When I started my PhD researching the various ways freshwater ecosystems contribute to human wellbeing, I was surprised to discover that there was a whole other world of life hiding at the bottom of streams I didn’t know about. They are the living things that are small, but visible to the naked eye. They are miniature, but they produce essential food for many other species, like fish. They are tiny, but exquisite. They are benthic aquatic invertebrates!...
For an ecologist, one important task is to spend time outdoors collecting data. In the depths of field sites around the world it is often beautiful, but there are also many unexpecteds that can make or break a field season. So here it is: the top four lessons I’ve learnt over the years (the hard...
Over the past few months I have been conducting field work in the Lake Victoria basin, in Uganda, for my Masters research, which explores the topic of mercury contamination in Africa. In this series of blog posts I’ve shared pictures and discoveries about some of the most interesting wildlife and encounters I came across while...
Over the past few months I have been conducting field work in the Lake Victoria basin, in Uganda, for my Masters research, which explores the topic of mercury contamination in Africa. In this series of blog posts I’ve shared pictures and discoveries about some of the most interesting wildlife and encounters I came across while...
Over the past few months I have been conducting field work in the Lake Victoria basin, in Uganda, for my Masters research, which explores the topic of mercury contamination in Africa. In this series of blog posts I’ve shared pictures and discoveries about some of the most interesting wildlife and encounters I came across while...
Hidden on the western side of Uganda lies an unexpected surprise. Home to the third highest summit in Africa (Mount Stanley), a number of diverse ecosystems, and interesting wildlife, the Rwenzoris are a fascinating mountain range. Although I am here in Uganda studying mercury contamination in fish, a number of other species of this area...
Hidden on the western side of Uganda lies an unexpected surprise. Home to the third highest summit in Africa (Mount Stanley), a number of diverse ecosystems, and interesting wildlife, the Rwenzoris are a fascinating mountain range. Although I am here in Uganda studying mercury contamination in fish, a number of other species of this area...
Hidden on the western side of Uganda lies an unexpected surprise. Home to the third highest summit in Africa (Mount Stanley), a number of diverse ecosystems, and interesting wildlife, the Rwenzoris are a fascinating mountain range. Although I am here in Uganda studying mercury contamination in fish, a number of other species of this area...
I recently visited Kibale National Park, in Uganda, where some of the other researchers in my lab conducted field work this summer. Kibale is famous for its primate diversity and density, which are amongst the highest in Africa. Thirteen different types of primates can be found in this park. Black and white colobus,...
I recently visited Kibale National Park, in Uganda, where some of the other researchers in my lab conducted field work this summer. Kibale is famous for its primate diversity and density, which are amongst the highest in Africa. Thirteen different types of primates can be found in this park. Black and white colobus,...
I recently visited Kibale National Park, in Uganda, where some of the other researchers in my lab conducted field work this summer. Kibale is famous for its primate diversity and density, which are amongst the highest in Africa. Thirteen different types of primates can be found in this park. Black and white colobus,...
Hidden under the vegetation found in most wetlands is an incredibly diverse world of aquatic organisms. On most of the mornings I’ve been here at Lake Nabugabo, in Uganda, I’ve made my way to the wetlands surrounding the lake searching for fish, as I’m currently interested in the effects of habitat-use on mercury contamination in...
Hidden under the vegetation found in most wetlands is an incredibly diverse world of aquatic organisms. On most of the mornings I’ve been here at Lake Nabugabo, in Uganda, I’ve made my way to the wetlands surrounding the lake searching for fish, as I’m currently interested in the effects of habitat-use on mercury contamination in...
Hidden under the vegetation found in most wetlands is an incredibly diverse world of aquatic organisms. On most of the mornings I’ve been here at Lake Nabugabo, in Uganda, I’ve made my way to the wetlands surrounding the lake searching for fish, as I’m currently interested in the effects of habitat-use on mercury contamination in...
When I hear ‘electric fish’ I think about a species that has the capacity to sting others using an electric current. But not all electric fish emit a current that is dangerous. In fact, there are also weakly electric fish that do not use their electricity for defence, but rather, to communicate, navigate, and locate...