Proyecto Alto Purús:  Goals
  1. Survey and catalogue the aquatic macrofauna of the Alto Purús National Park.
  2. Deposit research and teaching collections of specimens, tissue samples and associated field data in Peruvian and non-Peruvian institutions, and build a new specimen collection and electronic database at the MUSM.
  3. Capture high-resolution color digital images of all species in the targeted taxa.
  4. Produce Internet and printed guides to the whole aquatic macrofauna of the Alto Purús with illustrated identification keys and photographs, and associated databases compiled in standardized formats appropriate for each group.
  5. Generate new data to test hypotheses on the origins and maintenance of Neotropical aquatic species diversity.
  6. Produce a plan for long-term monitoring of aquatic diversity at selected stations within the Alto Purús National Park.
  7. Train students and technicians at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the systematics, ecology and conservation of species-rich, poorly known, and ecologically important taxa through field and laboratory courses and thesis projects. Beyond these immediate goals the project is stimulating existing and forging new long-term international collaborations among the collaborative institutions. 
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