For the first time in its history of annual meetings, the Animal Behavior Society held its annual conference in South America. Brazil, a continent-size country with 180 million people provided a gateway for most of the active research centers both within the country as well as in neighboring South American countries. A large number of researchers from North, Central and South America, as well as Europe, attended the meeting, forging new collaborations and exchanging cultural experiences. For animal behaviorists, one of the main attractions of Brazil was its enormous biodiversity. The ecosystems in Brazil harbor more than 20% of all plants and animals known to science. It ranks first in the world in terms of amphibian diversity, 3rd for birds and 4th for reptiles and mammals. Just in the Amazonian biome there are 516 species of amphibians, 1,622 of birds, 467 of reptiles and 428 of mammals. Additionally, Brazil is one of the most culturally and racially diverse countries in the world.

The meeting was held in the small, picturesque town of Pirenópolis, Goiás at the Pousada dos Pirineus (http://www.pousadadospireneus.com.br), located near the town's historical center. The strategic location of Pirenópolis in central Brazil provides easy access to surrounding points of interest.

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Local Committee

Coordination:

Regina H. Macedo, Local host. Chair (Universidade de Brasilia)
Eliane G. Freitas, (Universidade Estadual Paulista)

Volunteers:

João Victor Caetano, Soha Chabrawi, Alexandre Dias, Raphael I. Dias, Marcos R. Lima, Yonara Lobo, Natasha Macedo, Rafael Maia, Lilian Manica, Wanner Medeiros, Luiza B. Pereira, Eduardo Santos, Mariana Silveira, Roberto Victor, Leonardo Castilho, David Cho, Jonas Maravalhas, Paulo Henrique Veloso