Cuba Entomology Field Research: Zapata
Cienaga de Zapata National Park and Biosphere Reserve, or in Spanish: Parque Nacional Cienaga de Zapata y Reserva de la Biosfera de Zapata, is located on the Zapata Peninsula in the Matanzas Province along the southern coast of Cuba. This protected area is on the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage Status as Site No. 1801. Zapata is an enormous swampy outcrop, home to lush tropical forests and mangrove forests, perfect for a diverse insect ecosystem. The area remains mostly untouched and unexplored. Our fieldwork focused on both day and night observations to assess its diverse insect population. The team hiked its forests during the day hunting for specimens; and at night, established a location for a collecting sheet and mercury vapor light to study nocturnal insects.
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