Postgraduates
Biplang Yadok
PhD 2018
Ecology of the African Giant Pouched Rat
Since completing his PhD in 2018 Dr Yadok has been working with the Nigerian Montane Forest Project collating and analysing 15 years worth of long-term ecological data on phenology and seed dispersal.
Current Students
Aaron Millar
PhD
My work focuses on the understanding the evolutionary factors that drive plant invasions. My PhD research is on whether whole-genome duplication mutations increase phenotypic plasticity, the ability of individual organisms to change in response to their environment. I’m also involved with environmental restoration research through volunteer work with the Styx Living Laboratory Trust.
Ava Johnson
PhD
In her PhD research Ava, A Food Transitions 2050 Scholar, is understanding how urban landscapes influence pollinator communities for the better management of native pollinators and increased māra kai.
Gboyega Awoku
PhD
PhD Gboyega Awoku is investigating the crop pollinators of subsistence farms on the Mambilla Plateau, in Taraba State, Nigeria. Using Pac Choi as a test species he is also determining how landscape features close to farms, such as forest, eucalyptus plantations , grassland or streams influence pollinator composition.
Liadan Dicki
MSc
My research is looking at the impact of microhabitat change on bryophyte and lichen communities in a high-country grassland of Canterbury, New Zealand. I am focussing on habitat changes that could be induced by invasive plants and animals in such habitats: shading, shade removal, burrowing, and soil nutrient enrichment. By determining how bryophyte and lichen communities are affected by microhabitat change, I aim to understand how they might be affected by invasive plants and animals in grassland habitats.
Bashir Mijinyawa,
MSc
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in association with the University of Canterbury, NZ
Bashir is investigating the influence of edge effects on forest tree trajectories in Ngel Nyaki montane forest. This is increasingly significant as Afromontane forests are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic activities such as farming and grazing.
Research Associates
Gabriel Dabo
Gabriel Dabo –science co-ordinator for the Nigerian Montane Forest Project is a forest ecologist and conservation biologist whose research focuses on the ecological dynamics of lianas in tropical forests. His current work, funded by ForestGEO, involves a comprehensive liana census in Ngel Nyaki ForestGEO dynamic plot, where he investigates the abundance, spatial distribution, and ecological influence of gap and edge effect on liana population structure. His broader interests include understanding how lianas influence forest structure and carbon sequestration, especially in the context of increasing anthropogenic disturbances.
Find out more: https://forestgeo.si.edu/blog/jjruinen-fellowship-tropical-forestryannouncing-2023-awardees
Istifanus Jesse
Istifanus Jesse – science co-ordinator with the Nigerian Montane Forest Project is an plant ecologist with special interests in forest restoration and mast seeding. Currently he is a 2025 J&J Ruinen Fellow funded by the Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGeo) to investigate mast seeding (synchronous, intermittent production of large seed crops by plants) at Ngel Nyaki. Mast seeding is critical for many reasons and until recently has been considered unimportant in the tropics.
Previous Students
Sanaz Safavian
PhD
Sanaz is investigating the influence of different anthropogenic disturbances on braided river birds. New Zealand’s unique braided rivers are home to several bird species who depend on the river for survival. Yet the rivers are popular for human recreation. Sanaz’s co-supervisor is Prof. Jim Briskie.
Gboyega Awoku
PhD
Pollination services to subsistence farmers provided by insect pollinators on the Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria. Here he will be looking at the native invertebrate pollinators, measuring their pollination efficiency on crop species and working out what role native forest patches play in harboring potentially important pollinators.
Associate supervisor Dr Brad Howlett – Plant and Food Research, Christchurch; Dr Bridget Bobadoye, Forest Research Institute, Ibadan.
Joseph Dawson
Diurnal pollinators- moth pollination in the New Zealand High Country.
In this study, Joseph is investigating the role of moths in the pollination of New Zealand high country plants. He will use light trapping and pollen identification to create a moth-pollen network, and combine this with bagging experiments to determine the importance of moth pollination in seed set.
Michelle Williamson
MSc
Adaptive variation in Mimulus gutattus, an invasive weed of New Zealand wetlands. Collaborator- Prof. Phil Hulme
Kumilign Asmare
Population genetics of the genus Meterosidros in New Zealand (2014-2017)
Denise Arroyo-Lambaer
PhD
Conserving amphibian diversity- inventory and gene flow studies in fragmented montane forest, Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria. (2012 – 2015)
Lily Braislford
MSc
Population genetics of some common Afromontane forest tree species. (2015-2017)
Sasha Roselli
MSc
Factors limiting species composition and growth rates of naturally regenerating forest in a Nigerian montane grasslands. (2012-2014)
Charles Nsor
MSc
Sunbird pollination and fate of strong contributors to mutualistic networks in a West African montane forest. (2011-2014)
Alex Knight
MSc
Gene flow patterns, inbreeding and gender biased dispersal in the Nigerian Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) (2011-2013)
Paul Dutton
Ecology of the Nigerian/Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) (2009-12)
Collaborators
Professor Colin Chapman
PhD
We collaborate in areas of forest restoration and primate mediated seed dispersal. Currently PhD students interested in such research in Nigeria (where we cannot send students just now) can carry out equivalent field research in collaboration with myself and Colin in Uganda.
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