NZCS Tafelberg Expeditions 2003/2005/2013

The first expedition to Tafelberg was carried out in cooperation with the National Herbarium of Suriname between June 10 and June 28, 2003. From the Rudi Kappel Airstrip the team walked to the plateau of Tafelberg (Augustus Creek) in three days. Basecamp was established at Augustus Creek (580m altitude) and most collecting was done here. On the 19th the team moved to a second basecamp at Caiman Creek (700m altitude), to return to Basecamp I on the 24th. On the 26th helicopters picked the team up and dropped them at the airstrip. The 27th was spend collecting at the Rudi Kappel Airstrip. The collected specimens include plants, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles. In addition, observations on birds and mammals were done. The second expedition was executed between March 23rd and April 7, 2005. This was also a cooperation between NZCS and the National Herbarium of Suriname. Helicopters were used to reach Augustus Creek at the Tafelberg plateau and returning to the airstrip. Also, during this expedition Caiman Creek was visited for collecting, from March 30th, returning to basecamp on April 3rd. Collections during this expedition concern the same taxonomic groups as during the first expedition, but in addition observations on water quality and vegetation were done. The teams carrying out the first and second expedition are as follows: Dr. Paul E. Ouboter (1&2) Expedition leader/ichthyologist, herpetologist & ecologist/videographer (NZCS/CMO/IBER) Shamita A. Sahdew (1) Assistant-curator Vertebrates (NZCS/IBER) Rawien Jairam (1&2) Assistant Vertebrates (NZCS) Gwendolyn Landburg (2) Limnologist (CMO) Drs. Otte Ottema (1&2) Ornithologist (STINASU) Foek Chin Joe (2) Assistant ornithologist Ir. Helene Hiwat-van Laar (1&2) Entomologist (NZCS) Anielkoemar Gangadin (1&2) Assistant-curator Invertebrates (NZCS) Drs. Usha Raghoenandan † (1) Botanist (BBS) Bart De Dijn Lcs. (2) Vegetation Scientist Joelaika Behari-Ramdas (1&2) Assistant-curator Botany (BBS) Frits van Troon (2) Tree specialist Janice Bisambar (1) Student Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Technology Adams Deel (1) Guide/foreman 1st expedition Mani Titi (1) Field assistant Tetijese Watiri (1) Field assistant/tree climber Mariwehte Sowiwi (1) Field assistant/tree climber Mr. Jacobi Guide/foreman 2nd expedition Timothy (2) Field assistant/tree climber Kumu (2) Field assistant The third expedition was carried out in cooperation with Kansas University and the New York Botanical Garden. The team left by airplane and helicopter on the 12th of August, returned to Rudi Kappel Airstrip on August 23rd and returned to Paramaribo on August 26th. The team consisted of Andrew Short (water beetle specialist), Kevin Bloom (water beetles and fish), Paul Ouboter and Vanessa Kadosoe (amphibians and reptiles), Fabian Michelangeli (Neotropical plants), Julian Aguirre (Bromeliads). A team of 5 people helped with cooking, camp building and functioned as guides (Mr. Bert, Mr Spier, Miss Hermina, Mani and Oewawa) Collected specimens concerned plants, water beetles, fish, amphibians and reptiles.