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.
A Laboratory in the Wild
Established in 1994 by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, TBS is a scientific field station dedicated to research, education, and conservation. Its remote location, protected from hunting by agreements with local indigenous communities, allows for the study of animals that are difficult to observe elsewhere. The facilities include a 600-square-meter laboratory, housing for about 60 visitors, and a 40-kilometer network of trails.
To study the forest's vertical dimension, the station has two observation towers, one 36 meters and another 45 meters high, that provide scientists with access to the forest canopy. Research from the station has resulted in hundreds of scientific publications. Long-term camera trap programs have captured over half a million images of large animals, including 40,000 pictures of felines and some of the Amazon's rarest mammals, like the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis). One study even used camera traps to analyze how different primate species use naturally occurring mineral licks. An estimated 85% of species in the area have not yet been formally described by science.