Oil exploration and extraction is prevalent in the western Amazon. This practice requires the development of roads and the detonation of explosives which are used to search for petroleum deposits. However, these practices can also scar the rainforest, altering aboveground vegetation and geologic and hydrologic processes.

Preliminary investigations by ARCC have discovered unusually high animal activity at these explosion sites in Yasuní National Park. Animals may visit these sites to consume mineral-rich soil and water unearthed during explosion events; however, whether animals may also be exposed to heavy metals and other contaminants remains undetermined. We are currently conducting a comprehensive study of these oil exploration sites to understand their legacy impacts.

Lead Investigator: Ethan Duvall

Collaborators: Esteban Suarez, Naia Andrade Hoeneisen, Jose Macanilla, Alex Flecker