Research Preview

Research Project Title
How can poaching mediated habitat changes alter community composition and its role in nutrient cycling in the ecosystem?
Research Purpose:
PhD
Principle Investigator:
af58@rice.edu
Introduction
Nutrient cycling and redistribution are key functions that terrestrial mammals provide via defecation and carcass decomposition. Mammal loss or decline can remove critical nutrients thereby hindering nutrient recycling. Furthermore, extinction and local extirpation are typically non-random. Traits, such as large body size, are disproportionately lost, with possible implications for carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. Both feeding interactions and energy flow among species within a community (i.e. energy flux) can be depicted by food webs. However, much of our current understanding of food webs comes from single-site or small-scale studies, making it difficult to generalize patterns at a global scale. Therefore, large-scale, multi-site studies are needed to identify drivers of food web structure and associated ecosystem functioning. The distribution of animal body sizes within communities affects the ratios of nutrients distributed to plants through animal feces and carcasses due to fixed stoichiometric ratios that vary with herbivore body size. Therefore, spatial variation in the mammal body sizes among locations may affect the redistribution of nutrients. Local-scale gradients in human pressure and plant productivity can enable tests of spatial variation in community composition on food web structure and nutrient cycling.
Problem Statment
As human activity drives species' extinctions, it is critical to identify the consequences of species loss and decline on ecosystem functioning
General Research Objective
I will examine the impact of poaching on mammal communities, including bats, and how this impacts nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning.
Other Details
Clearance# | Clearance Date | Permit# | Permit Date | Commencement Date | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
None | CST00001092-2025-2025-00233 | April 15, 2024, midnight | May 26, 2025 | July 31, 2026 |
Priority Research Theme & Areas
Priority Research Theme | Research Area |
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HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION | Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Indicators - Priority ( H ) |
Project Location
Region | Wildlife Area | District | Species |
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Udzungwa U z u n g w a Scarp |
Project Researchers
Researcher | Role |
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STEVEN SHINYAMBALA | Co-researcher |
Victor Kakengi | referee |
Ann Finneran | Principal Investigator |
Caroline Pollan | Co-researcher |
Matthew McCary | referee |
Arafat Mtui | Co-researcher |
Reseach Objectives
Sn | Objective | Methods | Description | ||
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1 | Objective 1. Test how food web structure varies locally in response to anthropogenic pressure and plant productivity. |
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2 | Objective 2. Examine indirect impacts of poaching on bat species, which are vital to ecosystem health. |
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3 | Objective 3. Quantify how food web structure affects nutrient and energy cycling. |
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Reseach Attachments
Attachment Name | Attachment |
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Full Proposal | Project_Proposal_Finneran.pdf |