Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
From June - August 2019 I joined Operation Wallacea on a biodiversity monitoring expedition in the Selva Maya in Mexico.
As a Lepidopterist, I recorded the diversity of butterfly species at different research camps occupying the Mayan forest. Butterflies are an exceptionally diverse group, with up to 2000 species found in Mexico and Central America alone, this makes them a useful proxy for monitoring the health of a threatened forest ecosystem.
Climate change threatens the natural diversity of this region, with aguadas, the only sources of freshwater that many endemic species depend on, drying up in recent years. Calakmul is a refuge for some such species (pictured below) which continue to exist among remnants of the Mayan world.
Structure 2, Calakmul © Alex Chege
The Mayan city of Calakmul from above Structure 5 © Alex Chege
Nature reclaims the structures of the ancient city of Calakmul © Alex Chege
A close up of a Yellow-olive flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) © Alex Chege
A Yellow-faced grassquit (Tiaris olivaceus) © Alex Chege
A male buff-bellied hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis) © Alex Chege
A male buff-bellied hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis) © Alex Chege
Opwall ornithologists marking a Lesson's motmot (Momotus lessonii) in case of recapture © Alex Chege
A female Brown Anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) © Alex Chege
A male Rainbow Ameiva (Holcosus undulatus) captured at Hormiguero campsite, Calakmul © Alex Chege
Mexican Parrot Snake (Leptophis mexicanus) © Alex Chege
A Central American Indigo Snake (Drymarchon melanurus) captured, measured and released during our last herpetological survey at KM20 campsite, Calakmul © Alex Chege
A close-up photograph of an aguada
A still aguada, these bodies of water are interspersed around the Calakmul Biosphere, many species depend on these enlarged ponds to thrive in this habitat.
Following a tropical storm, we spotted a mating pair of Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frogs (Triprion petasatus) © Alex Chege
Night surveys were exctiing opportunities to spot nocturnal creatures on this one we spotted a Tailless whip scorpion (Amblypygi) © Alex Chege
A female Golden silk orb-weaver (Trichonephila clavipes), she was surrounded by three smaller-sized satellite males off camera. © Alex Chege
Crossing paths with a playful troop of Central American Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) on a KM20 transect ©Alex Chege
The Variable Cracker (Hamadryas feronia) and the sub-family this species belongs to, the Leafwing butterflies, are morphologically diverse group often found in Calakmul. © Alex Chege
The Mexican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) is a prolific seed disperser in Central America. Bats are a mega-diverse mammalian group performing many ecological roles. This is one example of a misunderstood and often antagonised animal.