MARINE RESEARCH CENTER

At our long-term research station in Mozambique, we offer field courses in marine ecology and data collection techniques. We have been working in Mozambique for over 8 years and have developed a strong program and a stable working environment with good in-country support. We regularly encounter a wide range of animals and have global network of scientific collaborators to which our on-going data sets are provided, alongside the free availability to Mozambican students and for use in government management plans.

Marine Life of Mozambique:

Whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins, whales, stingrays, guitarfish, reef sharks, pelagic rays, seahorses, reef fish, game fish, crustaceans, corals, sponges, echinoderms, nudibranches, eels, molluscs. A full list is available on request.

Techniques include:

• Reef health surveys – indicator species, coral cover, urchin density, abundance counts, biomass estimation,
• Large animal monitoring – photo identification, population estimates, residency/transience, migratory trends, injury recovery
• Anthropogenic impact assessment – area usage mapping, monitoring of unsustainable catch, sustainable tourism, Code of Conduct development,
• Genetic studies – whale shark sampling, humpback whale sampling, khuls ray sampling, coral sampling, frogfish sampling,
• Biodiversity assessment – estuary monitoring, sea horse identification and density, usage of the inter-tidal zone,
• Behavioral studies – wildlife behavioral reactions to human interactions, humpback whale area usage during migration,

Learning objectives:

• Describe the diversity and physical processes that characterize the Southern African marine environment. Understand the challenges and importance of working in developing countries.
• Discuss the biodiversity and key ecological processes occurring in specifically southern Mozambique, and in the sub-tropics generally.
• Outline the ecological roles of key groups of organisms in the marine environment.
• Consideration of the social issues of wildlife/coastal/marine ecosystem conservation and management.  Be able to discuss the impacts, benefits and risks of the local peoples’ approaches to the environment, sustainable development and responsible tourism.
• Develop critical-thinking regarding research project design, and understanding of a range of techniques.
  

Mini Projects and/or Theses:

The course may include time collecting data, writing up and presenting mini-projects.

Potential mini projects or undergraduate and masters theses include:

• Assessment of dolphin behavior in response to human activity with a view to sustainable tourism encounters.
• Humpback whale behavior usage of the coastal region
• Seahorse density and dispersal
• Economic and ecological value of specific marine life
• Coral cover variability between inshore/offshore, shallow/deep, northern/southern reefs
• Alternative titles designed by incoming students/staff are welcomed

General Activities:

Each month there are 20 days of on-water activities, lectures, tutorials and field techniques. Accommodation, food, office space and all equipment are provided. 16 on-water activities (involving PADI course if not already qualified, diving and/or snorkeling) plus 1 estuary visit are included per month.

Some of the papers All Out Africa have contributed to:

Williams J. L., Pierce S. J., Fuentes M. M. P. B., Hamann M. (2015) Effectiveness of recreational divers for monitoring sea turtle populations. Endang Species Res.

Pierce S.J, Mendez-Jimenez A., Collins K., Rosero-Caicedo M., Monajem A. (2010) Developing a code of conduct for whale shark interactions in Mozambique. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst.

Rohner C. A. et. al. (2013) Big fishes in hot water? Abundance trends and environmental influences on a coastal aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks. MEPS.

Rohner C.A et. al. (2012) Population structure, size at maturity and growth rates of whale sharks measured with laser photogrammetry in southern Mozambique. Marine Biology.