Macromia Scientific in Brazil

The Mata Atlantica is the rain forest region that runs along much of the atlantic coast of Brazil from Santa Caterina province in the south through Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Salvador in the north. This fragile forest runs through some of the most densely populated and industrialised parts of South America and it is no surprise that much of the lowland forest has disappeared - only 2% remains which gives the Mata Atlantica the doubtful distinction of being one of the most threatened habitats in the world. Fortunately for the forest it has many upland mountainous areas which have survived much better.

The forest around Guapi Acu which is only 80 km north of Brazil has survived well; not only are there mountainous areas but forest still exists almost to sea level.
The Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Acu (REGUA) is a large area of forest that we visited in April 2000 to carry out an initial survey of the dragonflies.

The team assisted by the warden and local field worker were on site for two weeks of intensive field work has so far produced a list of almost fifty species with many still to be identified. This initial fieldwork was published in Opuscula Zoologica Fluminensia No. 200 which is available from MSL.