We are advertising for an MSc opportunity at the Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University. Title: Reconstructing historical baselines for the distribution and abundance of an apex predator, the lion (Panthera leo), in South Africa Historically widespread in South Africa, the lion Panthera leo was exterminated in most parts of the country and is now restricted to isolated populations in protected areas. Because most of this impact occurred in the past 250-300 years, population trends cannot be captured by research studies based on recent ecological data alone. The objective of this project is to use long-term records to quantify the human impact on the distribution and abundance of lion in South Africa. The student will analyse historical records of lion occurrences from paleontological, archeological and historical written sources of the 17th to 21st centuries, and collate additional ecological and historical abundance data, to reconstruct the historical distribution and abundance of lions in South Africa. He/she will develop analytical approaches using empirical (i.e. data-based) and mechanistic (i.e. process-based) modelling tools to reconstruct these historical baselines. This project will have direct implications for the management and conservation of lions in South Africa. It will also serve as a model for developing techniques and approaches to adress these challenges for other apex predators. Applications are open until the 20th of November. You can download the full description HERE.
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