Biodiversity surveys - open and closed woodland

Kilombero Valley Teak Company (KVTC) - biodiversity surveys and species range extensions, effect of fence erection on mammal movements, management recommendations.

Small mammal surveys - The link between the presence of humans and diversity of small mammals. Frontier recently discovered the presence of the vulnerable, B. hindei,, the patchy distribution of which is as yet not understood.

Bat surveys

Importance of biological corridors for conservation of vulnerable populations

Large mammals - potential work although low numbers found as they tend to flee when the truck arrives! Seasonal migration must also be taken into account. Tracks and signs often recorded.

Mapping the distribution of large mammals in the Ulanga district using GPS and satellite imagery to determine habitat types.

Reptile and amphibian studies - Loveridges toad is endemic to Tanzania and a recent capture by Frontier could imply a possible range extension of where this toad is found. Reptile numbers seem higher in closed woodland areas. The presence of a member of Gekkonidae and a Lygosoma sp. could indicate a reliable source of prey items supported by the habitat.

Impacts of human disturbance, including logging and encroachment onto floodplains.

Environmental education and it's contribution to local conservation efforts.

Soil moisture within Teak plantations.

Puku surveys - possibility of monitoring behaviour using tracking devices and assessing impact of human settlements on range extension and habitat-use.

Geology - How volcanic ash deposits affect soil composition and therefore flora and fauna.

Bird surveys - 37 species found that are new to the Nicaragua Forest species list.

Reptile and amphibian surveys - 50% of all species identified during Oct-Dec 2004 were new to the Nicaragua Forest species list. Snakes, frogs and lizards all had additions. Further species have been added from Apr-Jun 2005 phase.

Leatherback tracks seen during beach patrol on Playa El Carbon. Nesting sites present?

Small mammal surveys - Large numbers of Salvin's Spiny Pocket Mouse. Big Eared Climbing Rat also found.

Large mammals - opportunistic sightings often during night walks - 4 new species added to the Nicaragua Forest species list - Tayra, Opossum, Two-toed sloth and Puma.

Butterfly studies - Most from Nymphalidae family. Awaiting full taxonomic classifications.

Sea turtle conservation - leatherback, hawksbill, olive ridley, green, loggerhead and black turtle. Monitoring nesting and hatchling emergence success. Assessing the socio-economic issues related to egg harvesting and exploitation of adult turtles.

Mangrove biodiversity studies

Vegetation regeneration - Clear evidence of regeneration and succession and differences in ecosystem maturity between sites. The majority of trees identified are typical of dense forest rather than early successional species, thus providing substantial habitats for animal species - highlighting a need for protection against logging.

Turtle and tortoise population studies - The finding of Indotestudo elongata suggests there is a breeding population of this threatened species.

Butterfly surveys.

Species composition of major forest types.

Eco-tourism and environmental education - Great potential for this within the wetland sites.

Large mammal sightings - A fishing cat, listed by the IUCN as vulnerable, was seen. Confirmation of a possible nearby population is now a priority. Much more possibility for large mammal sightings in Botum Sakor.

Wetland birds - A first sighting of the spot-billed pelican. Thus proving Ream's wetlands to be one of its greatest assets in conservation terms. Reported the presence of the Great Hornbill in Ream.

Extensive biodiversity surveys in Mafia Island on: Fish; cetaceans; marine turtles; sharks and rays; mangrove birds. Methods involve SCUBA and snorkelling.

Ecological studies - mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs.

Conservation issues and need for sustainable development - effect of artisanal fishing techniques such as dynamite fishing and seine netting on coral reefs and fish communities. Over-collection of shark fins, shells and sea-cucumbers.

Socio-economic surveys - possibility of sustainable resource-use.

Assessment of the exploitation of fringing reefs - Mapping, fish surveys and analysis of threats.

Studies of the extent of coral bleaching

Use of butterfly fish as indicators of reef health

Research into a trans boundary MPA, with Mozambique

Effectiveness of the Mafia Island Marine Park

Biodiversity surveys of dry deciduous and gallery forests of Southern Mikea region.

Bird surveys - Compiling of species list, converted into McKinnon's lists and thus relative abundance of species calculated.

Butterfly surveys - Trapping carried out in gallery forest, dry deciduous forest and grassland. Using canopy-traps and sweep netting.

Reptile and amphibian studies - Collection via bucket pitfall traps and timed searches within dry deciduous forest, gallery forest and anthropogenic grassland. Detailed surveys show a high diversity of endemic species thus illustrating the herpetological importance of this area.

Small mammals (including bats and tenrecs) - Habitat sampling and re-configuration of bat nets to increase capture rates. Compiling species lists for the Manombo area with recent addition of the Narrow-stripped Mongoose. Continuing studies on tenrecs, Western Tuft-tailed Rats and bats. Little is known of bats in Madagascar therefore a good opportunity for pioneering research.

Population studies of Lemurs - Focussing on the diurnal Red-fronted Brown, Verreaux's Sifaka and Ring-tailed Lemur as well as three nocturnal species.

Invertebrate surveys - Collecting leaf litter invertebrates in dry deciduous forest. All samples sent to the Californian Academy of Sciences for identification.

Socio-economic impacts of fishing and hunting on habitats - Interviews with villagers, mapping work to establish land use and historical forest cover. Particular focus currently on hunting and timber harvesting.

GPS mapping - Emphasis on mapping disturbed forest areas with exploratory work into more remote areas. Developing conversion of data for use on ArcView GIS.

Sightings of southern right whales, humpback whales, dolphins, and turtles.

Sustainable resource use - data collection on fisheries, over-exploitation of sharks, fish caught for aquarium industry.

Mangroves - assess the need for protective areas, socio-economic studies and mapping.

Sea-urchin abundance and harvesting pressures.

Assessment of fringing reefs - underwater biodiversity surveys, identifying reef and commercial fish, coral bleaching studies (Diego)

Biodiversity assessments of the Baie De Diego-Suarez using SCUBA and snorkel methods

Production of a contour map of Baie De Diego-Suarez

Coastal habitat assessments and compilation of species inventories

Using quadrat sampling to track coral bleaching following the hotspot Fiji underwent earlier this year.

Using quadrat sampling to compare coral growth & recruitment between protected and non-protected areas.

Using permanent belt transects in protected and non-protected areas to compare bleaching, recruitment and growth over large areas.

Marine Protected Area (MPA) management and socio economic research

Resource use and the impact of small-scale traditional fishing form of hand-lines, spearfishing, small seine nets, mangrove crabs (with hands), gillnets and blocknets.

Land Management studies - Poor land management practices are probably the greatest threat to the reefs of Gau. Fiji has only 16% land suitable for agriculture and it is supposedly illegal to farm on slopes over a certain incline. Much of the farm land of Gau is situated on steep slopes and the practise of slash and burn is popular. A project looking at the effect of run-off from these farms would be useful.

Another problem affecting the reef is the recent installation of flush toilets in the villages. Unfortunately these toilets are plumbed in and the waste goes directly out to sea. This must be having an affect on nutrient levels.

GIS/GPS Mapping. Currently the MPA's of Gau have been mapped using arbitrary maps and are therefore heavily inaccurate. Our current goal is to utilise GPS to track the edges of each MPA. An MSc student with GIS experience would then be able to create a database which would reference survey data with locations around the island.

Tourism with relation to Species of interest found relatively regularly here including turtles, manta rays with the occasional reef shark.

As part of Seagrass watch we are monitoring the seagrass beds around Gau. A student could easily use this info to investigate the effect of no-take areas on the health of these ecosystems.

Turtle fishing. Currently working on a project looking at the size and distribution of turtle populations on Gau. Additionally investigation the possible affects local consumption of turtle meat is having on this population is being undertaken. Potentially during Dec-Feb (breeding time) we may be able to locate some turtle nesting beaches.