Mata Atlântica

Ross Whetstone is a frogger and plant collector whose interests took him to Brazil.  He posted these images on Facebook recently and was kind enough to allow them to be shared here as well.  

by Ross Whetstone

Brazil’s Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) is one of the most heavily impacted tropical forest ecosystems in the world. It is estimated that over 85% of its historic range has been deforested, resulting in a patchwork of forest fragments. Despite this, larger fragments can still contain a stunning array of plants and animals. I was extremely fortunate to spend several weeks in a relatively pristine area while conducting field research on frogs and the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This post and the others that follow contain a portion of the diversity I observed there. All species ID’s are my best guesses, and any corrections are always welcome.