This project’s aims are to evaluate the biodiversity in this area and compare different habitat types. You will be compiling a species inventory which will involve carrying out surveys of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the surrounding forests. Additionally, you will be mapping vegetation, levels of human disturbance and resource usage. You will learn surveying techniques and have a chance to contribute to the local community through education outreach days.
During the initial weeks of the project you will learn basic ecological principles and methods, how to gather data and become oriented with the camp area. This period will include both theoretical and practical work including a series of informative lectures, tests, opportunities to practice identifying species and instruction on research techniques. Once all volunteers have become familiar with data collection and the scientific reasoning, they will have the opportunity to design new projects.
Following training, your focus will be on surveys of plant and animal communities. This will include:
- Active searches for amphibians and reptiles. Survey the research sites both day and night, typically searching for chameleon, gecko and snake species. Volunteers will be given morphometric data collection training as well as have the opportunity to handle all species found. It is especially important to bring a high quality flashlight with batteries and cheap gardening gloves for these surveys.
- Pitfall and Sherman trapping. The project uses two live trapping techniques to sample terrestrial and arboreal small mammals and terrestrial frogs, snakes, and lizards. Pitfalls commonly catch frogs such as Stumpffia pygmaea, one of the smallest frogs in the world, and also the bizarre Rhombophryne testudo frog.
- Timed species counts for birds. Volunteers are trained in bird identification through training sessions using sound recordings and photos. Binoculars are optional but extremely useful, although the majority of birds are identified by call.
- Lemur behavior and surveys. In this phase you will determine different population behavior in varying forest types. The study will focus on the black lemur, offering opportunities to observe them and record behaviors at six different sites. Responses to alarm calling from both individual and groups of lemurs will be compared using recordings. Additionally, the project will conduct both daily and nightly transects, listening for the territorial calls of cathemeral and nocturnal species found in the area.
- Casual collections. Casual observations of conservation target species, such as lemurs, have proved to be an important boost to the species list and previous volunteers have found the impromptu searches and sightings particularly rewarding.
The work schedule will usually consist of a trip into the forest in the morning and the afternoon, with Saturdays off. There will be many early mornings and late nights in order to sample a variety of species and avoid working in the heat of the day. The work load will be divided up amongst the group for variety.
During the project you will hike each day, along with other volunteers and staff, from the main campsite on the beach to remote locations in the forest to conduct your field work. You will directly contribute to important research, aiming to inform the local government about how to manage the remaining forests and conserve their invaluable natural assets.
It’s not all work, though! After a hard day in the forest you can always relax on the beach, snorkel in the crystal clear waters or play football with the local villagers.
