expedition 2000 to the Upper Raspaculo, Maya Mountains, and limestone karst of the western Chiquibul area, Belize. The Natural History Museum. 51 pp.  [report].

Sanders, L (ed.). 2001. Las Cuevas: the newsletter of the Las Cuevas Research Station.  July 2001.  Issue No. 8, 12 pp.

Sanders, L (ed.). 2002. Las Cuevas: the newsletter of the Las Cuevas Research Station.  Issue No. 9 (April 2002). 12pp.

Shelley, A. J., Hernandez, L. M. & Penn, M.G. (In press). A Biosystematic revision of the blackfiles (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Belize, Central America.  Bulletin of the Natural History Musuem, London (Entomology).

 Sutton, D.A., Hughes, A., Bulmer-Thomas, B. 2000.  Recent records of pteridophytes for Belize, Central America. Bulletin Natural  History Museum. London, Botany. 30(2): 81-99. [peer-reviewed paper]. Tropical Forest Science, Smithsonian Institution (Summer 1999), p. 2.

 Wilder, E. The value of agroecosystems as refuges for forest butterfly fauna.  MSc Thesis, Imperial/NHM.

 Yesson, C. Investigating the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Trema (Celtidaceae) using ITS, trnL and rps4 genes. MSc Thesis, Imperial/NHM.