A Global Epicenter of Life
On the north bank of the Tiputini River, deep inside Ecuador's Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, sits the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS). This 6.5-square-kilometer patch of rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. The station's location at the intersection of the Andes, the Equator, and the Amazon basin creates a unique environment where an astonishing number of species exist. The forest here is primarily non-flooded terra firma forest, but also includes seasonally flooded várzea forest near the river, increasing its extreme biodiversity.
The numbers are staggering. A single hectare at Tiputini can contain over 655 tree species, which is more than are found in the United States and Canada combined. The larger Yasuní region hosts around 150 amphibian species—more than all of North America. Researchers estimate a single hectare could house up to 100,000 insect species. The mammal list is extensive, with 185 documented species, including over 90 species of bats and 10 of the 16 primate species found in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Five species of felines, including jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor), have been recorded, with camera traps showing record densities for jaguars and ocelots.