🦥You can support our work directly by becoming a member here: www.mossy.earth/ 🎁 And if you are a member already you can also gift the membership here: www.mossy.earth/platform/purchase-gift A big thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to buy this land and start developing these projects. It really would not be possible without you! We have a lot to show you in the coming year so be sure to keep an eye on the channel. - Cheers, Duarte
I think the easiest solution for the canopy bridge is to just buy a regular suspension bridge with netting on the sides and fill the bottom with leaves and twigs for the amphibians. It's gonna get real heavy, so you need good support, but I think it should work. If that's too expensive you might want to look for old hammocks and string them together end to end. They're durable enough to hold a human, so I think they should be able to hold each other and a few wet leaves and twigs. But maybe throw in some support ropes or a few cables just in case.
For the canopy bridges, I would attach pieces of tree bark to the rope like you did with coral for your coral project and let plant life do it's thing. Some animals are very afraid to loose the protection of leaves and crevices which could prevent them of using the bridge. It can also expose them to their natural predators like eagles and birds of prey.
@MossyEarth Would it also be an idea to use a broader bottom rope? i.e. some kind of woven net where the epiphytes can grow? Then you'd have both the cover and an easier way for smaller animals like amphibians that cannot grasp the top rope
I would think a living bridge would be a great idea too. Some animals might not take well to surfaces and textures that are foreign to them. The idea of cover might also be a must have, as the long bridgespan through open air might provide predators an easy way to pick off traversing animals. Lots of animals are intelligent enough to stop using the bridges as soon as they learn it's not a safe place. One thing to note is the fact that a truly living bridge will grow and get heavier, which could provide structural challenges. Any which way it's a fantastic project you at Mossy Earth have taken on! Thank you for all the great work you do!
As a tropical ecologist, I love seeing state of the art science being used in actual conservation and restoration projects. It's so common to see all these cool methods only used in research, which is still quite important, but seeing it used on actual conservation projects is really cool. From the canopy camera trapping, to the soundscapes and the enviromental DNA in Bromeliads, it's really cool seeing all these approaches to truly and thoroughly understand the diversity of the area. I was going to suggest that something you guys can implement on your secondary forest and any area that was selectively logged, is liana cuttings, it increases tree growth and can speed up succession, making land restoration a bit easier
Never even thought that there could be a plant species that store so much rain water that they create effectively a wetlands up high in the forest canopy. Nature is once again incredible. As well as those *very curious* bees. Like, holy bananas, I almost couldn't look at Ollie with all those fellas trying to get inside him. Makes wonder if there are any protective gear that you guys can use in such tree climbs. Canopy bridges to connect fragmented patches of forest definitely sounds like idea worth testing and implementing. Reminded about "green" bridges that builded across highways/roads to help wild animals cross them to get to the other side. Probably need to get Ollie involved in this one too, as the idea with replacing batteries in camera traps without scaling tree again looks outright genius. Cheers!
There are a lot of weird or bizarre plant species, its amazing. And about the bridges, connecting 2 already existing parts of an ecossystem is almost allways a no brainer, its not that hard and has an amazing impact, specially in genetic diversity.
In Meghalaya, an Indian state, there are many root bridges that are actually up high, somehow, that are man-made. I think studying those will provide you with valuable insights!
I'm so happy every time I see another video from you guys. Your work is absolutely revolutionary and important for the Earth, plants, animals and of course us! Thank you for your continued dedication efforts and for sharing all of the work you do. The sharing helps us all feel involved and that is really special. Much gratitude
Hi Erin! Thank you for the lovely comment :) I know it means a lot for everyone who puts in long hours to make all of this possible. It is much appreciated! - Cheers, Duarte
You guys were one of my main inspirations to get a degree in this field. Your videos motivate me so much and make me really appreciate what im working towards. I cant wait to one day also do this type of work. Thank you Mossy Earth.
So cool!! I am already a member, now I will gift my sister a membership for Christmas 🪴🤗 I will be expanding the rewilding family, hope you keep expanding the protected area over there!
We will and thank you for not only being a member but also directly expanding it to your friends and family! It is really what makes it all possible :) - Cheers, Duarte
It will be a very interesting project based on some cool new science. I am very excited to show you the first batch of results when they come in. - Cheers, Duarte
Great idea! The only thing I worry about is that the tourism can negatively affect the nature you guys are trying to save. Though, people from southern continents NEED more national parks to be able to enjoy nature the right way!
Any tourism will need to be very regulated of course. Its a pick between trying to have an economy that destroys the forest and one that keeps it standing. We will keep you posted! - Cheers, Duarte
Exposing a few acres to humans to protect thousands is well worth it. As they said it's about creating an economy based on keeping the forest not cutting it down. It's also the education and concern that make people like you aware of that. And letting people go and see how fragile it is is a very good thing.... If you frame it correctly
I love the video mounting idea to swap batteries and I also love the idea of recording the soundscapes. You could also probably create a soundscapes app that people could use and use the profits from it's sales to help fund projects too. Low cost like 2 dollar monthly subscription or something that most people wouldn't notice but could potentially benefit from every night while they sleep or something. Couple soundscape options, maybe some white/pink/brown noise and you got yourself an additional revenue stream. lots of similar things already exist, and I'm sure a lot of people would gladly switch to an app that actually benefits the environment/people instead of just some random faceless company making profits.
As a Mossy Earth supporter (I am not a huge contributor, but give what I can) I very much appreciate the work done by Mossy Earth and very much appreciate that these videos "bring me along for the ride" sometimes to see things that I would never otherwise see. It makes me want to continue my financial support of Mossy Earth, so good on you. PS: I am happy I was not up in that tree canpoy, ut watching it safely on the ground (not to mention the sweat bees ordeal).
Great video of a great project. I've never seen Saki monkeys before in nature films. Looking forward to seeing how your canopy bridges work out, allowing animals to roam across roads and other breaks in the forest canopy. Interesting that you will be pioneering in making canopy bridges that reptiles, insects and other invertebrates can use! Cheers!
It will be really interesting to see how different animals react. Hopefully we will be able to film the small animals as well as the big ones. - Cheers, Duarte
A tree snake would need something pretty wide to slither across and all the animals would probably want something leafy to keep the heat away and stay in cover. Perhaps a rope weave bridge with native bark and leaves tied in? I'm thinking multiple ropes weaved together to increase the surface area of the bridge. That way you can keep the flexibility of rope while keeping things available for many types of animal. Though holes in the bridge, drying out, and its strength might prove to be an issue.
@@MossyEarth probaly you could have some protection like beekeepers. And probably some other insects there could be far more dangerous. Also protecting your ears even without a full mask - insects inside could cause harm or simply distract you. This is happening even in European boreal forests. To get them off could take a doctor!
I was thinking the exact same thing. Have some heavy duty natural ropes form a base for vines and other plants to grow and they could form a long lasting evolving structure.
my concern is that the plants will add weight which will put additional stress on the bridge, causing it to collapse much much sooner than it would with just natural degradation.
I absolutely love how you can see the effect of animals using branches to travel across the canopy. Kinda like paths that get cleared out as more animals use them. I'm wondering if for the canopy bridges, you could accommodate amphibians by taking inspiration from the coral reefs. Perhaps you set up a rope lattice with plants and branches attached to them, or places for water to pool into like those plants
About the canopy bridge: You could try creating an arch, made of solid wood, cover the top of it with old, mossy branches and place it above the road. Then connect the arch to the nearest trees via ropes and attach a few bits of wood to the ropes as well. I know that such a bridge would be much more complicated to make, but if it mimics the overall looks and sturdiness of the surrounding trees, more animals would use it just because they won't see it as a new, unknown object.
I hope this sound data is also being provided to iNaturalist, they have some audio identification stuff in the works and im sure the data would help. Then we can get more citizen science happening to track biodiversity.
I don't understand how any of you were able to not only stay put while being swarmed by bees, but actually compose coherent, educational thoughts while ON CAMERA! It's true that I've lost a lot of my comfort with the outdoors and all of its creatures (growing up in Oregon was really fun!), but I would never have been capable of that. You amaze me. *Slow clap*
What if you grew something like a strangler fig or a vine in a very specific diagonal or branching pattern like a wire structure or even a faux tree made of wooden posts? Then over time, this structure might become overgrown, but it wont lose integrity because it is replaced with living marerial as it grows, sort of a super-scaled version of a willow arch for the animals to cross? Native life would wirhout a doubt settle nicely into something like that, though it might be a large time and money invesrment.
About ropes/bridges: What is the risk of lighting strike? I presume that bigger the distance = bigger are the risks. Plants and moisture on the rope could make it worse. If vegetation will DRY - then theoretically, when catching fire, then falling down and start an even bigger fire on the ground. Could you probably ask some experts about it.
About the canopy bridges, I think I might have an idea. Here at university, I have a professor that studies lianas. From someone who works in his lab, I had them explained as essentially plants that are fighting tooth and nail for more access to the sunlight. My thought is you could probably take advantage of that. By anchoring the bridge to a tree with already growing lianas, you could move some of the lianas apical meristems onto your cable. The liana, following its own biology, would then move across the cable. In the process, it would both strengthen your cable while also making it more homely for any snakes, ampibians, etc. that would want to cross. Also, I've been a member for a few months now. Thank you all for everything you do. This is so much better than an overpriced coffee.
As a long term solution, you can plant wide reaching trees next to the road, here we use Inga but there has to be a native one for the low jungle. It might happen naturally faster though.
Recycle heavy duty trawler nets , not the fine nets , stretched across the road at the required height will accommodate most species, what is more they can often be found free of charge littering beaches. good luck.
@@Madshadowgolem Indeed they can , I anticipate that tree growth will have filled the void before then and the nets could then be disposed of in a responsible fashion.
Happy to see there's some good evidence for canopy bridges. It might be obvious, but the best bridge would be as short as it can get. Some nice, tall trees at each side of the road could probably get half the work done with their branches. But ofc, that's very difficult. It may also help to not let a single rope, but various parallel ropes between the trees, to shelter the fauna from the exposure that crossing the bridge might suppose. But that is totally speculative on my part
This is my favourite video so far! For the Bridges, I saw some in Kenya (South of Mombasa) which used a interlinking rope structure with established vines attached to them. I think my enhancing this design through use of foliage plants and thicker ropes, this could be a very viable option.
The biocoustics could be made into long form white-noise videos/recordings for people to enjoy - it could maybe create a small revenue stream for Mossy Earth, qnd we would get to listen in on the various sounds the forest makes in different periods
Poor Ollie, awesome system though. Sky wetlands, so cool You could upload the rainforest ambiance sounds those are quite successful kinda things sometimes lol Aha I was hoping for some kind of bridge, very cool Wishing everyone here merry celebrations!
Canopy bridge ideas for amphibians and such would be to possibly make several ropes across. Cover them with moss, bromeliads, and monsteras that grow thick vines other options would be pathos if they are native to the region. This should build a more permanent bridge as the roots of bromeliads love being in moss while monstera and pathos arial roots would hopefully replace the rope. It would also give plenty of humidity and places to stop for water to our small friends.
New viewer and subscriber, a canopy bridge over roads... connecting the canopies, maybe utilising the vines and some ingenuity ,some natural tunnels and nature highways would help
For the reptiles/amphibians perhaps some kind of netting that has water wells or something that acts like those plants in the trees that hold water. Would be like rest stops and maybe places to hide since there's nothing else above in all those open areas to hide from birds or other predators. I think the netting would also act like smaller branches so snakes and such can get across with more ease.
For ground dwelling animals, tunnels could be a good solution if the ground allows it. I've also seen somewhere where an overpass was built over a road for frogs, but idk that all animals would use it. Edit: it was a crab bridge! For tunnels, something like those big drain pipes might work. Also, snakes and other exotherms like to lay on pavement or asphalt at sundown due to the warmth. So maybe a metal bridge or covered bridge would work too.
What about a bridge of triangles, with cultures of plants that provide habitat planted at the rope junctions. This way, the invtabrates can complete full life cycles on the bridge and form a consistent polyculture linking one canopy to the next! 😊
For an amphibian canopy bridge, can you create some sort of tube that provides protection against predation while still providing a path? Multiple tubes so you have a few different corridors. Should be easy enough to attach the rest of the bridge.
Instead of canopy bridges for the amphibians and reptiles, maybe some tunnels or channels? Frogs would probably want water as well so channels would probably work better for that.
So, I might be wrong, but I think the species they're trying to help crossing the road are mainly living in the canopy (yes even the frogs), and therefore (if my logic is not wrong) any crossing at land level (or below) would have very few chances of working since they would probably not use them even if they saw them. Plus predators might invade those crossings since they're not up in the canopy where the prey is living. That's pure speculation on my part tho, I might not know things that demolishes my "logic".
Hopefully we will be able to make that happen in the future. It turns out that organising trips for people is quite the legal mess to figure out! - Cheers, Duarte
@@MossyEarth yea I can imagine, on other hand over tourism could be detrimental to local nature so for now Im happy to be member, support the projects and watch video updates 🙏
@@MossyEarth by the way for the rope bridge you could try to make one like a tunnel (similar like weaved willow tunnels for guinea pigs), this could allow amphibians and snakes to cross too)
I hope you are all okay after dealing with the bees. For the bridges maybe some kind of green roof structure might work, for getting the small "critters" over, but it does have its limits because of how big of an area you have to cover for naturally connecting the two sides... It is going to be a challenge figuring out good solutions.
Wild, random idea: In addition to upper-canopy plant life, what about adding more surface area to canopy bridges by constructing a tunnel of sorts? The idea I have in my head stems from tunnel-web spiders and how they construct their traps. The entrance looks and functions as a tunnel, all woven from spider threads. Perhaps by securing the entire structure on multiple tension points (both sides), an artificial web-tunnel could be made? Think a Chinese finger trap but tied between canopy lines over roads. This could also serve as a substrate for other things like bark, soil pockets, even entire plants to grow and divide inside, as well as provide enough exit points (substrate being multiple strands of rope and not a solid bridge) to allow excess water to leak out and fall down. Once more natural surface area has been grown/built, it may encourage smaller canopy creatures like snakes, tiny rodents, even insects to cross between these structures in addition to their larger primate brethren. The tunnel could also provide a bit of air/hot sun cover, or even defense against larger predators. Thoughts?
you should use the audio you collect and upload to like spotify on playlists that people use to sleep. will maybe generate some additional funding and also give some variety from the rain noises that I use to sleep (deffo not only for me hehe)
Spotify isn’t so generous with sharing the proceeds so probably not a great way to get income but it would be cool to have the tracks for ambience playlists like you suggest
When you climb those trees, couldnt you use some kind of beekeepersuit to lower the bites an stresses with the insects up there, so you can work more concentratet? Or at least some modified version of an beekeepersuit.
I was about to suggest canopy bridges. I was watching videos about animal crossing structures earlier today. I am not sure how to make one work for amphibians. Apparently, some places solve that problem by using traps and manually transporting amphibians.
singular rope bridges probably work best for monkeys and sloths who just grab and swing, but amphibians and reptiles might benefit from something with a lattice-work, maybe something like two wooden beams with ropes zig-zagging between them?
I wonder if a network of connected platforms each supported like a tripod could help improve the feeling of safety for smaller animals.. I’d imagine that having lots of options would be reassuring rather than just one straight line from point A to point B. If I’m a small frog trying to cross in a straight line and a big monkey is coming across the way at the same time, I’m probably gonna feel pretty freaked out. If there’s multiple paths to take to get across, there’s less risk of an encounter with an animal coming the opposite way. Would require more materials and $$$ but just a thought
To go alongside all of the other data you have been collecting, do you think it might be possible for you guys to do a LIDAR scan of your land. You could then make a 3D map of the forest with that 🗺️ 🌐
As an extra income source could you release the soundscapes as audio files on something like Spotify? A lot of people use rainforest-sounds to sleep, probably not a huge payout, but not a lot of extra work either 😊
I think Spotify within the past year changed the rules so that they would need 10 000 monthly listens to be even eligible for monetization and so it might not be the best platform
If you are doing a canopy bridge from living trees as opposed to some artificial materials maybe you could have layered second and third level to the bridge too? as i imagine smaller animals would appretiate the safety of such tunnel network forming from vines and or branches. I mean you cna do it artificialy too but i reckon just using some trees that are allready present and slightly tilt them so that their tops join or near join in midpoint. having the whole thing fully living plant/s could also promote some more natural growth of water retaining flora? i am no scientist so i could be entirely wrong offcourse.
🦥You can support our work directly by becoming a member here: www.mossy.earth/
🎁 And if you are a member already you can also gift the membership here: www.mossy.earth/platform/purchase-gift
A big thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to buy this land and start developing these projects. It really would not be possible without you! We have a lot to show you in the coming year so be sure to keep an eye on the channel. - Cheers, Duarte
I think the easiest solution for the canopy bridge is to just buy a regular suspension bridge with netting on the sides and fill the bottom with leaves and twigs for the amphibians. It's gonna get real heavy, so you need good support, but I think it should work.
If that's too expensive you might want to look for old hammocks and string them together end to end. They're durable enough to hold a human, so I think they should be able to hold each other and a few wet leaves and twigs.
But maybe throw in some support ropes or a few cables just in case.
For the canopy bridges, I would attach pieces of tree bark to the rope like you did with coral for your coral project and let plant life do it's thing. Some animals are very afraid to loose the protection of leaves and crevices which could prevent them of using the bridge. It can also expose them to their natural predators like eagles and birds of prey.
Great idea! Would be very cool to have a “living bridge”! - Cheers, Duarte
@@MossyEarththere's got to be some species of vine that's that long, at least a natural rope if they can't be living
❤
@MossyEarth Would it also be an idea to use a broader bottom rope? i.e. some kind of woven net where the epiphytes can grow? Then you'd have both the cover and an easier way for smaller animals like amphibians that cannot grasp the top rope
I would think a living bridge would be a great idea too. Some animals might not take well to surfaces and textures that are foreign to them.
The idea of cover might also be a must have, as the long bridgespan through open air might provide predators an easy way to pick off traversing animals. Lots of animals are intelligent enough to stop using the bridges as soon as they learn it's not a safe place.
One thing to note is the fact that a truly living bridge will grow and get heavier, which could provide structural challenges.
Any which way it's a fantastic project you at Mossy Earth have taken on! Thank you for all the great work you do!
As a tropical ecologist, I love seeing state of the art science being used in actual conservation and restoration projects. It's so common to see all these cool methods only used in research, which is still quite important, but seeing it used on actual conservation projects is really cool. From the canopy camera trapping, to the soundscapes and the enviromental DNA in Bromeliads, it's really cool seeing all these approaches to truly and thoroughly understand the diversity of the area. I was going to suggest that something you guys can implement on your secondary forest and any area that was selectively logged, is liana cuttings, it increases tree growth and can speed up succession, making land restoration a bit easier
You all are life savers, literally.
Thank you Andy! Your kind words are much appreciated :) - Cheers, Duarte
Its allways amazing to see how their next project manages to be even more impressive then the previous ones
Love the videos guys keep up the conservation and restoration
We will! Thank you for the support! - Cheers, Duarte
Never even thought that there could be a plant species that store so much rain water that they create effectively a wetlands up high in the forest canopy. Nature is once again incredible.
As well as those *very curious* bees. Like, holy bananas, I almost couldn't look at Ollie with all those fellas trying to get inside him. Makes wonder if there are any protective gear that you guys can use in such tree climbs.
Canopy bridges to connect fragmented patches of forest definitely sounds like idea worth testing and implementing. Reminded about "green" bridges that builded across highways/roads to help wild animals cross them to get to the other side. Probably need to get Ollie involved in this one too, as the idea with replacing batteries in camera traps without scaling tree again looks outright genius.
Cheers!
There are a lot of weird or bizarre plant species, its amazing.
And about the bridges, connecting 2 already existing parts of an ecossystem is almost allways a no brainer, its not that hard and has an amazing impact, specially in genetic diversity.
Environmental DNA is such an incredibly fascinating resource!
In Meghalaya, an Indian state, there are many root bridges that are actually up high, somehow, that are man-made. I think studying those will provide you with valuable insights!
I'm so happy every time I see another video from you guys. Your work is absolutely revolutionary and important for the Earth, plants, animals and of course us! Thank you for your continued dedication efforts and for sharing all of the work you do. The sharing helps us all feel involved and that is really special. Much gratitude
Hi Erin! Thank you for the lovely comment :) I know it means a lot for everyone who puts in long hours to make all of this possible. It is much appreciated! - Cheers, Duarte
You guys were one of my main inspirations to get a degree in this field. Your videos motivate me so much and make me really appreciate what im working towards. I cant wait to one day also do this type of work.
Thank you Mossy Earth.
That pulley system for the cameras is genius!
Could you build tunnels for amphibians/reptiles?
So cool!! I am already a member, now I will gift my sister a membership for Christmas 🪴🤗
I will be expanding the rewilding family, hope you keep expanding the protected area over there!
We will and thank you for not only being a member but also directly expanding it to your friends and family! It is really what makes it all possible :) - Cheers, Duarte
Ollie is a brave guy 🐝
Indeed he is! - Cheers, Duarte
You guys are THE best! Thank you seriously
So proud of you guys and this community, this is incredible 💚
Your projects keep evolcing in scale and quality, its impressive!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS!!! It makes not only our future brighter but also that of the animals❤🔥
As a frog lover this is a great episode! Glad to see my membership going to good use! Part of me wishes I could be there, but the bees...
Love you guys
Thanks! We really appreciate the motivational comments! - Cheers, Duarte
11:22 Super cool info about how to use the soundscapes!
It will be a very interesting project based on some cool new science. I am very excited to show you the first batch of results when they come in. - Cheers, Duarte
You guys need to invest in some mosquito hoods for the climb. Watching those sweat bugs crawl into his eyes was brutal!
Haha yes, its on the list! Or some goggles… - Cheers, Duarte
They make woven coconut bark ropes. That might be a good option to consider and they are biodegradable.
Great idea! The only thing I worry about is that the tourism can negatively affect the nature you guys are trying to save. Though, people from southern continents NEED more national parks to be able to enjoy nature the right way!
Any tourism will need to be very regulated of course. Its a pick between trying to have an economy that destroys the forest and one that keeps it standing. We will keep you posted! - Cheers, Duarte
Exposing a few acres to humans to protect thousands is well worth it. As they said it's about creating an economy based on keeping the forest not cutting it down. It's also the education and concern that make people like you aware of that. And letting people go and see how fragile it is is a very good thing.... If you frame it correctly
I love the video mounting idea to swap batteries and I also love the idea of recording the soundscapes. You could also probably create a soundscapes app that people could use and use the profits from it's sales to help fund projects too. Low cost like 2 dollar monthly subscription or something that most people wouldn't notice but could potentially benefit from every night while they sleep or something. Couple soundscape options, maybe some white/pink/brown noise and you got yourself an additional revenue stream. lots of similar things already exist, and I'm sure a lot of people would gladly switch to an app that actually benefits the environment/people instead of just some random faceless company making profits.
As a Mossy Earth supporter (I am not a huge contributor, but give what I can) I very much appreciate the work done by Mossy Earth and very much appreciate that these videos "bring me along for the ride" sometimes to see things that I would never otherwise see.
It makes me want to continue my financial support of Mossy Earth, so good on you.
PS: I am happy I was not up in that tree canpoy, ut watching it safely on the ground (not to mention the sweat bees ordeal).
Keep up the great work. Signed, a proud member
Great video of a great project. I've never seen Saki monkeys before in nature films. Looking forward to seeing how your canopy bridges work out, allowing animals to roam across roads and other breaks in the forest canopy. Interesting that you will be pioneering in making canopy bridges that reptiles, insects and other invertebrates can use! Cheers!
It will be really interesting to see how different animals react. Hopefully we will be able to film the small animals as well as the big ones. - Cheers, Duarte
Sooo much respect for Ollie!!!❤
A tree snake would need something pretty wide to slither across and all the animals would probably want something leafy to keep the heat away and stay in cover. Perhaps a rope weave bridge with native bark and leaves tied in? I'm thinking multiple ropes weaved together to increase the surface area of the bridge. That way you can keep the flexibility of rope while keeping things available for many types of animal. Though holes in the bridge, drying out, and its strength might prove to be an issue.
Climbing those trees is an arborists dream! :)
Indeed! Minus the bees of course 😂 - Cheers, Duarte
@@MossyEarth Ye lol, in the ear is too much for me!
@@MossyEarth probaly you could have some protection like beekeepers. And probably some other insects there could be far more dangerous.
Also protecting your ears even without a full mask - insects inside could cause harm or simply distract you. This is happening even in European boreal forests. To get them off could take a doctor!
Is there some vine that y'all can grow and extend over alongside the ropes, so that there's foliage for the amphibians?
That is a great idea! Would be amazing to have a “living bridge”. - Cheers, Duarte
Knowing how the jungle works it will happen even if they don't plant it haha
I was thinking the exact same thing. Have some heavy duty natural ropes form a base for vines and other plants to grow and they could form a long lasting evolving structure.
my concern is that the plants will add weight which will put additional stress on the bridge, causing it to collapse much much sooner than it would with just natural degradation.
Beautiful 😍 the nature, and your work, showing humans can be good members of the community.
I absolutely love how you can see the effect of animals using branches to travel across the canopy. Kinda like paths that get cleared out as more animals use them. I'm wondering if for the canopy bridges, you could accommodate amphibians by taking inspiration from the coral reefs. Perhaps you set up a rope lattice with plants and branches attached to them, or places for water to pool into like those plants
Props for the dedication, those bees looked awfullllll
They were quite the challenge, both the annoying ones and the bitey ones. Still, very happy to be working in the treetops though :) - Cheers, Duarte
Poor Ollie. He was so calm.
About the canopy bridge: You could try creating an arch, made of solid wood, cover the top of it with old, mossy branches and place it above the road. Then connect the arch to the nearest trees via ropes and attach a few bits of wood to the ropes as well. I know that such a bridge would be much more complicated to make, but if it mimics the overall looks and sturdiness of the surrounding trees, more animals would use it just because they won't see it as a new, unknown object.
I hope this sound data is also being provided to iNaturalist, they have some audio identification stuff in the works and im sure the data would help. Then we can get more citizen science happening to track biodiversity.
Brilliant video! Ollie being attacked by bees actually made me glad my part is just being sat on a laptop 😅 Some great graphics in it as well 👌🏻
I don't understand how any of you were able to not only stay put while being swarmed by bees, but actually compose coherent, educational thoughts while ON CAMERA! It's true that I've lost a lot of my comfort with the outdoors and all of its creatures (growing up in Oregon was really fun!), but I would never have been capable of that. You amaze me. *Slow clap*
Amazing, thank you
I always love watching your videos. Good luck with all the endeavors on your Amazon plot!
Epic video! I am really looking forward to the canopy bridge project getting started.
I am also super excited to show people the results! Should be a fun story to tell :) - Cheers, Duarte
Well done being patient with those bees!
What if you grew something like a strangler fig or a vine in a very specific diagonal or branching pattern like a wire structure or even a faux tree made of wooden posts? Then over time, this structure might become overgrown, but it wont lose integrity because it is replaced with living marerial as it grows, sort of a super-scaled version of a willow arch for the animals to cross? Native life would wirhout a doubt settle nicely into something like that, though it might be a large time and money invesrment.
About ropes/bridges:
What is the risk of lighting strike? I presume that bigger the distance = bigger are the risks. Plants and moisture on the rope could make it worse. If vegetation will DRY - then theoretically, when catching fire, then falling down and start an even bigger fire on the ground.
Could you probably ask some experts about it.
Your sound scientific approach to measuring project success is very interesting and credible
About the canopy bridges, I think I might have an idea. Here at university, I have a professor that studies lianas. From someone who works in his lab, I had them explained as essentially plants that are fighting tooth and nail for more access to the sunlight. My thought is you could probably take advantage of that. By anchoring the bridge to a tree with already growing lianas, you could move some of the lianas apical meristems onto your cable. The liana, following its own biology, would then move across the cable. In the process, it would both strengthen your cable while also making it more homely for any snakes, ampibians, etc. that would want to cross.
Also, I've been a member for a few months now. Thank you all for everything you do. This is so much better than an overpriced coffee.
Amazing progress 💙🤝
As a long term solution, you can plant wide reaching trees next to the road, here we use Inga but there has to be a native one for the low jungle. It might happen naturally faster though.
Is it possible that they damage the roads?
@joaquimbarbosa896 depends on the type of root system?
I think it's a great idea to mimick the way branches connect by creating a bridge and then covering it with plant life. That might solve the problem.
Great stuff!
I would not be going in those tree's without a net over my head. I like the use of my eye's, mouth and noise.
Recycle heavy duty trawler nets , not the fine nets , stretched across the road at the required height will accommodate most species, what is more they can often be found free of charge littering beaches. good luck.
Great idea! Added to the list! - Cheers, Duarte
Those can shed microplastics though as they breakdown.
@@Madshadowgolem Indeed they can , I anticipate that tree growth will have filled the void before then and the nets could then be disposed of in a responsible fashion.
Mossy Earth!!!!
Keep up the good work
great job
Happy to see there's some good evidence for canopy bridges. It might be obvious, but the best bridge would be as short as it can get. Some nice, tall trees at each side of the road could probably get half the work done with their branches. But ofc, that's very difficult.
It may also help to not let a single rope, but various parallel ropes between the trees, to shelter the fauna from the exposure that crossing the bridge might suppose. But that is totally speculative on my part
awesome
Spaming comments to help
This is my favourite video so far! For the Bridges, I saw some in Kenya (South of Mombasa) which used a interlinking rope structure with established vines attached to them. I think my enhancing this design through use of foliage plants and thicker ropes, this could be a very viable option.
The biocoustics could be made into long form white-noise videos/recordings for people to enjoy - it could maybe create a small revenue stream for Mossy Earth, qnd we would get to listen in on the various sounds the forest makes in different periods
Poor Ollie, awesome system though. Sky wetlands, so cool
You could upload the rainforest ambiance sounds those are quite successful kinda things sometimes lol
Aha I was hoping for some kind of bridge, very cool
Wishing everyone here merry celebrations!
Canopy bridge ideas for amphibians and such would be to possibly make several ropes across. Cover them with moss, bromeliads, and monsteras that grow thick vines other options would be pathos if they are native to the region. This should build a more permanent bridge as the roots of bromeliads love being in moss while monstera and pathos arial roots would hopefully replace the rope. It would also give plenty of humidity and places to stop for water to our small friends.
Didn't expect to see a kinkajou on the cameras, I thought they were super rare and avoided deforested areas.
make alive bridges - tie branches together for self maintenance
(used by humans for several thousand years to cross rivers )
Great idea! A living bridge would be really cool! Added to the list :) - Cheers, Duarte
Awesome
Glad you enjoyed the project update! - Cheers, Duarte
New viewer and subscriber, a canopy bridge over roads... connecting the canopies, maybe utilising the vines and some ingenuity ,some natural tunnels and nature highways would help
Parque Nacional Yasuní 🫶🏻🐵🐝🦎🇪🇨
For the reptiles/amphibians perhaps some kind of netting that has water wells or something that acts like those plants in the trees that hold water. Would be like rest stops and maybe places to hide since there's nothing else above in all those open areas to hide from birds or other predators. I think the netting would also act like smaller branches so snakes and such can get across with more ease.
For ground dwelling animals, tunnels could be a good solution if the ground allows it. I've also seen somewhere where an overpass was built over a road for frogs, but idk that all animals would use it.
Edit: it was a crab bridge! For tunnels, something like those big drain pipes might work. Also, snakes and other exotherms like to lay on pavement or asphalt at sundown due to the warmth. So maybe a metal bridge or covered bridge would work too.
What about a bridge of triangles, with cultures of plants that provide habitat planted at the rope junctions.
This way, the invtabrates can complete full life cycles on the bridge and form a consistent polyculture linking one canopy to the next! 😊
For an amphibian canopy bridge, can you create some sort of tube that provides protection against predation while still providing a path? Multiple tubes so you have a few different corridors. Should be easy enough to attach the rest of the bridge.
Instead of canopy bridges for the amphibians and reptiles, maybe some tunnels or channels? Frogs would probably want water as well so channels would probably work better for that.
Great idea! Might be a bit pricier but could be worth exploring as an option. - Cheers, Duarte
So, I might be wrong, but I think the species they're trying to help crossing the road are mainly living in the canopy (yes even the frogs), and therefore (if my logic is not wrong) any crossing at land level (or below) would have very few chances of working since they would probably not use them even if they saw them.
Plus predators might invade those crossings since they're not up in the canopy where the prey is living.
That's pure speculation on my part tho, I might not know things that demolishes my "logic".
@@cortexavery1324 I guess it depends on the typical behavior of the animals in question. Either way a diversity of routes would give the best options.
@@thunder_emperors_command Totally agree with that final statement yes.
So basicly add small temporary pounds to?
Fantastic sight and sounds are amazing. Would love to spend few nights there :)
Hopefully we will be able to make that happen in the future. It turns out that organising trips for people is quite the legal mess to figure out! - Cheers, Duarte
@@MossyEarth yea I can imagine, on other hand over tourism could be detrimental to local nature so for now Im happy to be member, support the projects and watch video updates 🙏
@@MossyEarth by the way for the rope bridge you could try to make one like a tunnel (similar like weaved willow tunnels for guinea pigs), this could allow amphibians and snakes to cross too)
It'd be awesome if MossyEarth uploaded the audio of the amazon rainforest to Spotify in 2 or 8 hour files and just label what time of day.
Trees are massive. You know what else is massive? Low taper fade
I hope you are all okay after dealing with the bees.
For the bridges maybe some kind of green roof structure might work, for getting the small "critters" over, but it does have its limits because of how big of an area you have to cover for naturally connecting the two sides... It is going to be a challenge figuring out good solutions.
i too would love to learn some "ropey science"
🙏💗🙏💗🙏
Wild, random idea: In addition to upper-canopy plant life, what about adding more surface area to canopy bridges by constructing a tunnel of sorts? The idea I have in my head stems from tunnel-web spiders and how they construct their traps. The entrance looks and functions as a tunnel, all woven from spider threads. Perhaps by securing the entire structure on multiple tension points (both sides), an artificial web-tunnel could be made? Think a Chinese finger trap but tied between canopy lines over roads.
This could also serve as a substrate for other things like bark, soil pockets, even entire plants to grow and divide inside, as well as provide enough exit points (substrate being multiple strands of rope and not a solid bridge) to allow excess water to leak out and fall down. Once more natural surface area has been grown/built, it may encourage smaller canopy creatures like snakes, tiny rodents, even insects to cross between these structures in addition to their larger primate brethren. The tunnel could also provide a bit of air/hot sun cover, or even defense against larger predators.
Thoughts?
Interesting how they didn't bring anything to cover their heads to keep the bugs out.
You guys need clear glass diving glasses to keep bees away from eyes xD
you should use the audio you collect and upload to like spotify on playlists that people use to sleep. will maybe generate some additional funding and also give some variety from the rain noises that I use to sleep (deffo not only for me hehe)
Spotify isn’t so generous with sharing the proceeds so probably not a great way to get income but it would be cool to have the tracks for ambience playlists like you suggest
You should get Leo Urban to help with this project asap!
When you climb those trees, couldnt you use some kind of beekeepersuit to lower the bites an stresses with the insects up there, so you can work more concentratet? Or at least some modified version of an beekeepersuit.
I was about to suggest canopy bridges. I was watching videos about animal crossing structures earlier today.
I am not sure how to make one work for amphibians. Apparently, some places solve that problem by using traps and manually transporting amphibians.
A net bridge made of stars for amphibians
Didn't have time to watch the video yet, but I'm commenting for algorithm
at 5:20 there is a giant spider on the bottom left near the cameraman's rope
FIRST
Almost :D - Cheers, Duarte
have you considered implementing the miyawaki method in the area hit by the fire or any of the other project areas you’re working on?
singular rope bridges probably work best for monkeys and sloths who just grab and swing, but amphibians and reptiles might benefit from something with a lattice-work, maybe something like two wooden beams with ropes zig-zagging between them?
I wonder if a network of connected platforms each supported like a tripod could help improve the feeling of safety for smaller animals.. I’d imagine that having lots of options would be reassuring rather than just one straight line from point A to point B. If I’m a small frog trying to cross in a straight line and a big monkey is coming across the way at the same time, I’m probably gonna feel pretty freaked out. If there’s multiple paths to take to get across, there’s less risk of an encounter with an animal coming the opposite way. Would require more materials and $$$ but just a thought
Im not an expert on it, but maybe you guys could grow vine species that connect the forest areas together?
Can you connect the sections using a rope bridge like the ones humans use only lighter?
That is the plan and hopefully we will find a way for the smaller animals to be able to cross as well! - Cheers, Duarte
To go alongside all of the other data you have been collecting, do you think it might be possible for you guys to do a LIDAR scan of your land. You could then make a 3D map of the forest with that 🗺️ 🌐
12 seconds ago!
Enjoy! - Cheers, Duarte
I wouldn't have been so persnickety about not using insect repellants.
As an extra income source could you release the soundscapes as audio files on something like Spotify? A lot of people use rainforest-sounds to sleep, probably not a huge payout, but not a lot of extra work either 😊
I think Spotify within the past year changed the rules so that they would need 10 000 monthly listens to be even eligible for monetization and so it might not be the best platform
If you are doing a canopy bridge from living trees as opposed to some artificial materials maybe you could have layered second and third level to the bridge too? as i imagine smaller animals would appretiate the safety of such tunnel network forming from vines and or branches.
I mean you cna do it artificialy too but i reckon just using some trees that are allready present and slightly tilt them so that their tops join or near join in midpoint. having the whole thing fully living plant/s could also promote some more natural growth of water retaining flora?
i am no scientist so i could be entirely wrong offcourse.