Silhouette Conservation Project - volunteer information The Silhouette Conservation Project was established by the Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles in 1997. The project aims to secure the future of the island's habitats and species through research and appropriate management, with a long-term goal of restoring the island to as natural a state as possible. Silhouette is a regional biodiversity hotspot and supports large populations of many endemic and threatened species of plants and animals in tropical rainforest habitats. Silhouette is also the site of the Seychelles Giant Tortoise Conservation Project, a captive breeding programme for two supposedly extinct species of giant tortoise. Volunteers are accepted to undertake specific research and habitat management projects in the following areas: giant tortoise monitoring terrestrial habitat and species research coral reefs and mangroves (with Earthwatch). turtle nesting (with Global Vision International) HABITAT: Tropical island (rainforest & tropical coast) LOCATION: Silhouette island, Seychelles TRAVEL: By air to Seychelles (Mahe island), then by boat to Silhouette. DURATION: 4-8 weeks PERIOD: volunteers are required at the following times: monitoring of reintroduced giant tortoises 16th December 2006 - 24th January 2007 17th March - 24th October 2007 19th December 2007 - mid January 2008 research projects - contact Dr. Justin Gerlach jstgerlach@aol.com AGE: 20 to 50 QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:  Most volunteers will be biology graduates; although no particular skills are needed biological field research experience is an advantage. Volunteers must be self-motivated and able to work in hot, very humid conditions. VOLUNTEER WORK:  Work undertaken by volunteers will be either centred on giant tortoise monitoring or research projects. Chelonian monitoring In December 2006 captive bred giant tortoises will be reintroduced to Silhouette.  Volunteers will be needed to monitor their movements and behaviour on a daily basis.  This will be based at Grande Barbe, an isolated beach with a human population of just 6 individuals at present and separated from the main settlement at La Passe by a mountain hike of 3 hours.  Volunteers need to be self-sufficient and highly motivated.  Accommodation is self-catering at Grande Barbe but supplies need to be obtained at La Passe.  Monitoring in this area also includes searching for fresh-water terrapins and counting of nesting sea-turtles.  Hawksbill turtles nest regularly and in significant numbers in September-March but green turtles are only rarely encountered, although they may nest at any time. Research projects Volunteers will undertake monitoring work and specific research projects as part of the research and management carried out on Silhouette island. Projects cover all aspects of the nature of the island, including studies of vegetation structure, plant and animal distributions, population estimates, ecology and behaviour. The Seychelles Giant Tortoise Project is also based on Silhouette island and volunteers will support this project by assisting with feeding of the tortoises and maintenance of their enclosures and undertaking studies designed by the NPTS. Applicants wishing to volunteer for research project work should select one of the following projects and include a short study outline with their application.  Selection of volunteers will be based on these outlines.  Proposal of projects not included on this list will also be welcomed. Vertebrates Impact of alien fresh-water fish (tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus) Ecology of the endemic fresh-water fish Pachypanchax playfairii Amphibian and reptile ecology - population densities & habitat preferences; with special emphasis on alien and anthropogenic habitats, diet, reproduction, parasitology White-tailed tropicbirds (Phaeton lepturus) - these nest in significant numbers on the small sea-bird islands and also in the high forests of Silhouette. There is some data from the sea-bird islands although methods are under review. On Silhouette the species is a tree-nester but a ground nester on the smaller islands, a comparison of the success of these strategies should look at: Seychelles kestrel (Falco araea) - evolutionary and conservation ecology (population size, habitat preferences, diet, parasitology) Seychelles bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris) ecology - reputed nest-predation behaviour, fruit dispersal. Indian mynah (Acridotheres tristis) ecology - often blamed for declines in native animal populations but the impacts of introduced Indian mynahs have not been investigated directly. Habitat use by bird species - there have been no detailed investigations of the habitat preferences of the native species or investigation of the factors that have allowed some species to be survive whilst others have declined. Fruit bat ecology - role in pollination and dispersal would have important conservation implications. Invertebrates Giant millipede ecology - population sizes and habitat preferences, diet, reproduction and life history Stylodonta unidentata snail ecology - population sizes and habitat preferences, diet Crab densities and identification, habitat preferences, zonation around water, diet, input of calcium to terrestrial environment by movement of shells by hermit crabs Ecology and conservation of bee hawkmoths and hummingbird hawkmoths (January/February and July/August only) - these appear to be associated with native coastal vegetation and with the introduced shrub Lantana camara.  Ecological data, in particular the role of native and introduced plants, are needed to improve conservation prospects. Ecology of dragonflies and damselflies, concentrating on habitat requirements. Plants Plant diversity, the effects of invasive plants, plant conservation, pollination Ecology of endemic/threatened plants - pollinators, dispersal agents, predators/parasites, conservation status Ecology of invasive plants - quantification of spread and impact, prediction of trends, effectiveness of different control methods, ecological consequences of control or of invasion, seed bank in invaded areas LANGUAGE: English (please note that fluent English is required) ACCOMMODATION: at La Passe - guest house (provides accommodation and all meals); at Grande Barbe - self catering COMMUNICATIONS:  volunteers have only very limited access to telephone and e-mail COST:  Cost (including accommodation, food) for 4 weeks approximately $1200 at La Passe, $600 at Grande Barbe.  Costs exclude transport. CONTACTS: Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles, PO Box 207, Victoria, Mahe, SEYCHELLES (Tel.: +248 323711) Dr. Justin Gerlach, 133 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge CB1 7BX, UK. (Tel.: +44 1223 246875) jstgerlach@aol.com APPLICATION: Apply by writing, with CV.