Photo of the beach in Port Aransas, Texas

Schweppe Lecture Series

Dr. Michael McClain

Department of Environmental Studies, Florida International University

Thursday, May 2, 2002, 7:00 PM, Visitor Center Auditorium

Amazon: The Journey from Source to Sea of Earth's Greatest River

The Amazon River is born as a small stream, the Carhuasanta, on the northern slope of Mount Mismi, 18,000 feet above sea level and more than 3500 miles from its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. On its journey to the sea the river changes names nine times and accumulates the flow of countless tributaries draining a basin three-quarters the size of the continental United States. From its small stream origin the Amazon grows to become Earth’s greatest river, miles wide and hundreds of feet deep. Tributaries of white, black, and clear waters blend in the river’s main channel and reflect the unique blend of forest and soil that make up their sub-basins. More than 3000 different species of fishes are believed to inhabit its waters, but barely half have been described by science. Giant carnivorous catfish are main predators in the river and migrate over thousands of miles from the rivers estuary to the foothills of the Andes. Dolphins, stingrays, and needlefish, migrated into the rivers millions of years ago and have adapted to life in fresh water. And finally, diverse and fascinating human populations inhabit the margins of the river from its source to estuary. In this presentation Dr. Michael McClain will lead the audience on a journey down the river, tracing changes in the river’s character, its aquatic life, and the people that live along it.

Dr. Michael McClain is a professor of environmental studies at Florida International University in Miami. He has studied the Amazon River for more than 11 years as part of major international research programs. His studies have taken him to the Brazilian, Bolivian, Peruvian, and Ecuadorian portions of the Amazon basin, sampling rivers and working with local scientists and students. Currently he coordinates a long-term project examining rivers of the Andean headwaters of the Amazon. This project focuses on the flow and quality of river water, the organisms living in the rivers, and the many ways that local people use and manage the river resources.

The free lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in the Visitor Center of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, and the public is invited to attend. Professor McClain's visit to the Marine Science Institute is part of the Laura Randall Schweppe Endowed Lecture Series in Marine Science.

Modified:: Tue Apr 16 11:31:03 CDT 2002