Scientists from Vilnius University’s Life Sciences Center (VU LSC), in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna and partners in French Guiana, are currently on an expedition to the Amazon rainforest, where they are studying the effects of climate change on amphibians.
The expedition is led by Dr. Andrius Pašukonis and includes PhD student Shubham Prashant Soni and MSc student Edgaras Žigis from the VU team. The research is being conducted in the remote Nouragues Nature Reserve in French Guiana – a research station accessible only by several hours of river travel or by helicopter. The Research Council of Lithuania supports the expedition through the project “Drought Impacts on Amphibian Reproduction in Ephemeral Rainforest Pools."
“We're studying how tropical amphibians adapt to changing climate conditions. We’re installing environmental sensors that will record temperature, humidity, water level, and sound data year-round, allowing us to monitor amphibian activity under varying conditions. We’re also collecting behavioral and habitat data on species that are still very poorly understood.
Amphibian habitats in tropical forests are incredibly diverse – from temporary forest ponds to the canopy high above the ground. On any given day, the team might wade through waist-deep water or climb 30-meter-tall trees using ropes. The heavy rains typical of this season create favorable breeding conditions for amphibians, making the pace of work incredibly demanding – with the team often continuing both day and night. Although the work is physically challenging, the team’s spirits are high – we’re full of impressions, and the amount of data we’ve collected is truly rewarding,” says Dr. Pašukonis.