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.
Abiem Iveren – PhD
The role of clumping and inter-specific negative density dependence in shaping species distributions in Tropical Afromontane Forest
Morgan Tracy – PhD
Morgan is exploring how the presence of invasive weedy species is influencing the pollination of small, native brooms- Carmichaelia spp. Her research site is the Lake Tekapo Scientific Reserve in the New Zealand Mackenzie country. In this harsh environment with hot summers and very cold winters, native flora is being given the opportunity (protected from grazing by sheep, rabbits and hares) to recolonising old outwash soils. To what extent introduced invasive species such as lupins and hawkweeds are affecting native regeneration is as yet unknown.
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. People walking, dogs, jet boats etc. may all influence bird populations to some extent.
Sanaz’s co-supervisor is Prof. Jim Briskie.
Gboyega Awaku PhD
Pollination services to subsistence farmers provided by insect pollinators on the Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria.
Because of COVID-19, Gboyega cannot come to New Zealand immediately, so we have changed topic and he is now based at the Nigerian Montane Forest Project field site in Taraba State, 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
A high proportion of New Zealand plants have white, inconspicuous flowers that are pollinated by generalist pollinators. It is often assumed that native bees or flies are most important in their pollination but we don’t know about moths. Several recent publications from the UK and the US have suggested that moths are important pollinators of some plant groups. Certainly, New Zealand has a large number of moth species.
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.
Ridwan Jafar – Lab Associate
Murna Tela – PhD
Ecosystem services provided by birds to subsistence farmers on the Mabilla Plateau, Nigeria. Collaborator Prof Will Cresswell.
Michelle Williamson – MSc
Adaptive variation in Mimulus gutattus, an invasive weed of New Zealand wetlands. Collaborator- Prof. Phil Hulme
David Kerr – Current MSc
Factors limiting the spread of monkey flower, Mimulus gutattus in New Zealand. Collaborator- Prof. Phil Hulme
Biplang Yadok PhD
Ecology of the African Giant Pouched Rat (2015- 2018)
Jennifer Agaldo PhD
Seed dispersal by ants in a Nigerian Montane Forest (2015-2018)
Kumilign Asmare PhD
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)
Babale Aliyu PhD
Seed dispersal by the African Giant Pouched Rat in collaboration with Prof. Pierre Michele Forget (2011-14)
Danladi Umar PhD
Worked on fresh water invertebrates in Afromontane streams. With Prof. Jon Harding. (2008-2011)
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)
Kelly Hutchinson MSc
Foraging ecology of the Putty nose Monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans) in collaboration with Prof. Mike Lawes. (2012 – 2014).
Joshua Thia – MSc
Fragmentaion affects on gene flow in two rare montane forest tree species with differing dispersal mechanisms. (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)
Professor Pierre-Michel Forget
Pierre Michele is part of the Nigerian Montane Forest Projects and has collaborated with us in research into seed dispersal through the scatterhoarding behaviour of the African giant pouched rat.
Professor Phil Hulme
Phil is currently collaborating with myself and students Michelle Williamson and David Kerr
Professor Michael Lawes – Active collaborator in Afromontane research.
Professor Colin Chapman
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.
For Student Scientific Editing see Michael Lawes
