tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37202929836747471742024-03-12T16:08:21.973-07:00EXPEDITION "ESPER"The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-15985680916505648452007-10-29T15:54:00.000-07:002007-10-30T18:32:03.187-07:00The end of the expedition<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Friday October 19<br /></strong>After spending a week in Mancora and having seen nothing of its tropical beach, since Yuri and Marco spent their time underwater and Philippe tried to recover from his strong flu, we are packing the truck, ready to head back to the south. Marco already left on Thursday night and we are with our own. I haven’t been driving for a week and as soon as we hit the road, I realise that the truck has a serious problem. “El disco de embrague” is dead! Horror! We have to fix it! No way to reach Lima like that.<br />Lost in this remote region, I’m not very optimistic. Nobody will ever care of us… Yuri knows the country and leads me to “El Alto”, a small town in the middle of what appears to be an active site of a Peruvian petroleum company. Pipelines all around the desert, and discrete bascule pumps known as “caballitos”. We finally arrive in a “garage”, where the owners immediately accept to fix the car in “2 hours”. We take a “moto taxi” to find a restaurant in “town”. Afterwards, a “collectivo” brings us to El Cabo Blanco, famous for its Tuna, the former sports fishing activities and Hemingway’s stays. We find some pictures of him on the walls of an old bar.<br />When we return to the garage, we find our truck half dismantled and the guys announce what I expected: they need another day to work on the “embrague”.</span> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126900495127584610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RyZo1jran2I/AAAAAAAAAM8/qPPrGus3W24/s320/P1010026.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No choice, we have to find a place where to spend the night and land in the cheapest hotel I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, the comfort is at the level of the price… 18.00 Soles (4.00 €)!<br /><br /><strong>Saturday October 20</strong><br />After another half day, the truck is ready and we finally take the road. Before to cross the “Desierto de Sechura”, a 200 km drive in the middle of nowhere, we have a quick lunch in a popular “cevicheria”. While we eat, three charming little boys come to announce that we have a flat tire! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127140785662893954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RydDYTran4I/AAAAAAAAANM/twj7aFqw6ww/s320/IMG_5243.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Better now than an hour later in the desert, but the spare tire is not in a better shape than the flat one. Another couple of hours to find a new “llanta” in Piura and we finally cross most of the desert by night to arrive exhausted in Chiclayo where we enjoy a hot shower, the first one after 10 days. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127149964008005666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RydLujraoCI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/WAEfy4T-m2A/s320/IMG_5260.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Entering the Desierto de Sechura at dusk.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Sunday October 21<br /></strong>Chiclayo is unrecognizable when I get out of the hotel. Not a soul in the streets, nothing. Yuri tells me that this Sunday is the population census. Everyone has to stay home and all shops are closed until 18:00h. We will be controlled later on the road. Horrible day! Apparently that flu virus is still traveling with us. Fever, pain in all my joints, and no pharmacy open until we reach Huacho late at night. I have to share driving with Yuri as I fall constantly asleep. Again only cold water where we will stay. Not too convenient when sick…<br /></span><strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Monday October 22<br /></span></strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We get some rest. Our main activity will be to go to the harbor to find a “lancha” (a fisherman boat) for the next day.<br />Huacho is the heart of an archeological region. Pachacamac, Vichma, gods of the sun… we give a quick visit to the regional museum to see some 4.000 years old potteries and mummies. Those who have read “Tintin” will recognize here Rascar Capac. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127141322533805970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RydD3jran5I/AAAAAAAAANU/7nY0VxHBfAM/s320/IMG_5377.jpg" border="0" />Hergé was famous for taking great care of his documentation sources, but this is really striking!<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Tuesday October 23</strong><br />Baslavi, the sixth alumnus of Yuri has joined us last night. We embark to explore the sponge fauna around “Isla Don Martin”. A two hours trip. Yuri manages to make two dives alone, as I’m not yet ready to join him underwater. A lot of efforts to bring back another 8 samples. Some dives are less productive than others. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127142039793344434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RydEhTran7I/AAAAAAAAANg/xRuBAUJAd1c/s320/EP1-2007.10.27-D40-San+Lorenzo.NE-PhW_017.jpg" border="0" /><br />We come back to Huacho completely frozen, the return trip was against the wind and we all got wet from the waves!<br />A hot soup in a “Chifa” (Chineese restaurant) and we are ready to sort the new samples and inventory Yuri’s pictures until after midnight.<br /></span><strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wednesday October 24<br /></span></strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A travel day from Huacho to Lima. No problemo this time.<br /><br /><strong>Thursday October 25</strong><br />Nothing special, we just recover from the trip, take care of the equipment and do some administrative tasks.<br /><br /><strong>Friday October 26</strong><br />We bring the equipment to Yuri’s lab at the University, and in the afternoon I give the announced talk about the expedition and the project. Many questions. Apparently some students are really interested by the fascinating world of sponges.<br /></span><strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saturday October 27<br /></span></strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We reach the end of the expedition. Our last dives will be off San Lorenzo Island.<br />The weather is calm, cloudy as usual. Yuri had made arrangements by phone with fishermen he new. We arrive at the dock by taxi, we got rid of the truck last night.<br />On the northern tip of the Island, we do the first dive together, but Yuri’s sinusitis slows his way down. A sandy bottom at 15 m, with some rocks and a very bad visibility. </span></span><br /></p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127147107854753810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RydJITraoBI/AAAAAAAAAOI/Hmv0v_qlrjY/s320/EP1-2007.10.23-D37-IslasDonMarTin_Lado+Afuera-YH_019.jpg" border="0" /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127146893106388994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RydI7zraoAI/AAAAAAAAAOA/EalCTiA52O0/s320/EP1-2007.10.23-D37-IslasDonMarTin_Lado+Afuera-YH_057-MNRJ+11493.jpg" border="0" /></span></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A<span style="font-size:85%;"> cross section through this sponge shows small crabs sheltering in large chambers of the aquiferous system </span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">where they take advantage of the water circulation to get their food.</span></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We come back with two specimens. I will do the second dive alone. More rocks but a very strong swell, even at 20 m, makes it very difficult to work. Not a single sponge from that dive. Apparently the swell and currents make this zone very unfavorable to their development.<br />Fighting for fifty minutes against the swell in my second dives is enough, I will not do a third one. It’s shallow and Yuri will bring another 10 samples from this last dive of the expedition.<br />We are exhausted, we come back at 18h and have our “lunch”.<br />The expedition is over.<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After 40 days, 41 dives and 4175 km, we bring back 275 samples that are already split to be shared between the collections of the four institutions.<br />Six students had the opportunity to share the field work with us.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126899790752948050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RyZoMjran1I/AAAAAAAAAM0/30rbIAKRZzM/s400/Map+Expedition+copy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Map indicating the explored spots of the ESPER 2007 Expedition<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><p align="left"><br />The goal of this first expedition has been reached. We still have a lot of microscopy work to accomplish to tune up our preliminary identifications. Hopefully there are new species in our treasure. We already think at the preparation of our field guide and at the next expedition that should bring us from Lima to the Chilean border next year. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126897239542374210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RyZl4Dran0I/AAAAAAAAAMs/82K3rqZz8LE/s400/ABC+Taxa+ESPER+cover+300+DPI.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Here is already how the cover of the book will look like.</span></p><br /><p>We are enthusiastic: Yuri has a foot in the world of sponges, I am delighted by the country, Eduardo enjoyed the Peruvian food and Ruth is expecting to receive her samples. Yuri will travel to Brussels early next year for learning the lab techniques necessary to the identification of sponges, and the literature.<br /><br />Thanks to all who helped us in our adventure, and in particular the people from IMARPE who welcomed us in all their stations and provided logistical support. The "Direccion de Hidrografia y Navigacion de la Marina de Guerra del Peru" allowed us to stay at Isla Lobos de Afuera where we were welcomed by Felipe Portugal Ramirez and Abel Martinel Salomon. Oscar Carasco, the guard of the island not only gave us access to his kitchen, but also prepared "Sudados de pescado" that where much appreciated after diving. Thanks also to the fishermen who rent their boat and patiently watched our bubbles while we were diving: Carlo Manuel Sernagnez, Mauro Leon Meza, Victor Ramirez Quiroz, Adriano Rodriguez Robles, Cirilo Ocaña Carlos, Alfredo Arroyo Garcia, Jose Romero, Luiz Fiestas Flores, Román Fiestas Flores, Eduardo and Juan Moscol Ruiz, HectorHerrera Tume, Guillermo Villcas Casaverde, Manuel y Jonathan Fiestas Nunura<br /></p><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RyZk8zranzI/AAAAAAAAAMk/4sgmzXOG-f0/s1600-h/ABC+Taxa+ESPER+cover+300+DPI.jpg"></a>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-24282358070747709662007-10-23T18:23:00.000-07:002007-10-24T08:45:07.786-07:00Last week of ESPER 2007<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is the last week of our expedition.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We reached Huacho on Sunday night after more than 600 km, coming from Chiclayo.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today we we went diving at "Isla Don Martin", 1h30 off Huacho. Very few sponges. Yuri did his record dive: 2 h30 on the same tank. Very shallow dive, but cold as usual in the area: 13*C.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please note that on Friday afternoon, at UPCH in Lima, Philippe will deliver a talk about the expedition and an overview of the fascinating world of sponges.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here are the details:</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124928465437682002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rx9nSUmzaVI/AAAAAAAAAMc/LrlWQ4pkFmE/s320/AFICHE+copiar.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You are all welcome, even if English is not your favorite language, there will be a lot of pictures to look at. </span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yours,</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Philippe</span></div>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-41932462418647192532007-10-20T20:47:00.000-07:002007-10-21T06:59:21.700-07:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Saturday 20 October 2007</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We just come back from the north and are spending the night in Chiclayo. Mancora was our base for a week. What a stunning weather change! Once we arrived in Piura after a 180 km trip through the “Desierto de Sechura”, we found the tropical weather typical of this Northern part of Peru. Our objective was to reach warmer waters to find out weather the sponge biodiversity along the coast was greater than between Lima and Chiclayo. As initially planned, Eduardo had left us to return to Brazil the night before we headed North. Marco Rios, had joined us to help and to receive an initiation to marine sponge collection and preservation. Unfortunately I spent the week sick in bed with a bad flu and high fever. After 4 days without eating Yuri finally managed to convince me to go to the hospital to see a doctor. As a result I couldn’t dive at all and let Yuri and Marco work together. My daily treat was to see them returning from their explorations and help them sorting the samples and pictures until late at night. Some days finished after 3.00 in the morning, as the tanks needed to be refilled for the next day. A noisy task that had to be done out of the hotel after working on the "muestras". Now, it's Yuri’s turn to fill our blog. This will be in Spanish then. All pictures are from him as well. We have reached the last week of the expedition and have to be in Lima by Wednesday night. Hopefully we will have some last dives on the way South. Our next summary will probably be available in a week. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All the best, </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Philippe</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-----------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tras el largo viaje desde las islas Lobos de Afuera y recuperarnos con un merecido sueño, aprovechamos el tiempo para visitar el magnifico museo del Señor de Sipan, tras lo cual nuestro compañero Eduardo tuvo que dejarnos.<br /><br />El viernes 12 iniciamos el viaje rumbo a Máncora, en el extremo norte del departamento de Piura. Tras salir de Chiclayo y pasar por Lambayeque, ingresamos a la enorme planicie del desierto de Sechura, cubierto de arena y árboles de algarrobo, sapote y palo verde. Al llegar a Piura el clima frío desapareció y por fin el calor nos acompaña. Tras comprar unos cocos en Sullana cruzamos el ultimo trecho de desierto hasta llegar a Máncora, el paraíso de sol perpetuo.<br /><br />Máncora es un pequeño pueblo atravesado por la carretera Panamericana. Es el centro de reunión de todos los amantes del mar, olas, y vida nocturna rustica y despreocupada. Para nosotros se convertiría en los días próximos en nuestro centro de operaciones.<br /><br />La zona entre Cabo blanco en Piura y Cancas en Tumbes tiene u clima particularmente calido, soleado y seco durante todo el año, debido a que a esta zona llega el viento seco y caliente del desierto de sechura y esta rodeado de altos acantilados del llamado tablazo de Talara, una gran planicie de suelos sedimentarios de origen marino que se eleva unos 100 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Además, las costas de esta área de verano interminable están bañadas por las aguas cálidas de la corriente surecuatorial que discurren de norte a sur.<br /><br />La fauna marina al norte de Cabo Blanco es típicamente tropical y pertenece a la provincia biogeográfica panámica. Las esponjas de este sector, al igual que del resto del litoral peruano, también son un misterio.<br /><br />Durante este periodo nos acompaña un nuevo estudiante, Marco Rios, que viene desde la lejana Arequipa a integrarse a la expedición. El también es buzo y nos acompañó en las colectas, sobre todo en este periodo en el cual ya no contamos con la compañía de Eduardo quien con mucha tristeza tuvo que retornar a Brasil pues tenía compromisos pendientes.<br /><br />El frío de Chiclayo no tuvo compasión con el amigo Philippe que ni bien llego a Máncora empezó a presentar fiebre y un resfrío que no lo dejaría salir del hotel por una semana... si, una semana!!, sin bucear ni ver el mar.<br /><br />El día 13 iniciamos las primeras colectas en el intermareal del “point” de Máncora, una extensa zona de rocas que quedan fuera del agua cuando baja la marea. Marco quedo sorprendido, todos los organismos y nombres científicos que conocía de la costa sur del Perú de nada servían aquí, ni una especie era igual a las del sur. Como se esperaba, las esponjas también eran diferentes y mas diversas. Bajo las rocas encontramos varias especies de esponjas calcareas y demospongias, estas ultimas todas incrustantes. Era un buen inicio para los siguiente días de colectas submarinas.<br /><br />Tras preparar todos los equipos de buceo, llenar los tanques de buceo y revisar cámaras submarinas, el día domingo 14 enrumbamos a la caleta de El Ñuro para nuestra primera inmersión. El primer punto de muestreo fue tan productivo que todo el buceo se realizó en una sola roca de no más de 30 metros cuadrados. El segundo buceo fue en un arrecife rocoso donde la diversidad de esponjas no era muy importante sin embargo presentaba grandes esponjas del genero <em>Tethya</em> sp. y otra demospongia de color rojo sangre. Además, el lugar era un acuario lleno de peces de colores, gorgonias y corales.<br />Desde que Marco ingresó al mar, no pudo creer lo que veía “no tenia idea que algo así hubiera en el Perú, esto es el paraíso”, si, efectivamente, es el paraíso. Lamentablemente tanto pescadores irresponsables y buzos cazadores submarinos están depredando alarmantemente el mar del norte y en la actualidad es casi imposible ver peces grandes.<br /><br />Los días siguientes no dejaron de dar sorpresas. Bajo el muelle de Máncora se encontró esponjas de casi un metro de largo por 50 cm de alto (<em>Cliona </em>sp.). Varias de las especies encontradas entre Punta Sal y Cancas no son encontradas entre Máncora y El Ñuro por lo que podría existir importantes diferencias ecológicas entre estas localidades (además, ninguna de las especies encontradas las vimos más al sur o en las islas Lobos de Afuera).<br /><br />Además de las esponjas cada día tuvimos animales extraordinarios a nuestro alrededor. Ni un solo día buceamos sin escuchar permanentemente el canto de las ballenas bajo el agua. También estuvieron presentes en todo momento juveniles de peces erizo que abundan en esta época. No faltaron erizos (los de verdad) gigantescos y venenosos, peces ángel, tortugas marinas (aunque no las vimos bajo el agua), un pez escorpión de impresionante camuflaje, nudibranquios multicolores, gorgonias, gusanos plumero... todo lo que se puede esperar del mar.<br /><br />Por la cantidad de muestras los trabajos de procesamiento de laboratorio (en el Hotel Sol Y Mar) se extendieron siempre después de media noche, luego de lo cual se tenía que llenar los tanques, lejos, en la quebrada, para no hacer bulla y despertar a los pocos clientes que no estaban en las discotecas. Menos mal contamos con el apoyo de Marco, que siempre desbordó de entusiasmo y ganas de aprender.<br /><br />El que más sufrió fue Philippe, no solo porque estaba enfermo, sino porque todos los días le llevábamos muestras interesantes y numerosas fotos de ese otro mundo que no pudo ver. Tenemos la seguridad que otro año regresaremos aquí pues Philippe no se quedará sin bucear en el mar tropical del norte Peruano.<br /><br />El día de ayer iniciamos el retorno hacia Lima, llenos de muestras biológicas y recuerdos acuáticos. Marco ya retorno a Arequipa a contarle a sus amigos las nuevas vivencias y Philippe ya esta bien ... listo para bucear en las aguas frías del sur.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yuri<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrXgkmzaSI/AAAAAAAAAME/erHBWtFL5J4/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.18-D36-El+Nuro-Puerto+Rico-YH_041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123644480669575458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrXgkmzaSI/AAAAAAAAAME/erHBWtFL5J4/s320/EP1-2007.10.18-D36-El+Nuro-Puerto+Rico-YH_041.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Carrying tanks on a balsa raft isn't usual... but it works!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><div align="center"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrXHkmzaRI/AAAAAAAAAL8/sWRiOdmAnpQ/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.18-D36-El+Nuro-Puerto+Rico-YH_022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123644051172845842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrXHkmzaRI/AAAAAAAAAL8/sWRiOdmAnpQ/s320/EP1-2007.10.18-D36-El+Nuro-Puerto+Rico-YH_022.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><em>Diodon holacanthus</em> (Urchin fish)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrWu0mzaQI/AAAAAAAAAL0/tg4GnqpTopI/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.18-D36-El+Nuro-Puerto+Rico-YH_014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123643625971083522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrWu0mzaQI/AAAAAAAAAL0/tg4GnqpTopI/s320/EP1-2007.10.18-D36-El+Nuro-Puerto+Rico-YH_014.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Find the beast... but don't touch it !</span> </div><div align="center"><em>Scorpaena plumieri mystes</em><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrWGEmzaOI/AAAAAAAAALk/xxQJSLkxGnw/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.17-D33-Cancas+Rocas+Chavelera-YH_148-Hector+herrera+Tume.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123642925891414242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrWGEmzaOI/AAAAAAAAALk/xxQJSLkxGnw/s320/EP1-2007.10.17-D33-Cancas+Rocas+Chavelera-YH_148-Hector+herrera+Tume.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A freshly prepared "ceviche"</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrVTEmzaMI/AAAAAAAAALU/s2g1qcGAURk/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.17-D33-Cancas+Rocas+Chavelera-YH_133-MNRJ+11482LIKE.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123642049718085826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrVTEmzaMI/AAAAAAAAALU/s2g1qcGAURk/s320/EP1-2007.10.17-D33-Cancas+Rocas+Chavelera-YH_133-MNRJ+11482LIKE.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Yuri had already seen this one: it served to print our logo. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some lab work and we will find its name...</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrU90mzaLI/AAAAAAAAALM/Bx7GbfVM6nI/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.16-D32-Pta+Sal+Baja+Antena-YH_065-MNRJ+11470.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123641684645865650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrU90mzaLI/AAAAAAAAALM/Bx7GbfVM6nI/s320/EP1-2007.10.16-D32-Pta+Sal+Baja+Antena-YH_065-MNRJ+11470.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Ruth, this one is for you: a Haplosclerid</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrUj0mzaKI/AAAAAAAAALE/Ty3Cnjr6XLo/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.16-D32-Pta+Sal+Baja+Antena-YH_030-MNRJ+11468.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123641237969266850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrUj0mzaKI/AAAAAAAAALE/Ty3Cnjr6XLo/s320/EP1-2007.10.16-D32-Pta+Sal+Baja+Antena-YH_030-MNRJ+11468.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> </em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Cliona</em> sp.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrUM0mzaJI/AAAAAAAAAK8/sz7TlkXPQ_c/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.16-D31-Pta+Sal+Baja+Diego-YH_001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123640842832275602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrUM0mzaJI/AAAAAAAAAK8/sz7TlkXPQ_c/s320/EP1-2007.10.16-D31-Pta+Sal+Baja+Diego-YH_001.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Marco on his way down</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrTv0mzaII/AAAAAAAAAK0/oRMZVoPDJVk/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_126-MNRJ+11459.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123640344616069250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrTv0mzaII/AAAAAAAAAK0/oRMZVoPDJVk/s320/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_126-MNRJ+11459.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> A Calcarea not yet found during the expedition</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrSe0mzaGI/AAAAAAAAAKk/yRRXTwPlLSE/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_077-MNRJ+11454LIKE.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123638953046665314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrSe0mzaGI/AAAAAAAAAKk/yRRXTwPlLSE/s320/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_077-MNRJ+11454LIKE.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em> Cliona</em>? <em>Clionaopsis</em>? Only the microscope examination will tell us!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123639575816923250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrTDEmzaHI/AAAAAAAAAKs/OB_NsPxCb1o/s320/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_019-MNRJ+11454.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <em>Cliona</em>? <em>Clionaopsis</em>? A detail</span> of a specimen longer than a meter</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrSF0mzaFI/AAAAAAAAAKc/w1n2GwWXcr8/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_009-MNRJ+11450.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123638523549935698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrSF0mzaFI/AAAAAAAAAKc/w1n2GwWXcr8/s320/EP1-2007.10.15-D30-Muelle+Mancora-YH_009-MNRJ+11450.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Tethya</em> sp. </span></p><div align="center"><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrRK0mzaEI/AAAAAAAAAKU/4YX14V5D4G0/s1600-h/EP1-2007.10.14-D29-El+Nuro+Baja+Q+Verde-YH_024-MNRJ+11446.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123637509937653826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrRK0mzaEI/AAAAAAAAAKU/4YX14V5D4G0/s320/EP1-2007.10.14-D29-El+Nuro+Baja+Q+Verde-YH_024-MNRJ+11446.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em> Another Tethya</em> sp.</span> </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrQs0mzaDI/AAAAAAAAAKM/qbyM2F7jQoM/s1600-h/2007.10.15-PhW_034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123636994541578290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrQs0mzaDI/AAAAAAAAAKM/qbyM2F7jQoM/s320/2007.10.15-PhW_034.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Los Organos</span> 1<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123645786339633458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrYskmzaTI/AAAAAAAAAMM/A-RW24y8RxE/s320/2007.10.16-PhW_005.jpg" border="0" />Los Organos 2<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123646254491068738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrZH0mzaUI/AAAAAAAAAMU/lwTzW_T2S0U/s320/2007.10.16-PhW_008.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And Los Organos 3...</span><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrPQEmzaCI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ih6ej0t7NKM/s1600-h/2007.10.22-YH_050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123635401108711458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RxrPQEmzaCI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ih6ej0t7NKM/s320/2007.10.22-YH_050.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes we travel "light"</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-73379944210219997712007-10-10T21:09:00.000-07:002007-10-11T17:25:39.298-07:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Mercredi 3 octobre 2007</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Levés à 6h et départ de l’hôtel de Chiclayo vers 7h. Nous fonçons jusqu’à San José d’où nous devons partir et où les marins de IMARPE nous attendent pour nous emmener pour une semaine de travail aux « Islas Lobos de Afuera », à une trentaine de Miles au large de la côte. Une région particulièrement intéressante, à la limite entre les eaux froides du courant de Humboldt qui remonte le long de la côte péruvienne et les eaux tropicales du nord du pays. Petit déjeuner rapide dans un café de marins assez cra-cra. Je me contente de petits pains frais. Pas de café, c’est toujours du lyophilisé… Nos gaillards arrivent et nous déposons nos provisions pour la semaine et nos bagages perso sur la plage, puis allons chercher le matos de plongée entreposé la veille chez un des marins. Comme nous avions débarqués les bidons d‘essence à San José la veille sans les avoir remplis, je retourne à Chiclayo avec Yuri. Nous devons faire plusieurs pompes pour trouver de l’essence 95 octanes. Plus cher et pas souvent utilisé ici. Mais le compresseur et le générateur sont des bêtes de luxe qui ne consomment que du bon. Nous perdons près d‘une heure avec ce petit aller-retour.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2oLdD0fKI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/WqeWmRtFqF4/s1600-h/001_2007.10.03-PhW_008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119933266122800290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2oLdD0fKI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/WqeWmRtFqF4/s320/001_2007.10.03-PhW_008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2n59D0fII/AAAAAAAAAJk/PV1hlcZiQMM/s1600-h/002_2007.10.03-PhW_010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119932965475089538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2n59D0fII/AAAAAAAAAJk/PV1hlcZiQMM/s320/002_2007.10.03-PhW_010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Après avoir poussé le pick-up dans le garage de IMARPE, j’arrive à la plage. Toute la famille des marins est là, mères, femmes, frères, enfants. Les hommes, Eduardo y compris et les enfants poussent déjà le bateau à l’eau, cm par cm avec l’aide des vagues. Le gros du chargement sera embarqué dès que notre taxi sera à flots. Costauds les gars, ils nous embarquent le compresseur dans sa caisse comme un sac de papier, sans parler des bouteilles de plongée qui volent littéralement à bord. Nous voilà tous embarqués, pantalons et fesses mouillés. Nous traversons la zone de surf avec grands éclaboussements et huit heures de voyage commencent au rythme des vagues, poussés par le moteur 40 CV. Nous n’avançons évidemment pas vite ! Le temps est toujours couvert, brouillardeux et froid. Malgré les couches de vêtements enfilées en cours de route, nous arrivons complètement gelés, dans le noir à 19h. Le seul abri trouvé pendant le voyage était la proue, couverte par un petit pont d‘environ 2 m de long.</span></div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nzND0fHI/AAAAAAAAAJc/dDQ9LayhVq8/s1600-h/003_2007.10.03-PhW_013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119932849510972530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nzND0fHI/AAAAAAAAAJc/dDQ9LayhVq8/s320/003_2007.10.03-PhW_013.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nsdD0fGI/AAAAAAAAAJU/m53sQTfQYyk/s1600-h/004_2007.10.03-PhW_019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119932733546855522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nsdD0fGI/AAAAAAAAAJU/m53sQTfQYyk/s320/004_2007.10.03-PhW_019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nl9D0fFI/AAAAAAAAAJM/zZd7GpgVdts/s1600-h/005_2007.10.03-YH-Travel+at+I.Lobos+Afuera_004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119932621877705810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nl9D0fFI/AAAAAAAAAJM/zZd7GpgVdts/s320/005_2007.10.03-YH-Travel+at+I.Lobos+Afuera_004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nedD0fEI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Q-xzUlgEcrQ/s1600-h/007_2007.10.03-YH-Travel+at+I.Lobos+Afuera_002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119932493028686914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nedD0fEI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Q-xzUlgEcrQ/s320/007_2007.10.03-YH-Travel+at+I.Lobos+Afuera_002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nXND0fDI/AAAAAAAAAI8/DMz7gCwgDnc/s1600-h/008_2007.X.04+Lobos+de+Afuera+Pano1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119932368474635314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 355px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 96px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="111" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2nXND0fDI/AAAAAAAAAI8/DMz7gCwgDnc/s320/008_2007.X.04+Lobos+de+Afuera+Pano1.jpg" width="405" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nous accostons au ponton de la base de la Marine de Guerre du Pérou. Après avoir montré les autorisations, et répondu aux questions des autorités (deux gars, sans uniforme, assis derrière leur table de salle à manger et nous alignés sur des chaises le long du mur en face d’eux). Ambiance un peu « interrogatoire », mais nous sommes vite admis à loger dans leurs installations et l’accueil s’avèrera très chaleureux au cours de la semaine. Karen l’étudiante dans une chambre, Yuri, Eduardo et Philippe rassemblés dans une autre. Zut, il y aura un concert de ronflements ... Mais avant ça les marins nous préparent un riz aux œufs. Ils seront nos cuisiniers pour la semaine.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Philippe<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><div align="justify"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mzdD0fBI/AAAAAAAAAIs/ldSJ13qCWqk/s1600-h/010_2007.X.07-YH_092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931754294311954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mzdD0fBI/AAAAAAAAAIs/ldSJ13qCWqk/s320/010_2007.X.07-YH_092.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mrdD0fAI/AAAAAAAAAIk/nMJ_w821BWA/s1600-h/011_2007.X.07-YH_103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931616855358466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mrdD0fAI/AAAAAAAAAIk/nMJ_w821BWA/s320/011_2007.X.07-YH_103.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mkdD0e_I/AAAAAAAAAIc/TrzDWv65KEw/s1600-h/011bis_2007.X.06-YH_101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931496596274162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mkdD0e_I/AAAAAAAAAIc/TrzDWv65KEw/s320/011bis_2007.X.06-YH_101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Jeudi 4 octobre 2007<br /></strong>Réveil au milieu de la nuit par de la musique et des coups aux portes. Comme il ne faisait pas encore clair, je me suis rendormi. Il devait s’agir du changement d’équipe de garde de la base. Nous découvrons les lieux à la lumière matinale. Humidité 100%, froid, brouillard matinal qui se lèvera doucement pour nous permettre d’admirer un temps couvert toute la journée (e toute la semaine). Petit déj, gonflage des bouteilles et nous voilà en route pour nos plongées de la journée. Emerveillement avant de sauter à l’eau, côté terre des centaines d’otaries qui nous rendront visite sous l’eau, et côté mer… deux baleines à faible distance qui font des bonds impressionnants. La première fois que j’en vois en vrai ! Je pense au squelette de leur ancêtre qui pend dans le hall d’entrée du Museum à Bruxelles. Belle rencontre, la houle est forte mais il faut que nous descendions à la recherche de nos éponges. Jolie récolte, une vingtaine de spécimens photographiés, et emballés. La plupart du temps il s’agit de spécimens de petite taille trouvés sous les pierres que nous retournons. Pas mal d’éponges calcaire Peu d‘éponges exposées à la houle qui se fait sentir même à 30m de profondeur. Décidément les photos ne sont possibles qu’avec des appareils compacts, pas question de sortir les flashs externes trop encombrants, ni les grands angles inutiles dans ces eaux troubles. Nous devrons nous en contenter. Nous continuons à apprendre à travailler avec les effets de la houle dans une mer à 13°C. Pas toujours facile, heureusement ici plus trop d’oursins, terreur des combinaisons étanches. Nous prenons quelques bosses quand même, mais tout se passe bien. Yuri et moi travaillons ensemble, il a l’œil et détecte les plus petits spécimens. Je ne le lâche pas surtout en fin de plongées… Sa « stab » est trouée et inutilisable. Parfois je me charge de la remontée du sac de récolte qui entravent son ascension…<br />Bilan de la journée : Deux heures et demies sous l’eau et une belle récolte.<br />Retour vers 18h, corvée gonflage, et traitement des échantillons jusqu’au-delà de minuit.<br />Un détail, la seule eau douce qu’il y a ici est celle qu’on apporte. Inutile de dire qu’il n’y a pas de douche au programme avant notre retour à Chiclayo dans une semaine. Pas de rinçage pour le matos de plongée non plus. Mais on accepte bien ça pour vivre quelques jours entourés de pélicans (<em>Pelecanus thagus</em>), de blue-footed boobies (<em>Sula nebouxii</em>), d’otaries (<em>Otaria byronia</em>) en plongées, et même de megapteres (rorqual à bosse (<em>Megaptera novaeangliae</em>).</span> </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Philippe<br /></span><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mb9D0e-I/AAAAAAAAAIU/s8Hxs8f478k/s1600-h/012_EP1-2007.10.08-D22-El+Mo%C3%B1o-YH_028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931350567386082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mb9D0e-I/AAAAAAAAAIU/s8Hxs8f478k/s320/012_EP1-2007.10.08-D22-El+Mo%C3%B1o-YH_028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mV9D0e9I/AAAAAAAAAIM/mi-FeHXBiWw/s1600-h/013_EP1-2007.10.07-D19-San+Cristobal-YH_003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931247488170962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mV9D0e9I/AAAAAAAAAIM/mi-FeHXBiWw/s320/013_EP1-2007.10.07-D19-San+Cristobal-YH_003.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Karem se prepare a une plongee au narghile</span><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mOtD0e8I/AAAAAAAAAIE/CP602C0wi5I/s1600-h/014_EP1-2007.10.09-D24-Callejon+Lagartos-PhW_087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931122934119362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mOtD0e8I/AAAAAAAAAIE/CP602C0wi5I/s320/014_EP1-2007.10.09-D24-Callejon+Lagartos-PhW_087.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mIND0e7I/AAAAAAAAAH8/zxApzBvIHww/s1600-h/015_EP1-2007.10.07-D20-San+Cristobal-YH_036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119931011264969650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mIND0e7I/AAAAAAAAAH8/zxApzBvIHww/s320/015_EP1-2007.10.07-D20-San+Cristobal-YH_036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mBtD0e6I/AAAAAAAAAH0/s1TogSQWP88/s1600-h/016_13_EP1-2007.10.07-D19-San+Cristobal-EH_002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119930899595819938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2mBtD0e6I/AAAAAAAAAH0/s1TogSQWP88/s320/016_13_EP1-2007.10.07-D19-San+Cristobal-EH_002.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yuri et Philippe l'accompagnent</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>How we work - Collecting Dynamics</strong><br />Once a sponge is spotted and chosen as a target for the collection, a series of underwater photos is taken. These include shots of the specimens in their habitats, with and without a 5cm scale bar; of the diving computer, to register the depth and temperature; and finally of the collected specimen inside the collecting bag where an MNRJ number is included. These are the registration numbers of specimens in the sponge collection of Museu Nacional (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and assure that the link between the specimens collected and the photos taken will never be lost. Specimens are kept in sea-water, sorted by dive, inside a bucket with additional sea-water to help keep the temperature cool. Latter, in the field laboratory (a table somewhere …), specimens are sub-sampled in such a way that the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Lima, Peru), the Museu Nacional/UFRJ, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels, Belgium) and the Museum d’Histoire naturelle (Geneva, Switzerland), will each hold a fragment of each collected specimen, or, when dealing with more abundant species, a specimen or more. Each fragment is sealed in a sturdy plastic bag filled with enough ethanol 96% to cover the sample, containing a printed MNRJ label. Collecting information for each specimen is transferred to a spreadsheet to speed-up registering the newly collected materials in the MNRJ database in Rio de Janeiro, after the trip is concluded. The spreadsheet contains a preliminary field identification, full locality data (including coordinates), depth, collectors, date and any relevant information under the heading observations (i.e. angle and type of substrate). In parallel, the pictures taken are downloaded and given names that associate them with the dives performed and the collected specimens.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Portuguese Version - Versão em Português<br />Dinâmica de coleta<br /><br />Uma vez selecionada a esponja que se pretende coletar, toma-se uma série de fotografias submarinas. Estas incluem tomadas dos espécimes em seu habitat, sem e com uma escala de 5 cm; do computador de mergulho, para registrar a profundidade e temperatura; e finalmente do espécime coletado dentro de sua bolsa-plástica de coleta, da qual consta um número de registro MNRJ. Estes são os números de registro de espécimes na coleção de esponjas do Museu Nacional (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro), e garantem que as fotos tomadas estarão sempre casadas aos respectivos espécimes coletados. Os espécimes são mantidos em água do mar, triados por mergulho, em um balde com água adicional para manter a temperatura baixa. Mais tarde, no laboratório de campo (uma mesa em algum lugar …), os espécimes são sub-amostrados de tal modo que a Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Lima, Peru), o Museu Nacional/UFRJ, o Real Instituto Belga de Ciências Naturais (Bruxelas, Bélgica) e o Museu de História Natural (Genebra, Suissa), cada qual terão um fragmento de cada espécime coletado, ou, quando se trata de espécies mais abundantes, um ou mais espécimes. Cada fragmento é selado em uma bolsa plástica resistente com etanol 96% suficiente para cobrir a amostra, contendo ainda uma etiqueta impressa com o código MNRJ. Os dados de coleta de cada espécime são transferidos para uma planilha, para acelerar o registro do material recém coletado no banco de dados da coleção MNRJ, no Rio de Janeiro, após a conclusão da expedição. A planilha contem uma identificação de campo preliminar, dados completos da localidade (incluindo coordenadas), profundidade, coletores, data, e qualquer informação adicional relevante sob o título de observações (p.ex. inclinação e tipo do substrato). Em paralelo, as figuras tomadas são transferidas ao computador com nomes de arquivo que as associam aos mergulhos efetuados e aos espécimes coletados.<br /></span><br /><strong>Description of a typical dive:<br />Dive 18 (Saturday, 6 October 2007 - start 12:55h, end 14:28h)<br /></strong><br />The locality known as “Bajo El Chile” is only 15-20 min away from the cove where we were installed. We decided to repeat dive 16 and be once again exploring the spur & groove system occurring at “Bajo El Chile”. The top of the system is at about 5 m depth on the crests of the spurs, and the bottom at 12-13 m down the grooves. Grooves are bordered by vertical walls where common overhangs and deep crevices occur. Sponges are found mainly inside these overhangs, and as notoriously for the stretch of Peruvian coast investigated by Proyecto Esper, under boulders. The latter are plentiful at the base of the vertical walls, and Calcarea are particularly common there. Other abundant organisms are sea-urchins of 4-5 species, especially satellite sea-urchins of genus Eucidaris. Any overturned boulder is enough an invitation to gather a dozen Halichoeres fish looking for an opportunistic snack. The community living underneath these boulders is rich in polychaetes, schrimps, clams, bryozoans, ophiuroids and sea-cucumbers. Less abundant inhabitants of these semi-obscure environments are large stripped-nemertineans, planarians and sipunculids. At the borders of the spur & groove system large clusters of <em>Caulerpa</em> algae appear.<br /><br />Eduardo<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Portuguese Version - Versão em Português<br />Mergulho 18 (Sábado, 2007.10.06 - início 12:55h, fim 14:28h)<br /><br />A localidade conhecida com “Bajo El Chile” está localizada a apenas 15-20 min de distância da enseada onde estamos instalados. Nós decidimos repetir o mergulho 16 e explorar mais uma vez o sistema de cristas e fendas que ocorre no “Bajo El Chile”. O topo do sistema localiza-se nas cristas aproximadamente aos 5 m de profundidade, e o fundo, nas fendas, a cerca de 12-13 m. As fendas são marginadas por paredes verticais onde são comuns locas de diversos tamanhos. As esponjas se encontram principalmente dentro destas locas, e como notório para o setor da costa peruana investigado pelo Projeto Esper, sob matacões. Estes, são abundantes na base das paredes verticais, e Calcareas são particularmente comuns ai. Outros organismos abundantes são ouriços-do-mar de 4-5 espécies, especialmente os ouriços-satélite do gênero Eucidaris. Qualquer matacão virado é um convite para a reunião de uma dúzia de Halichoeres (peixe-sabonete) em busca de um bocado oportunista. A comunidade que vive sob estes matacões é rica em poliquetos, camarões, caracóis, briozoários, pfiuros e pepinos-do-mar. Habitantes menos comuns destes ambientes semi-obscuros são grandes nemertíneos listrados, planárias e sipunculídeos. Na borda do sistema de cristas e fendas aparecem grandes manchas de algas <em>Caulerpa</em>. </span></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#009900;"><br />Eduardo</span></span></div><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2l0dD0e4I/AAAAAAAAAHk/npz-QVNUTr0/s1600-h/018_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_082-MNRJ+11357.jpg"><span style="color:#009900;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119930671962553218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2l0dD0e4I/AAAAAAAAAHk/npz-QVNUTr0/s320/018_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_082-MNRJ+11357.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lptD0e3I/AAAAAAAAAHc/VHNImLrzhd4/s1600-h/019_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_091-MNRJ+11357.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119930487278959474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lptD0e3I/AAAAAAAAAHc/VHNImLrzhd4/s320/019_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_091-MNRJ+11357.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lR9D0e0I/AAAAAAAAAHE/GKfFUrMnOyk/s1600-h/020bis_EP1-2007.10.21_05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_093-MNRJ+11357.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119930079257066306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lR9D0e0I/AAAAAAAAAHE/GKfFUrMnOyk/s320/020bis_EP1-2007.10.21_05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_093-MNRJ+11357.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lJ9D0ezI/AAAAAAAAAG8/bKITCKL90l8/s1600-h/020_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_094-MNRJ+11357.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929941818112818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lJ9D0ezI/AAAAAAAAAG8/bKITCKL90l8/s320/020_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_094-MNRJ+11357.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lC9D0eyI/AAAAAAAAAG0/1IvzI37Xsf8/s1600-h/021_EP1-2007.10.04-D13-Islote+el+Lagardo-YH_090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929821559028514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2lC9D0eyI/AAAAAAAAAG0/1IvzI37Xsf8/s320/021_EP1-2007.10.04-D13-Islote+el+Lagardo-YH_090.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2k8dD0exI/AAAAAAAAAGs/eZ1rkc0S1qs/s1600-h/022_EP1-2007.10.07-D19-San+Cristobal-EH_007-MNRJ+11380.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929709889878802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2k8dD0exI/AAAAAAAAAGs/eZ1rkc0S1qs/s320/022_EP1-2007.10.07-D19-San+Cristobal-EH_007-MNRJ+11380.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2k19D0ewI/AAAAAAAAAGk/7llY8Z4UbJQ/s1600-h/023_EP1-2007.10.09-D24-Callejon+Lagartos-PhW_009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929598220729090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2k19D0ewI/AAAAAAAAAGk/7llY8Z4UbJQ/s320/023_EP1-2007.10.09-D24-Callejon+Lagartos-PhW_009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2ku9D0evI/AAAAAAAAAGc/jsyzZUSqc7A/s1600-h/024_EP1-2007.10.09-D26-Ensanada+San+Jose-PhW_019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929477961644786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2ku9D0evI/AAAAAAAAAGc/jsyzZUSqc7A/s320/024_EP1-2007.10.09-D26-Ensanada+San+Jose-PhW_019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kk9D0euI/AAAAAAAAAGU/r-1f9vl9Q94/s1600-h/025_EP1-2007.X.06-D18-Bajo+El+Chile-EH_018-crop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929306162952930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kk9D0euI/AAAAAAAAAGU/r-1f9vl9Q94/s320/025_EP1-2007.X.06-D18-Bajo+El+Chile-EH_018-crop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kdND0etI/AAAAAAAAAGM/qpbcMh77nt4/s1600-h/026_EP1-2007.10.09-D26-Ensanada+San+Jose-PhW_053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929173018966738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kdND0etI/AAAAAAAAAGM/qpbcMh77nt4/s320/026_EP1-2007.10.09-D26-Ensanada+San+Jose-PhW_053.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kWdD0esI/AAAAAAAAAGE/lPIhqpeZIc8/s1600-h/027_EP1-2007.10.08-D23-Callej%C3%B3n-YH_051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119929057054849730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kWdD0esI/AAAAAAAAAGE/lPIhqpeZIc8/s320/027_EP1-2007.10.08-D23-Callej%C3%B3n-YH_051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kMtD0erI/AAAAAAAAAF8/3IdbzZJKWQk/s1600-h/028_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119928889551125170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kMtD0erI/AAAAAAAAAF8/3IdbzZJKWQk/s320/028_EP1-2007.10.05-D15-Islote+San+Domingo-PhW_107.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong> </strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Mardi 9 octobre</strong><br />La semaine s’est déroulée sans problème. Pour notre dernier jour, Yuri fera trois plongées, dont une accopagné de Karen qui est plus à l’aise avec le narghilé. Technique consistant à plonger sans bouteille, avec pour toute alimentation en air un tuyau raccordé à un compresseur installé sur le bateau. C’est ainsi que les pêcheurs locaux travaillent. La liberté de déplacement dépend évidemment de la longueur du tuyau… Pas de limite de temps liée au volume des bouteilles, ce qui entraîne bien souvent des accidents ; pas d’ordinateur au bras de ces gaillars, et encore moins de tables de plongées en vue ! Et vu l’état du dit compresseur à narghilé, nous sommes bien heureux d’avoir pu acquérir des bouteilles et un compresseur à Bruxelles, même si leur transport par air-cargo a coûté une fortune. Pas d‘autre option !<br /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kD9D0eqI/AAAAAAAAAF0/2Ox3U90hKng/s1600-h/029_2007.10.08-PhW_009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119928739227269794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2kD9D0eqI/AAAAAAAAAF0/2Ox3U90hKng/s320/029_2007.10.08-PhW_009.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nos soirees sont consacrees au partage des specimens, à leur preservation à l'alcool, à la numerotation des photos et la mise en ordre de nos notes. Un evenement pour les pêcheurs locaux qui passent des heures a discuter avec nous.</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2j39D0epI/AAAAAAAAAFs/wn-qLSaU8e4/s1600-h/030_2007.10.08-PhW_013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119928533068839570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2j39D0epI/AAAAAAAAAFs/wn-qLSaU8e4/s320/030_2007.10.08-PhW_013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2jtND0eoI/AAAAAAAAAFk/JlGAkmrfMdM/s1600-h/031_2007.X.06-YH_135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119928348385245826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2jtND0eoI/AAAAAAAAAFk/JlGAkmrfMdM/s320/031_2007.X.06-YH_135.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Derniere photo avant de quitter Islas Lobos de Afuera</span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><div align="justify"><br />Notre retour au continent se fera de nuit. Départ à minuit et une nuit exquise nous attend. Tous les quatre nous nous emmitouflons et nous enfonçons sous le pont de la barque pour un voyage de 10h30. La mer est assez agitée dès le départ. Pas de gilets de sauvetage, pas de radio. Les seuls instruments de Roman, notre « commandant» sont une boussole de poche et une petite lampe frontale. La nuit est glaciale et gare aux pieds qui dépassent de notre abri, ils se font arroser par les embruns. Nous sommes serrés les uns contre les autres pour retenir un peu de chaleur, comme les jeunes pélicans que nous venons de voir pendant notre séjour. Comme eux, nous ne pouvons rien faire pour améliorer notre sort et nous faisons confiance à Roman. Nous retrouvons la plage de sable du départ vers 10h30, accueillis par les gros bras de la famille qui nous aident à débarquer. Ouf, l’épreuve est passée. L’effort en vallait la peine, nous revenons avec une moisson d’échantillons qui nous donnera du travail pour quelques mois. Pas mal de photos aussi. La réussite du bouquin qui sera le fruit de ce travail est déjà assurée. Et nous ne sommes qu’à la moitié de l’expédition… A Chiclayo, nous trouvons un hôtel avec garage conseillé par le guide du Routard. Bon accueil malgré nos têtes de Robinsons et les paquets de sable que nous semons tout au long des couloirs en marbre poli... Nous nous précipitons sous une douche, et nous nous retrouvons une heure plus tard rasés propres et de nouveau présentables pour aller nous restaurer après 24 heures de jeune.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><div><br /></div></span><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2jltD0enI/AAAAAAAAAFc/OZbNQnFSaLk/s1600-h/032_2007.10.10-PhW_009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119928219536226930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw2jltD0enI/AAAAAAAAAFc/OZbNQnFSaLk/s320/032_2007.10.10-PhW_009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong></strong><br /><div align="center">Et retour à Chiclayo</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="justify"></span>A bientôt pour la suite de notre expédition qui va nous mener plus au nord la semaine prochaine, à Cancas, non loin de la frontière avec l’Equateur.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">Philippe</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120238973304994994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 331px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="262" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rw6-N9D0fLI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/GURtIgfpA20/s320/0001-Map+Peru+North+with+circles.jpg" width="345" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div></div>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-34068398650396958062007-10-02T20:48:00.000-07:002007-10-02T21:08:58.542-07:00<div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hello everybody.<br />The members of the ESPER Proyecto are speaking English, French and Spanish.<br />To please everybody, today we decided to shift to French ! May be to Spanish next time in a week..<br /><br />Have fun.<br /><br />Bonjour de Chiclayo, une chambre d’hotel étroite sans luxe, mais avec douche chaude, une vieille table ronde en bois, une chaise de jardin en plastique blanc.<br />Notre « chronogrammo » initiql est complètement changé à cause du temps. Nous avons avancé plus vite vers le nord, en espérant avoir une mer plus calme et nous donner une chance de retrouver les sites que nous avons dépassé au retour avec un temps plus clément.<br /><br /><strong>Dimanche30 septembre</strong><br />Départ de Trujillo vers 8h avec 1 h de retard au menu.<br />9h30 arrivée à Puerto Malabrigo en passant par Paijan où nous avons acheté des petits pains et cakes pour le lunch sur le bateau. Le bled ! Et un dimanche en plus. Port de pèche sur côte de sable. Houle du Pacifique oblige, pour installer un mole, il doit avoir plusieurs centaines de mètres de long pour arriver au-delà de la zone de surf. Et c’est la zone de surf la plus grande du Pérou. Gare abandonnée, usine de farine de poisson.</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116953226777912930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMR2VZi5mI/AAAAAAAAADg/RR_X2UJn6t8/s320/EP1-2007.09.30-D12-Islas+Macabi-PhW_002.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116953888202876546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMSc1Zi5oI/AAAAAAAAADw/FoqUu_kSGQk/s320/EP1-2007.09.30-D12-Islas+Macabi-PhW_009.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yuri part à la recherche d’un pêcheur un dimanche matin… Nous attendons devant le batiment de l’IMARPE (Investigation Marine del Peru). Il revient près de 2h plus tard… nous embarquons notre materiel sur un tricycle vélo qui pour 5 NS (1 Eur) nous amène le tout au dessus du « bateau ». <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116954167375750802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMStFZi5pI/AAAAAAAAAD4/BgwbgV3s4NA/s320/EP1-2007.09.30-D12-Islas+Macabi-PhW_033.jpg" border="0" />En realite une barque avec moteur de 15 CV qui mettra 3 heures à nous amener aux iles. En route, le vent se lève, on n’avance pas, je nous vois déjà forcés de loger sur place, avec pour tout vêtements nos combi de plongée.... sans nourriture. Arrivés sur place, hommage au gardien perché sur sa passerelle de bois centenaire 10 m plus haut, d’où pend une échelle de corde. Mmmm si nous devons grimper là en combi, ce sera gai ! Nous crions que nous avons un permis et nous sommes autorisés à plonger. Pas trop calme comme endroit, nous faisons le tour de l’ile (encore une demi-heure de perdue), mais c’est évidemment encore pire du côté exposé. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116954592577513138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMTF1Zi5rI/AAAAAAAAAEI/z3SFuFE13Zs/s320/EP1-2007.09.30-D12-IslasMacabi-YH_034.jpg" border="0" />Nous revenons sous la passerelle et plongerons là. Pas trop profond, 17 m, ce qui nous permet une trempette de 72 min dans la soupe à 12°C. Yuri en sort gelé, avec sa combi humide. La mienne a pris un peu la flotte, pas trop chaud en fin de plongée, mais vite réchauffé une fois sortis. L’heure avance et je décide que nous ne replongerons pas, pour eviter de transformer l’affaire en une sortie nocturne.<br />Bilan de nos récoltes : 10 spécimens !! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116954880340321986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMTWlZi5sI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/34mnBMkGdgc/s320/EP1-2007.09.30-D12-Islas+Macabi-PhW_069-MNRJ+11318.jpg" border="0" />C’est vraiment dur de trouver nos bestioles, nous retournons toutes les pierres, because aucune éponge ne se risque à sortir l’oscule dans ce ressac. Je ne peux utiliser que le matos photo compact, c.a.d. un petit Ixus dans son caisson etanche sans flashes auxilliaires. Et encore, au risque de le fracasser sur les rochers. Nous sommes secoués et faisons des va-et viens avec la houle. Inutile de se retenir, on revient en général au même endroit. Un peu comme à l’Ile de Pâques, sauf qu’en combi étanche il est parfois plus difficile de se stabiliser et de garder les pieds vers le bas. Quand on a les fesses en l’air, c’est évidement la gymnastique pour se remettre horizontal et ne pas remonter pieds en avant. Surtout à faible profondeur. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116955442981037794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMT3VZi5uI/AAAAAAAAAEg/v3vfW5j3ZaM/s320/EP1-2007.09.30-D12-Islas+Macabi-PhW_122.jpg" border="0" /><br />Le retour se passe plus vite, vent dans le dos, mais nécessite quand même 2 heures, et il fait noir une fois de plus quand nous arrivons au môle vers 19h. On remballe tout et hop retour de nuit sur la Pan Américaine, qui n’a rien d’une autoroute européenne. Deux bandes, une dans chaque sens, des trous non signalés, souvent pas de bandes peintes sur le côté. Quand on traverse des localités, les casses vitesse jamais peints nous surprennent. Arrêt « Pollo » à Paijan, Eduardo n’en pouvait plus de faim. Encore de quoi rallonger le trajet de retour.<br />Il est finalement 22h quand nous arrivons chez les parents de Yuri. Jorge, l’étudiant péruvien qui nous accompagne ces quelques jours nous aide à partager les spécimens récoltés entre les collections de Bruxelles, Rio, Genève et Lima, à les répertorier et à les mettre en conserves en alcool. La soudeuse et les sacs en plastiques achetés au poids dans China Town à Lima nous viennent bien à point.<br />Vers minuit nous n’avons plus le courage de rincer notre matériel de plongée et bien évidemment le gonflage des bouteilles est remis au lendemain matin.<br /><br /><strong>Lundi 1er octobre</strong><br />Quelques heures de sommeil et lundi matin, nos plans changent encore. Plus question de trainer et de gonfler les bouteilles dans le jardin des parents; on goudronne la rue et il faut évacuer les lieux pour ne pas rester bloqués jusqu’au soir. Il est quand même midi quand nous avons terminé les bagages et chargé le pick-up. Nous commençons à avoir le rythme pour tout ficeler, mais cela prend quelques heures. Avant de quitter Trujillo, nous nous accordons quand même quelques heures pour visiter Huaca de la Luna (Civilisation Moches entre les IIè et VIIIè siècles). Site en constante évolution, les fouilles sont en cours. Superbes bas-reliefs polychromes. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116956417938614018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMUwFZi5wI/AAAAAAAAAEw/VqOyILoOsEw/s320/2007.10.01-PhW_038.jpg" border="0" />La figure la plus représentée est « l’égorgeur de la montagne ». Les Moches s’abreuvaient du sang de leurs prisonniers après leur avoir tranché le cou dans des rites religieux.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116956555377567506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMU4FZi5xI/AAAAAAAAAE4/QhekrF1VZHI/s320/2007.10.01-PhW_053.jpg" border="0" /> A la sortie du site, je ne peux résister à acheter aupres dºartisans locaux quelques reproductions de poteries comme celles dessinées par Hergé dans le « Temple du Soleil ». <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116957435845863218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RwMVrVZi5zI/AAAAAAAAAFI/bDbIu5Mr6KU/s320/2007.10.01-PhW_015.jpg" border="0" /><br />Un petit arrêt resto avant la route et je passe le volant à Eduardo qui fera presque toute la corvée chauffeur jusqu’à Chiclayo où je reprends la conduite. Nous dépassons la ville pour aller trouver le marin qui nous emmènera aux « Ilas Lobos de Afuera ». Il travaille à IMARPE, Yuri le connaît bien. Nous laissons nos caisses et notre matos de plongée chez son frère. Demi-tour et direction Chiclayo où nous trouvons un hôtel convenable et pas cher dºou jºecris cette missive.<br /><br /><strong>Mardi 2 octobre</strong><br />Journée consacrée à faire nos provisions pour la semaine que nous allons partager avec les pélicans, ºpinguinosº, lions de mer et dauphins. Nous emportons des oeufs depoules, même si c’est la pleine période de reproduction, nous ne pouvons pas voler les œufs de pélicans, et puis je ne sais pas si c’est très digeste…<br /><br />Demain mercredi, départ vers 6h, nous devons encore faire le plein de nos bidons d’essence restés chez le marin, et 8 à 10 h de navigation nous attendent pour atteindre le grand caillou à guano. Quand on approche ces iles, bien avant d’arriver, ce qui frappe le plus c’est l’odeur de poulailler mal soigné. Bigre nous allons en être imprégnés au retour.<br />Il parait qu’il y a du courant, un toît en dur sous lequel nous pourrons mettre nos tentes pour éviter les voir arrosées d’engrais frais pendant une semaine. </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-82073917768878843292007-09-27T18:55:00.000-07:002007-09-29T18:58:27.282-07:00<div align="left"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rvxk8HfiraI/AAAAAAAAACE/4goU01DYM9c/s1600-h/PeruMap+Marked.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115074260752313762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rvxk8HfiraI/AAAAAAAAACE/4goU01DYM9c/s320/PeruMap+Marked.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here we are finally. Our underwater exploration has just started.<br />Our delay is due to the hard time we had to get hold of the diving equipment shipped from Brussels by air cargo. The Peruvian customs are not easy to handle. We spent 7 hours at the airport on Monday 17th, filling forms, dealing with officials, unpacking/repacking our 239 kg of equipment. Finally after a stop at the bank… everything was ready to take out… the next day, since it was too late to re-enter the warehouse.</span><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxftnfirTI/AAAAAAAAABM/mh9HCHf91XE/s1600-h/2007.09.18-PhW_040.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115068514086071602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="172" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxftnfirTI/AAAAAAAAABM/mh9HCHf91XE/s320/2007.09.18-PhW_040.jpg" width="212" border="0" /> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>Here are the boxes of the Brussels Museum of Natural Sciences being finally delivered</em> <em>at the customs in Lima</em></span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span><div align="left"><br />We still had to complete our equipment before taking the road. We first rent a pick-up (that made the largest hole in our budget). Then, on Tuesday night we collected Eduardo at the airport.<br />On Wednesday Philippe progressed through his driving training through Lima (a real corrida) to reach the unique diving shop in Peru and purchase diving weights. We also had to build up an oxygen diving rescue kit (No DAN equipment available here). Without the help of Yuri, shopping in Lima would never have been possible.<br /><br />Finally on Thursday we had completed our first tank fillings and were ready for our first immersions. Pucusana, one hour south of Lima was our target as training before the real things would start north.<br />As the ESPER Proyecto is not just a collecting trip, but also an educational project, in the frame of the Belgian cooperation to the development of Peru, several students will have the opportunity to participate to the field work.<br />Rodrigo Castro from UPCH (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia) was the first one.<br /><br />We left Lima in the afternoon of Friday 21 with more than 500 kg of equipment.<br /></span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115071627937361234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rvxii3firVI/AAAAAAAAABc/D6VKGnDmRfE/s320/2007.09.21-PhW_007.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Eduardo Hajdu and Rodrigo Castro with our pick-up ready to leave Lima</em> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115072259297553762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxjHnfirWI/AAAAAAAAABk/owKVSpfQfQM/s320/2007.09.20-PhW_019.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Our first contact with the ocean at Pucusuana</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115072873477877106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxjrXfirXI/AAAAAAAAABs/g6Ee6C3e56w/s320/P1010093+copiar.jpg" border="0" /><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115073839845518738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxkjnfirZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/UYtzyCtS2D8/s320/P1010036.jpg" border="0" />The first sponges of our expedition collected in Pucusana</em></div><em></em><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115075016666557874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxloHfirbI/AAAAAAAAACM/JRm8oXt2PLs/s320/2007.09.24-PhW_027.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Eduardo and Yuri ready for another immersion</em><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115075665206619602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxmN3firdI/AAAAAAAAACc/2zfjbEQq8uE/s320/P1010250.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Philippe seen through low visibility water</em><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115075557832437186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxmHnfircI/AAAAAAAAACU/DN8mzJHnAM8/s320/2007.09.23-PhW_050.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Unloading the equipment after a dive in Bahia Tortuga</em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Thursday September 27<br /></strong>We are on our way since almost a week by now and have reached Trujillo after several stop-overs.<br />Chancay was our first base, from where we had to dive in Ancon. Unfortunately the weather was too windy, the Ocean too rough to dive and we decided to head further north.<br />Casma “Ciudad del Eterno sol” was reached Saturday 22 at night. Katherine Altamirano from UNMSM (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos) , the second student joined us for four days. Considering the amount of equipment, the places where we stay need to have rooms at ground level and if possible an area where to rinse the diving gear, install the noisy compressor at night in order to charm our guests for at least 2 hours… The Hotel ”El Farol” was the ideal place where to stay to reach different sites during the following days.<br /><br />Sunday 23: North of Casma. Two shallow dives in Bahia Tortuga. Easy departure from the beach.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115078237892029970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxojnfirhI/AAAAAAAAAC8/tivtl5x033Q/s320/P1010196.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em>Eduardo entering the water in Bahia Tortuga</em></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Monday 24: Bahia Samanco. Two dives in Punta Ansumo and Caleta Colorado.<br />It wasn’t easy to reach the sea, the road through the dunes had been covered by a thick layer of sand. Right time to appreciate the four wheel drive!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115076704588705250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxnKXfireI/AAAAAAAAACk/0Pht-M7UeCs/s320/P1010269.jpg" border="0" /><br />Tuesday 25: Chimbote. Two dives in Islote Ferrol and Isla Blanca. The harbor is a busy place with hundreds of fishing boats. Luckilly Yuri has worked with IMARPE (Instituto del Mar del Peru) in the past where we were welcome to get dressed and leave the truck safely.<br /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115077039596154354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rvxnd3firfI/AAAAAAAAACs/H3hmXF7V5Rk/s320/2007.09.25-PhW_013.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Embarking the diving equipment in Chimbote</em></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115077649481510402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxoBXfirgI/AAAAAAAAAC0/t8GVnaF_HB4/s320/EP1-2007.09.25-D08-Islota+Ferrol-PhW_005.jpg" border="0" /><em>A Haplosclerid sponge to be identified later in the lab</em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115079006691175970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxpQXfiriI/AAAAAAAAADE/fQ3ho61meRo/s320/EP1-2007.09.25-D09-Isla+Blanca-PhW_054.jpg" border="0" /><em>Yuri would like to find a sponge as big as that... may be soon!</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115080398260579890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RvxqhXfirjI/AAAAAAAAADM/gr5nvG0RO7k/s320/2007.09.23-PhW_016.jpg" border="0" /><em>No, Katherine hasn't been sick!</em><br /></div><div align="center"><em>The boat was just covered all over with guano...<br /></em><div align="left"><br />Every time we need to dive, we have to find the help from fishermen willing to rent us their boat.<br /><br />So far our dives were conducted smoothly, although a strong swell makes it rather difficult to take photographs and collect specimens. Quite often we roll upside down, or we are pushed several meters away from our target.<br /><br />Thursday 26: After packing and loading the truck we reached Trujillo at night, where we are presently hosted by Yuri’s parents. This will be our base for the next two days of underwater exploration.<br /><br />The main observation after a few immersions is that in this region the sponge biodiversity is rather low. Two or three Calcarea species and less than 10 species of demosponges. Hopefully we will find a larger number of species once we reach the Islas Lobos de Afuera in a few days. From there we will be unable to reach Internet and you will have to wait for the next episodes of our adventure. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115081974513577538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 458px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 351px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="326" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/Rvxr9HfirkI/AAAAAAAAADU/JDYP-cTfBgo/s320/P1010228.jpg" width="480" border="0" /></span></div></div><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clathrina sp, a Calcarea sponge</span></em></p>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-78660826937290738032007-09-08T15:48:00.000-07:002007-09-08T15:49:11.469-07:00The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-37963099997156463652007-09-08T09:56:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:05:09.489-07:00<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RuLWLm8l4II/AAAAAAAAABE/FqVe1tMM3e8/s1600-h/2234a-crop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107880422313156738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c_9T5if3Rno/RuLWLm8l4II/AAAAAAAAABE/FqVe1tMM3e8/s400/2234a-crop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The expedition will start on September 17.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our first dives are planned off San Lorenzo Island near Lima.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3720292983674747174.post-28149747304558396662007-09-08T09:02:00.000-07:002007-09-08T10:25:24.822-07:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Very little is known about the Porifera fauna of Peru despite the ecological importance of that group and its potential source of economical revenue, since it is one of the richest marine natural sources of new chemical structures. As part of a National Action Plan for Marine Biodiversity Assessment, the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) has launched a program to inventory the diversity of taxonomic groups along the entire coast of Peru. Since 2004 the RBINSc is coordinating such an inventory in Southern Chile in cooperation with the Museu Nacional of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ) and the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Genève (MHNG). Enriched with three years of collaboration including 5 expeditions, our group will extend its geographical area of investigation to Peru, in cooperation with local scientists and institutions. Within the first year of our project, we plan to inventory the sponge fauna in 10 localities already under study for other taxa, roughly from Lima to the Ecuadorian border. This study will allow local scientists to develop a reference collection of Porifera, becoming acquainted with basic protocols for the identification of species within this Phylum, and will possibly also allow the determination of northern distribution limits for several species known from the central Chilean coast.</span></div>The Proyecto ESPER Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15278904293446176904noreply@blogger.com1