The Center can provide assistance to a variety of biological research and conservation
projects, subject to appropriate national, provincial and landowner permits. (Note that
the Center does not facilitate obtaining these permits and also does not supply any
biological specimens intended for further commercial sale.)
What we have to offer
Our past projects
What we have to offer
Top
Our Center offers biodiversity surveys using selected insect taxa, particularly moths,
butterflies and ants, as indicator groups. We can design, organise and implement the
surveys, including field collecting of samples, their sorting, preparation of museum-
quality vouchers, their taxonomic analysis (lead by S.E. Miller, at the National
Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington) and ecological
interpretation of samples. These surveys can be used as a part of research
and conservation projects, environmental impact assessment etc. [ details ]
The Center can also provide assistance to other projects:
Field assistance in expedition-type biological research, including biodiversity
surveys in terrestrial ecosystems within any region of Papua New Guinea.
This assistance includes collecting data and specimens, as well as logistic assistance
and facilitation of contacts with local landowners and villagers. The paraecologists
can join any expedition as qualified field assistants with little need for additional
training, and with excellent knowledge of local situation and organisation of
biological expeditions in difficult conditions and remote areas.
Collection of biological data and material according to specific protocols.
Paraecologists can sample various groups of organisms, particularly arthropods and
plants, in any habitat and area of Papua New Guinea, following quantitative sampling
protocols (such as pitfall, malaise, light, litter, sticky, intercept etc. traps, canopy
fogging, plant surveys in permanent plots etc.), as well as sampling qualitatively for
faunistic and other surveys. They can also carry out long-term, continuous data
collecting in the field, e.g. on the population dynamics of various species, on insect
herbivory, plant phenology, etc. The material can be shipped to the researchers, after
necessary permits have been obtained and voucher specimens deposited at an
appropriate PNG institution.
Preparation and documentation of biological specimens for museum collections and
databasing of research data.
Paraecologists can prepare museum-quality insect and plant specimens, mount,
label and database them using various database software. For insects, pre-sorting of
material to morphospecies is also possible, including, in some groups, pre-sorting
based on genital morphological characters. Further, the specimens can be
photographically documented, including digital photography.
Field assistance in nature conservation and community development projects.
Paraecologists are also experienced in collaboration with local villages and nature
conservation awareness programmes. With their excellent knowledge of local
situation and communication skills, they can be of assistance in various nature
conservation projects.
Our past projects
Top
Examples of past projects assisted by The Center:
University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic: Field Course of Tropical Ecology
for 11 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 3 weeks in September 2006.
Our Center hosted a group of overseas biology students and assisted them
in their varied field programme, including one-week stay in a lowland rainforest,
day trips to coral reefs and a trip to climb the PNG's highest peak, Mt. Wilhelm
(4,517 m). [ details ]
Princeton University, USA: Biodiversity survey of rain forests in West New Britain
(Papua New Guinea); lead by Dr. Johannes Foufopoulos, 1999 (click here
for comments)
Griffith University, Australia: Insect and plant diversity survey in lowland rain
forests around Madang, Papua New Guinea, lead by Prof. Roger Kitching
(AusAid-sponsored project), 1999
WWF: Biodiversity survey of Lepidoptera in Kikori (Papua New Guinea), 1997-2001.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, USA & Panama: Collecting material for
survey of Wolbachia parasites in insects, 1999 (comments).
La Trobe University, Australia: Colonization of a young volcanic island (Long
Island, Papua New Guinea); lead by Prof. Ian Thorton, 2000 (comments).
Griffith University, Australia: Species richness and host specificity of rainforest
fruitflies in Papua New Guinea, lead by Prof. R. Drew (AusAid-sponsored project),
2000 - 2002 (details in our Research section)
Roger Williams Park Zoo, Rhode Island, USA: Biodiversity survey of the
Finnisterre Mts. (Papua New Guinea), lead by Dr. L. Dabek, 2001 - 2002. [ details ]
Indo-Pacific Conservation Alliance, USA: Biodiversity survey of the
Bintuni Bay (New Guinea - Indonesia), 2002
SUNY Stonybrook, USA: Decomposition in Tropical Forests, lead by J. Powers (the
site in Madang area, Papua New Guinea, managed by our Center is one of
a global network of sites), 2002. [ details ]
What we have to offer
Our past projects
What we have to offer
Top
Our Center offers biodiversity surveys using selected insect taxa, particularly moths,
butterflies and ants, as indicator groups. We can design, organise and implement the
surveys, including field collecting of samples, their sorting, preparation of museum-
quality vouchers, their taxonomic analysis (lead by S.E. Miller, at the National
Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington) and ecological
interpretation of samples. These surveys can be used as a part of research
and conservation projects, environmental impact assessment etc. [ details ]
The Center can also provide assistance to other projects:
Field assistance in expedition-type biological research, including biodiversity
surveys in terrestrial ecosystems within any region of Papua New Guinea.
This assistance includes collecting data and specimens, as well as logistic assistance
and facilitation of contacts with local landowners and villagers. The paraecologists
can join any expedition as qualified field assistants with little need for additional
training, and with excellent knowledge of local situation and organisation of
biological expeditions in difficult conditions and remote areas.
Collection of biological data and material according to specific protocols.
Paraecologists can sample various groups of organisms, particularly arthropods and
plants, in any habitat and area of Papua New Guinea, following quantitative sampling
protocols (such as pitfall, malaise, light, litter, sticky, intercept etc. traps, canopy
fogging, plant surveys in permanent plots etc.), as well as sampling qualitatively for
faunistic and other surveys. They can also carry out long-term, continuous data
collecting in the field, e.g. on the population dynamics of various species, on insect
herbivory, plant phenology, etc. The material can be shipped to the researchers, after
necessary permits have been obtained and voucher specimens deposited at an
appropriate PNG institution.
Preparation and documentation of biological specimens for museum collections and
databasing of research data.
Paraecologists can prepare museum-quality insect and plant specimens, mount,
label and database them using various database software. For insects, pre-sorting of
material to morphospecies is also possible, including, in some groups, pre-sorting
based on genital morphological characters. Further, the specimens can be
photographically documented, including digital photography.
Field assistance in nature conservation and community development projects.
Paraecologists are also experienced in collaboration with local villages and nature
conservation awareness programmes. With their excellent knowledge of local
situation and communication skills, they can be of assistance in various nature
conservation projects.
Our past projects
Top
Examples of past projects assisted by The Center:
University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic: Field Course of Tropical Ecology
for 11 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 3 weeks in September 2006.
Our Center hosted a group of overseas biology students and assisted them
in their varied field programme, including one-week stay in a lowland rainforest,
day trips to coral reefs and a trip to climb the PNG's highest peak, Mt. Wilhelm
(4,517 m). [ details ]
Princeton University, USA: Biodiversity survey of rain forests in West New Britain
(Papua New Guinea); lead by Dr. Johannes Foufopoulos, 1999 (click here
for comments)
Griffith University, Australia: Insect and plant diversity survey in lowland rain
forests around Madang, Papua New Guinea, lead by Prof. Roger Kitching
(AusAid-sponsored project), 1999
WWF: Biodiversity survey of Lepidoptera in Kikori (Papua New Guinea), 1997-2001.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, USA & Panama: Collecting material for
survey of Wolbachia parasites in insects, 1999 (comments).
La Trobe University, Australia: Colonization of a young volcanic island (Long
Island, Papua New Guinea); lead by Prof. Ian Thorton, 2000 (comments).
Griffith University, Australia: Species richness and host specificity of rainforest
fruitflies in Papua New Guinea, lead by Prof. R. Drew (AusAid-sponsored project),
2000 - 2002 (details in our Research section)
Roger Williams Park Zoo, Rhode Island, USA: Biodiversity survey of the
Finnisterre Mts. (Papua New Guinea), lead by Dr. L. Dabek, 2001 - 2002. [ details ]
Indo-Pacific Conservation Alliance, USA: Biodiversity survey of the
Bintuni Bay (New Guinea - Indonesia), 2002
SUNY Stonybrook, USA: Decomposition in Tropical Forests, lead by J. Powers (the
site in Madang area, Papua New Guinea, managed by our Center is one of
a global network of sites), 2002. [ details ]