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Project properties |
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| Title | Various internships on mangrove restoration in Aruba |
| Group | Marine Animal Ecology |
| Project type | internship |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Nadine Peck
Dolfi Debrot |
| Examiner(s) | Tinka Murk, Reindert Nijland, Ronald Osinga, Rosa van der Ven, Diede Maas |
| Contact info | nadine.peck@wur.nl
dolfi.debrot@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2024/08/01 |
| End date | 2026/01/01 |
| Description | Mangroves are unique plants that grow in the tidal zone along tropical coastlines and lagoons and fulfil key ecological functions in the coastal marine ecosystem. Throughout the world, mangroves were lost primarily due to removal and dredging to make way for economic activities. However, the economic significance of mangroves is being recognized more and more and efforts are underway to bring these important plants back worldwide. In Aruba, the main cause for the loss of mangroves today is excess sedimentation that has turned original lagoonal habitat into land. This has also happened in Spaans Lagoen, Aruba, a bay in which centuries ago water depth was sufficient for large sailing ships whereas today water depth is often no more than ankle high.
In the turning the Tide project of Wageningen UR and its Aruban partners, dredging is taking place to remove excess sediment to re-establish water depth and connectivity so that the mangroves can better fulfil their role as fish nursery areas. There are 5 internships possible, focussing on: - Fish and mangrove restoration - Benthos and shorebirds effects - Soil fertility and plant growth - Ramsar wetlands environmental and biodiversity status - Ramsar wetlands avifaunal use and distribution Stipends are available for these internships. Contact mae.education@wur.nl for more information. |
| Used skills | |
| Requirements | Preferably an internship of 6 months; Driver's licence |