Nelson Mandela University and Conservation International are pleased to invite you to the Marine Megafauna & Ocean Fronts
a working group inception on July 25th – July 27th, 2023.
The purpose of this workshop is
- To explore ocean fonts in the Western Indian Ocean as drivers of species distribution patterns that
may affect feeding and migratory behaviors of megafauna (seabirds, whales, whale sharks and sea
turtles). - To create a network of collaborators from a range of disciplines, including oceanographers, ecologists,
and geneticists, working in the region.
The workshop will introduce the work of the scientists in the region; introduce the FSLE ocean front index from satellite data from the last 20 years for the Mozambique Channel, and explore how individual data sets can be matched to data for any taxa from that period; and explore different approaches to modeling ‘frontiness’ (probability of fronts over time) with GAM and other spp distribution models. If anyone has data on fishing, we can match that up to fronts too; and consider whether eDNA/DNA can be matched to fronts. (This has the potential for rapid data collection in areas with no history of physical tagging.)
RSVP to Ronel Nel (Ronel.Nel@Mandela.ac.za) or Isaac Brito (ibrito@conservation.org) or Olivier Bousquet (olivier.bousquet@meteo.fr) by 20 July 2023.
Please indicate:
- If you will participate in person or online.
- If you are willing to do a short (10 min max) presentation to introduce your research.
Download the programme and event details.
Photo: Ekaterina Kalashnikova
